Major League Baseball, Baby Ruth Offer Once-In-A-Lifetime Prize in Search for Best Performance of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

Grand prize winner to perform historic song at the 2008 All-Star Game

03/26/2008 -- Major League Baseball and Baby Ruth are searching for the most talented performance of the popular baseball anthem "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The search, which will be conducted through a contest sponsored by Baby Ruth, celebrates the song's 100 anniversary and supports the League's 2008 Opening Week initiative. One lucky winner will receive the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead the beloved song during the Seventh Inning Stretch of the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, the final season at the historic stadium.

Fans can enter the Baby Ruth "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" contest by submitting a video clip of their performance to MLB.com/babyruth. Fans can submit their videos from March 31 through May 26. In June, ten semi-finalists' videos, selected by MLB and Baby Ruth, will be posted for fan voting online. The three videos with the most votes will go to 2008 DHL All-Star FanFest where a panel of judges will determine the grand prize winner. Restrictions apply, visit MLB.com/babyruth for official rules. In addition, all 30 Major League Clubs will host local celebrations for the 100 anniversary of this famous song.

Baby Ruth is continuing the celebration of the song's 100 anniversary by offering a Special Edition Baby Ruth 7th Inning Stretch candy bar in stores this season. This commemorative bar celebrates the time during baseball games when this iconic song is traditionally sung. The bar, which has 30% more candy to savor, is packaged in one of three collectible baseball-themed vintage wrappers.

"We are excited to celebrate the 100 anniversary of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame,' a song that is an integral part of every fan's ballpark experience," said Bob DuPuy, President and COO, Major League Baseball. "With this historic anniversary, and once-in-a-lifetime prize, Major League Baseball and Baby Ruth are eagerly anticipating the passion-infused performances this contest is sure to produce."

"The Baby Ruth 7th Inning Stretch Candy Bar is our unique way of commemorating this historic anniversary," said Frank Higgins, President, Nestlé Confections. "We also see it as a gift to baseball fans everywhere. They can enjoy a little more Baby Ruth and savor the candy bar like they savor the baseball experience."

The "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" song was originally composed in 1908 by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, neither of whom had ever been to a Major League Baseball game. The song is the third most frequently sung tune in the United States after "Happy Birthday" and the "Star Spangled Banner," and has sold over 10 million copies in sheet music and/or records. Over the past one hundred years more than 400 musicians in every conceivable genre have recorded the song including Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, LL Cool J, The Goo Goo Dolls and Jimmy Buffett. The original lyrics are now part of the collection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown.

Source: MLB

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