Seattle Mariners Fans Can Help Celebrate 100th Anniversary of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

National singing contest for trip to 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium

03/26/2008 -- A lucky and talented Seattle Mariners fan could find him or herself leading the crowd at the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium in the classic baseball anthem Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

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During the opening week of the upcoming season, baseball fans across the country will have the chance to qualify for that honor in a contest celebrating the 100th Anniversary of one of America's most well known and well-loved songs.

During the Mariners Opening homestand, March 31-April 2, fans can record their best version of the song traditionally sung at the 7th Inning Stretch of baseball games. A recording booth will be located on the Main Concourse at Safeco Field near Aisle 138. It will be open two hours before the start of each game through the 5th inning.

Six finalists from Safeco Field will be chosen and the entries will be posted online at mariners.com/ballgame by Friday, April 4. Fans will be able to view the finalists' renditions of Take Me Out to the Ballgame and vote for their favorite from April 4-16.

The Mariners winner will lead fans at Safeco Field in a rousing rendition of the classic song during the 7th Inning Stretch of the Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics game on Friday, April 25. The Seattle winner will go on to compete for the grand prize at this year's Mid-Summer Classic at Yankee Stadium on July 15.

The winners from each of the participating Major League ballparks will appear on mlb.com. Fans can also submit audio or video entries to Major League Baseball at mlb.com.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame was composed in 1908 on a New York City subway by Jack Norworth. Over the years, it has become a standard baseball anthem, has been recorded numerous times and was featured in the 1949 MGM musical Take Me Out to the Ballgame starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra.

Source: MLB