On the heels of Eddie Vedder pledging his love for the Cubs in song, Nils Lofgren has turned his attention to Yankee Stadium, which will be razed following the season. Nils is offering "Yanke Stadium" as a free download along with two other tracks he recorded at a studio in Arizona.
Lofgren explains in his liner notes for the song, that his wife Amy has been a lifelong fan of the pinstripes. "I’m a long time fan myself, especially of the mythical and mystical nature of old Yankee Stadium, which I’ve been fortunate to experience first hand," he writes.
Some of the lyrics:

The weary single Mom sits up straight   
to her four young girls she radiates   
a dignity
As DiMaggio storms the plate   
a century of worship so commonplace

  I squeeze my girl’s hand sit side on side   
the Bronx twilight and her face collide
A picture so sweet I could cry   
a joy and time stand still

In Yankee Stadium   
in Yankee Stadium   
in Yankee Stadium   
everyone is beautiful   
everyone is beautiful
In Yankee Stadium

Leave it to someone who is not a native of the States to understand the value of preserving our history, in this case the pre-1950 Negro Leagues of baseball.
Lee donated 200 baseballs autographed by former Negro Leaguers to the fabulous Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City, Mo.  The Kansas City Star has video here.
His impression is much like mine - and I have been there three times: It's  unique and fascinatingly educational. In spots, the hall strives a little too hard to connect the pre-Jackie Robinson legacy with modern ballplayers, but otherwise the collections and displays are superb and at times awe-inspiring.
There is a jazz museum next door.

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" will be honored as a Towering Song at the 2008 Songwriters Hall of Fame gala on June 19 at New York's Marriott Marquis Hotel.
As a fan of the tune - and what's more fun than inserting the names of teams that are not on the field (Devil Rays, anyone?) - it is vital that everyone sing the song when they visit the ballpark.   
Maybe it's a bit trivial, but few things are more annoying than a seventh-inning stretch turned over to some jingoistic, pro-America tune instead of the 100-year-old classic by Albert von Tilzer and Jack Norworth. Is it not a bit un-American to not sing "root, root-root" at a ballgame on North American soil?
Anyhow, a bit of "Take Me Out" trivia: Norworth was inspired to write the lyrics by a sign that read "Baseball Today -Polo Grounds" in the subway.
Neither Norworth nor Von Tilzer had ever attended a baseball game before writing the song.
It was first sung by Norworth's wife, singer Nora Bayes, and popularized by various vaudeville acts.
The Haydn Quartet singing group, led by tenor Harry Macdonough, recorded the definitive popular hit rendition for Victor Records.
It was one of the most popular hits of 1908.
Perhaps the event will settle one score: The lyrics are "I don't care if I never get back" and not "ever."
One of my favorite versions is below

The fireworks display on the Fourth of July at the Hollywood Bowl is one of the city's best. Most years, though, the headliners are negligible, background music actually to the party in the seats. This year, though, they have a pretty good plan, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dodgers departing Brooklyn and moving to Los Angeles where they eventually displaced the lower-income folks living in the Chavez Ravine area and came to own the town.
The program for July 2, 3 and 4 will feature baseball music and Dodger players plus fireworks. (Wouldn't the current players be working those days? Perhaps they mean Steve Garvey or Tom Niedenfuer).
Other acts booked for the Bowl this year include Chris Isaak, Diana Ross, Brian Wilson, Wynton Marsalis, Jamie Cullum, Hank Jones, a double bill of Gilberto Gil and Devendra Banhart, Gnarls Barkley and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. UB40 is on the schedule, too, but will they ever be the same without Ali Campbell? 
Imagine, though, if the Fourth of July featured Nancy Bea Hefley at the organ. Talk about a treat for real baseball fans.