ST. LOUIS -- If you're looking to expand your musical horizons and hear an eclectic mix of different genres and sounds, turn off your radio and head over to Busch Stadium.
Sure, you'll hear plenty of familiar, top 100 tunes and the classic organ sound that has been a part of baseball as long as peanuts and Cracker Jack. But when the home team comes to bat, the hitters become the DJs, showcasing a variety of music as diverse as their backgrounds.
There's no correct formula for a walk-up song, and for many St. Louis hitters, it's as simple as what sounds good or helps them get locked in when they step up to the plate. Others use their song as a form of self-expression, like Kolten Wong with Soja's "I Don't Wanna Wait."
"It's a little reggae thing because I'm from Hawaii, so I like to kind of stick with the Hawaii theme," Wong says. "I've done it every single year so far, except my rookie year I kind of went with a little rap."
He attributes that choice to center fielder Jon Jay, who comes up to Jay-Z and suggested a rap song to his impressionable rookie teammate. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta also likes to have music from his home country, the Dominican Republic. Yadier Molina, who owns Molina Records, often brings a Latin flavor to the plate.
As you're listening to the songs of your favorite Cardinals, don't get too attached, since the players aren't afraid to change them at any time. That may have disappointed a few fans in the case of Matt Carpenter, who even got attention from The Turnpike Troubadours when he played their song "A Long Hot Summer Day" last season.
Take a listen to some of this year's collection of tunes.
3B Matt Carpenter Gyft: "They Just Don't Know"
RF Jason Heyward Montana de Mac: "Rock On (Do the Rockman)"
LF Matt Holliday needtobreathe: "The Heart"
1B Matt Adams Rev Theory: "Voices" and Wrestling Hit Players: "I Walk Alone" (Saliva cover)
SS Jhonny Peralta Yiyo Sarante Feat. Don Miguelo: "Aqui Yo Voy"
CF Jon Jay Jay-Z: "Public Service Announcement" and DJ Khaled feat. Pitbull, Trick Daddy and Rick Ross: "Born N Raised"
C Yadier Molina Cosculluela: "Probando Voces 2"
2B Kolten Wong Soja: "I Don't Wanna Wait" and Steel Pulse: "Steppin' out"
SP Adam Wainwright Alabama: "Song of the South"
SP Michael Wacha We are Toonz: "Drop That #NaeNae"
SP John Lackey Garth Brooks: "Friends in Low Places"
SP Carlos Martinez Mark B feat. El Major Clasico: "Va Segui"
SP Lance Lynn Hank Williams Jr.: "A Country Boy Can Survive"
IF Pete Kozma Led Zeppelin: "The Ocean" and Motley Crue: "Kickstart My Heart"
OF Peter Bourjos Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg: "Still D.R.E."
C Tony Cruz Young Money Feat. Shawt Dawg: "Pass The Dutch"
IF/OF Mark Reynolds Jake Owen: "Barefoot Blue Jean Night"
OF Randall Grichuk Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan: "This is How We Roll"
My personal favorite is probably Bourjos' throwback choice of Dr. Dre's 1999 classic, but there's a lot of good stuff in here. If I ever get a walk-up song -- and I'm speaking strictly recreational softball -- I'd probably go with Pusha T's "King Push" because if that drum roll and opening verse don't get you fired up, nothing will.
What would you choose? Feel free to leave your answers in the comments, and enjoy the music.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
