In the late ’80s, my dad got a fancy new navy blue BMW with a killer sound system. I loved it, and so did he. We spent countless hours in that car driving to baseball games—whether it was to watch the Mets at Shea Stadium or head to one of the hundreds of Babe Ruth League games for my team that he proudly managed.

Our soundtrack? The Rhino Records Baseball’s Greatest Hits cassette. The songs on that tape are etched into my memory forever. The first time I heard Steve Goodman’s “Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” it blew my mind. It connected my two favorite things—baseball and music—with a raw, witty honesty I’d never heard before.

Terry Cashman’s “Willie, Mickey and the Duke” had already been a staple for me since its release in 1981. I had memorized every word. But Goodman’s track, with its contemporary storytelling in that John Prine/Jimmy Buffett style I loved so much, made a lasting impression. It wasn’t just a baseball song—it was a work of art.

Inspired by this new found Picasso, I spent years trying to write my own baseball music. They were not very good. I decided to stick to playing the game, rather than singing about the game. I worked my ass off and ended up with a scholarship to Villanova University.

While I spent my college days in class (most days) and behind the plate, nights were for music! I was a regular act at legendary local haunts Erin Pub and Yorkshire. After discovering Bob Dylan’s “Catfish” on his Bootlegs boxset, I quickly studied the songs and added it to my setlist. That song oozed swagger—the swagger of a big-game pitcher I admired deeply. Dylan captured something raw, and to me, Catfish Hunter was pure badass.

Years later, while visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, I struck up a conversation with HoF President Josh Rawitch about baseball music. A passionate music fan himself, Josh later agreed to an interview for my video series, the Music People Project (click here to watch). After filming in his office, Josh introduced me to members of the Hall’s research team. What followed was an unforgettable discussion about the emotional, generational bond between music and baseball.

It became clear that this magical intersection—these iconic songs—had never been properly celebrated. Very little had been done to truly showcase the Best Baseball Songs of All Time in a meaningful way.

This website, curated by me—Michael J. Beckerich (or Mike Beckerich to most friends)—marks the beginning of my mission to honor this overlooked space. As a lifelong musician, baseball fanatic, and self-appointed baseball music expert, I have launched Baseball DJ to highlight the greats, explore deep cuts, and one day create a Baseball Music Hall of Fame or even a physical Baseball Music Exhibit.

Music and baseball both bring us home. It’s time we celebrated the soundtrack of America’s pastime.