Are you ready for some baseball? If so you are in luck as this evening the 106th edition of the World Series takes place. The popular Fall Classic will get underway at exactly 7:57PM – EDT at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The Texas Rangers who have never won a title are hoping to upset the Giants.
The following are a few interesting facts about The World Series.
- The first World Series of baseball took place in 1903 between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Americans.
- Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the first and only perfect game in World Series history in 1956.
- The first World Series shown on TV was the 1947 World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers.
- The 1989 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s was postponed for 10 days after a massive earthquake rocked Northern California.
- The 1994 World Series was cancelled after baseball players went on strike in August of 1994.
For Clay Aiken, the 2003 World Series must hold a special place in his memory. Clay was chosen to sing the Star Spangled Banner at the opening game of the series. The New York Yankees were hosting the Florida Marlins at Yankee Stadium. Clay sang a great rendition of the difficult anthem, even when being interrupted by the low flying Stealth Bombers. I wonder if Clay still has his World Series Jacket from that night.
I have always thought it was a huge honor to be invited to sing at the opening game of a World Series. It made me wonder who has done this in the years since Clay sang in 2003.
- 2004 Steven Tyler – the lead singer of Aerosmith
- 2005 Josh Grobin
- 2006 Bob Seeger – refused to sing the Star Spangled Banner because he said it was too hard to sing. He chose to sing America the Beautiful.
- 2007 John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra
- 2008 Backstreet Boys
- 2009 Alicia Keys
- 2010 It was announced that John Legend will be singing tonight.
Did you watch Clay sing the Star Spangled Banner that night? Did you hold your breath the entire time like I did? What an exciting time for Clay, his family, friends and fans!!
Why not watch the performance again. This time you can breathe!!
There is nothing like hearing Clay sing the Star Spangled Banner. Beautiful.
And since I'm from Dallas, I have to say Go Rangers!! 🙂
So incredibly sweet!!!!!! Love this.
What an honour that must have been for Clay, to sing at the World Series… It certainly is an elite list that gets that opportunity. I love Clay's version of the Star Spangled Banner… It's always a thrill to see him sing this….. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane again Musicfan. I hope one day he is asked to sing again….I'm sure he will, as he is the best male singer of today….
Love Clay Aiken's version of the SSB. Truly inspiring.
He sings it the way its suppose to be sung, not like others trying all the vocal gymnastics. I respect that when a singer, sings it with the respect it deserves. I was so proud of him that day. Hope he can do it again.
Looks like Clay was the only AI who was chosen to sing at the World Series in all these years. What a fantastic job he did. I feel that I should be standing instead of sitting at the computer while he sings the Star Spangled Banner!
I loved seeing that again. He sang the SSB so good…the way it should be sung. I am sure he will sing it again…after all, he has got a great voice.
Clay sings the SSB like no one else can. I loved listening to him singing it again. Thanks!
So many people murder the Star Spangled Banner, but I never have to worry when Clay steps up to the mic to sing it. Clay is always on pitch and doesn't feel the need to do any fancy vocal arrangements that this song doesn't need.