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Charles City pianist gets Major League support for virtual rendition of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’

  • A group of about 200 people including current and former Major League Baseball players and others connected to the sport, along with musicians from Brooklyn College, were brought together by Charles City native and Brooklyn College master's degree student Harrison Sheckler to create a virtual rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in honor of the start of the season this week. (YouTube screen capture)

  • Former Major League Baseball pitcher Bronson Arroyo helped Charles City native and Brooklyn College master's degree music student Harrison Sheckler assemble about 200 people including current and former Major League Baseball players and others connected to the sport, along with musicians from Brooklyn College, to create a virtual rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in honor of the start of the season this week. (YouTube screen capture)

To The Press

In May, Harrison Sheckler put together a virtual rendition of Rodger and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” that earned more than 1.1 million views on YouTube and a lot of media attention.

Now, Sheckler — a Charles City native, Brooklyn College master’s degree music student and also a big baseball fan — is bringing the world together for a virtual version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

Charles City pianist gets Major League support for virtual rendition of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’
Harrison Sheckler

Just in time for the start of the 2020 season, Sheckler solicited students and faculty from Brooklyn College for the video project that was professionally produced with help from former Major League pitcher Bronson Arroyo and many others who are playing, have played or are related in other ways to professional baseball.

In addition to Arroyo, other Major Leaguers include former pitcher and current network analyst Ryan Dempster, Royals Hall of Fame pitcher and 1985 World Series champion Bret Saberhagen, former Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez, Twins pitcher Randy Dobnak, Rangers pitcher Nick Goody and Ryan “Scooter’ Gennett.

In total, 200 people lent their voices or instruments to the project.

Here is the video on YouTube. It is also available on Sheckler’s Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter.

Filling out the roster for the project are Aristides Aquino, Red’s outfielder; Matt Strahm, Padre’s pitcher; Jim Day, FOX Red’s baseball announcer; Jerry Hairston Jr.; James Loney; Chase D’Arnaud; Jeff Frye; Jonny Gomes; Susan Roush Dellinger, author of “Red Legs and Black Sox” and granddaughter of Baseball Hall of Famer Edd Roush; Buddy Reed Jr., Athletic’s prospect; Vince Cotroneo, Athletic’s radio announcer; Jenny Cavnar, Rockies’ TV; Brian Anderson, Brewer’s TV announcer; Jeff Passan, ESPN baseball analyst; and former MLB umpire Dale Scott.

“In honor of the start of the 2020 baseball season, I am excited to present to you my arrangement of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” for virtual choir/orchestra featuring MLB players and guests,” Sheckler said.

“Because we will have to cheer on our favorite baseball teams from the safety of our own homes this season, I wanted to create a fun and engaging video to help bring fans closer to the game. And what better way than to sing the 7th inning classic ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’!”

Sheckler said he wanted to thank Arroyo, who he called a talented musician in additional to being a Major League pitcher and who shared his time to help make the video possible.

“Thank you to our special guests for participating in the project, the amazing symphony members who played beautifully, the fans who shared their love for music and baseball, and to my amazing production team who always knock it out of the park! Play ball!” he said.

Sheckler’s team of Brooklyn College music student classmates who participated included recent graduate Alan Briones, vocals; and students Lucy Hatem, clarinet; Cassie Mehl, cello; Allan Randall, percussion; Marissa Prepose, vocals; Gina Squicciarini, vocals; Aliyah Jacobsen, vocals; and Annie Hung, violin.

Sheckler’s Brooklyn College piano professor and acclaimed composer Jeffrey Biegel also performed on the track.
Sheckler is working on his masters degree in music at Brooklyn College, a senior college within The City University of New York.

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