Esquire's List of Baseball's Worst Walk Up Songs [View all]

[Initech]

Baseball players have precious few opportunities to express themselves on the field. This is, of course, setting aside minor sartorial choices like pants pulled up to the knees or hats tilted to the side. And some young guys have even started -- don't panic -- showing emotion on the baseball field, but as Carlos Gomez has learned, that violates baseball’s ancient rules.

The rules are stupid, but that leaves only one true mode of self-expression on a baseball field: walk-up music, the stuff that blares from the PA in that brief moment a player moves from on-deck circle to batter's box (or bullpen to mound) and gives fans a peek at his personality. It doesn’t last any longer than ten seconds, but Oakland A’s outfielder Josh Reddick made news by choosing the cheesy sax riff that starts George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” as his walk-up song.

The originality is commendable, but the choice is deplorable. It’s hard not to think Reddick was making a mockery of the walk-up song. We can’t endorse that. Frighteningly, Reddick and “Careless Whisper” just still missed inclusion on our list of the worst walk-up songs being used in baseball today. Yep, there are ten worse songs than an intentionally bad one. We’re here to prove it.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/news/worst-walk-up-songs

Full list:

10. David Wright, 3B, Mets: "The Right Stuff" - New Kids On The Block
9. Mike Dunn, RP, Miami Marlins: "Dark Horse" - Katy Perry
8. JD Martinez, Outfielder, Detroit Tigers: "Dancing Queen" - ABBA
7. Pete Kozma, SS, St. Louis Cardinals: "Keep Away" - Godsmack
6. Drew Hutchinson, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: "Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen
5. Mike Carp, 1B/OF, Boston Red Sox: "Heartache Tonight", The Eagles
4. Blake Beaven, SP, Seattle Mariners: "Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice
3. Tony Sanchez, C, Pittsburgh Pirates: "Fantasy" - Mariah Carey
2. Kelly Johnson, 1B/OF, New York Yankees: "Tonight Tonight" - Hot Chelle Rae
1. Lyle Overbay, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers: "Take A Look Around" - Limp Bizkit

Drew Hutchinson deserves serious for that choice of song, but the rest are all equally horrible.