Take Me Out to the Library: A Solution to Sports Fans’ Cravings

Growing up outside Boston, I was a Red Sox fan. My greatest longing was to meet Carl Yastrzemski, Beantown’s legendary left fielder. I got my chance during spring training when my dad, a lifelong Yankees follower, granted my wish and took the family on a vacation side trip to Winter Haven, Florida. The meeting with the seven-time Gold Glove winner lasted just over a minute as practice was over and the team was headed to their cars in the parking lot, but I’ll never forget it! 

In 1989, Yaz was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. You can hear his acceptance speech on a special “Baseball Hall of Fame Moments” playlist available on Freegal Music that includes those of other baseball legends, including Kansas City Royals great George Brett who was inducted in 1999.

In addition to this playlist, you can access induction speeches made by Chiefs quarterback Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Landry, and others on the “Football Hall of Fame Moments” playlist. There are even some selections from old time radio shows where Bob Hope interviewed Babe Ruth as well as bits from Abbott and Costello’s famous “Who’s on First” routine—both are on the “MCPL: Baseball Radio Days” playlist.

Most people know Freegal as a source of music, and for those of you missing the music associated with game days, check out the “MCPL: Celebrating KC Sports Fans” playlist, which has more than 40 songs, including Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” as well as tunes by Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5, and others to help you relive Super Bowl halftime shows. It also includes ballpark favorites like Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Carly Simon. Start your Freegal account today using your MCPL Access Pass (Library card).

Here are a few other suggestions of ways to get your sports fix while we shelter at home:

• Digital Sports Books and Audiobooks: Our librarians have put together lists for you to access through our catalog or the OverDrive app, including Royals general manager Dayton Moore’s More Than a Season: Building a Championship Culture, Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant, and 100 Things Chiefs Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and the Royals version by the same name, among others. You can start today by downloading the OverDrive app to your mobile device using your Library card and looking for the Sports Fanatics list.                                                          

• Digital Sports Magazines: Access the latest digital issues of Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Kids, and Golf Magazine by creating an account through Flipster, as well as other sports magazines like Golf Digest through RBdigital.                                                                                                                                                                  
• Streaming Video: Explore sports history, view Ken Burns’ two-part film Jackie Robinson, see footage of Babe Ruth’s home run record, and watch documentaries on Muhammad Ali, Magic Johnson, KU hoops alum Joel Embiid, and more through Access Video On Demand.

If you don’t have an MCPL Access Pass (Library card), you can apply for one today. It will help you pass the time! If you’re a big sports fan like me, reliving great sports moments and hearing your sports idols definitely helps fill the current void. Enjoy!

Mary A.
Marketing & Communications