Sure, Yo La Tengo’s name literally translates to an outfielder’s cry of “I’ve got it” in Spanish, The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn has been known to sport a Minnesota Twins jersey on stage, and Joe Pernice of the Pernice Brothers is an avowed Boston Red Sox fan (bleech), but we hadn’t seen much of an allegiance otherwise. Actually, probably the complete opposite.
Which is why the news of Young Fresh Fellows’ Scott McCaughey, REM’s Peter Buck and The Dream Syndicate’s Steve Wynn teaming up with some of their indie rock brethren for The Baseball Project, and recording a baseball lore-imbued, debut album titled Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails was quite a surprise. Said to be an irreverent but loving tribute to the sport and its iconic tales and idols, the album’s song titles include “Ted Fucking Williams”, “Gratitude (For Curt Flood)”, “Satchel Paige Said”, and of course, “Sometimes I Dream of Willie Mays”.
Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails is due out July 8 via Yep Roc.
