The surprising history behind ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ — the anthem of America’s pastime

Everyone knows the song.

It’s a warm summer night, the top of the seventh inning has just concluded, and the organ begins to ring throughout the stadium. It’s time to whip out the singing voice for one of America’s most iconic tunes — “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

At a time when baseball fandom was overwhelmingly male-dominated, the character of Katie stands out as an unusual creation for the era.

Yet few baseball fans, let alone Americans at large, know the true history behind the 118-year-old symbol of our country’s pastime.

To get to the beginning, we must travel back to the time of President Theodore Roosevelt. The year is 1908: The Ford Model T makes its debut in the automobile market; New York City drops