Well, baseball's spring training is finally over and it always makes me joyful - even if I am a Philadelphia Phillies fan. Last season was magical, but without Rhys Hoskins anything could happen. The thing about baseball is that every year, every team starts the season unbeaten with highest hopes. On this edition of the program we celebrate the occasion with music about the national pastime. We'll hear selections from John McCutcheon, John Gorka, Danielle Miraglia, Caroline Spence, Harry Caray and of course, Steve Goodman, and many more. Play Ball! … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Chris Thile / “Shadow Ridge” / Leading Off... / Sugar Hill

Peter Cooper / “Opening Day” / Opening Day / Red Beet

Harry Caray / “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” / Chicago Cubs Greatest Hits / Marquee Alphabet City

John Gorka / “Branching Out” / Before Beginning / Red House

Caroline Spence / “Softball” / Spades & Roses / Self-released

Artie Traum & Pat Alger / “The Home Run Kid” / From the Heart / Rounder

Chuck Brodsky / “Splinter Cheeks Johnson” / Tell Tale Heart / Self-released

Chuck Brodsky / “Funeral For the Curse” / Them and Us / Self-released

Danielle Miraglia / “Heat of the Win” / Glory Junkies / Self- released

Chris Thile / “Old Dangerfield” / Leading Off... / Sugar Hill

Dave Frishberg / “Van Lingle Mungo” / Baseball's Greatest Hits / Rhino

John McCutcheon / “Doing My Job” / Sermon on the Mound / Appalseed

Dana Cooke / “Christmas Down in Cooperstown” / Diamond Cuts-Turning Two / Hungry for Music

Steve Goodman / “A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request / Diamond Cuts-Seventh Inning Stretch / Hungry for Music

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways