Keith Anderson Hails National Pastime

Keith Anderson photo by Ron Reagan, courtesy of SonyBMG.

March 31, 2008 - Before he became a country artist, Keith Anderson considered the idea of a career in Major League Baseball, and he was good enough that he caught the attention of the Kansas City Royals. However, Keith suffered a shoulder injury that derailed those dreams, but he still is a big fan of the game, even while it endures controversy over steroid use.

"Unfortunately, baseball's taken a hit lately, just because there's so much going on," Keith told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "I have no doubt it's gonna come back and they'll get through these things right now. But I think it's just such a great, relaxing thing. You can go there and hang out all day, especially in the summertime — the great weather, get a cold beer or a soft drink or whatever, a hot dog, and not only watch the game, but there's so much going on. The people-watching, the things going on between [innings] — it's just a great time to take a friend, take whatever and hang out and just catch up on life. It's a great, relaxing thing to do."

The first game of the season in the U.S. was played last night in Washington, D.C., when the Nationals inaugurated their new ballpark with a game against the Atlanta Braves. The Braves will be at home tonight, and they're employing two country artists — Eric Church and Whiskey Falls — for the home opener. Whiskey Falls will perform "Load Up The Bases," which has been adopted as a Braves TV theme this year, at Turner Field before the game and will sing "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch. Eric will follow with "Take Me Out To The Ballgame."

A couple of country stars have also been tapped to sing the national anthem at two Texas home-openers next week: Jack Ingram performs "The Star-Spangled Banner" April 7 when the Houston Astros play the St. Louis Cardinals at Minute Maid Park; Neal McCoy does the honors April 8 when the Texas Rangers kick off their home schedule in Arlington against the Baltimore Orioles.