<P> There is no certain date when the tradition began , but the practice gained exceptional notoriety from broadcaster Harry Caray . Caray would sing the song to himself in the broadcast booth during the stretch while a play - by - play announcer for the Chicago White Sox . After hearing him sing one day , White Sox owner Bill Veeck Jr. , the famed baseball promoter , had Caray 's microphone turned on so that the ballpark could hear him sing . When Caray moved into the Chicago Cubs broadcast booth , he continued the practice , sparking what has become a Cubs tradition by regularly leading the crowd in singing the song in every seventh - inning stretch . Since his death , the Cubs have invited various celebrities to lead the crowd during the stretch , including James Belushi , John Cusack , Mike Ditka , Michael J. Fox , Bill Murray , Dan Patrick , Ozzy Osbourne , Eddie Vedder , Mr. T and Billy Corgan . </P>
<P> There is no certain date when the tradition began , but the practice gained exceptional notoriety from broadcaster Harry Caray . Caray would sing the song to himself in the broadcast booth during the stretch while a play - by - play announcer for the Chicago White Sox . After hearing him sing one day , White Sox owner Bill Veeck Jr. , the famed baseball promoter , had Caray 's microphone turned on so that the ballpark could hear him sing . When Caray moved into the Chicago Cubs broadcast booth , he continued the practice , sparking what has become a Cubs tradition by regularly leading the crowd in singing the song in every seventh - inning stretch . Since his death , the Cubs have invited various celebrities to lead the crowd during the stretch , including James Belushi , John Cusack , Mike Ditka , Michael J. Fox , Bill Murray , Dan Patrick , Ozzy Osbourne , Eddie Vedder , Mr. T and Billy Corgan . </P>
who started singing take me out to the ballgame
who started singing take me out to the ballgame
broadcaster Harry Caray
broadcaster Harry Caray