Terry Cashman
Encyclopedia
Terry Cashman is a record producer
and singer-songwriter
, best known for his 1981 hit, "Talkin' Baseball
." While the song is well recognized today, it was all but ignored by typical Top 40 radio during its chart life, making only the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Cashman was the lead singer for a band
called The Chevrons in the late 1950s. He also played Minor League Baseball
in the Detroit Tigers
organization at around the same time.
In 1967, Cashman teamed up with Gene Pistilli and Tommy West
to form the pop-folk group Cashman, Pistilli and West. Their debut album, Bound to Happen (1967) included the Cashman-Pistilli composition "Sunday Will Never Be the Same", a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
for Spanky and Our Gang
that year and #7 in Canada
. Cashman, Pistilli and West (later reduced to Cashman & West) enjoyed modest success, recording six albums through 1975. In the fall of 1972, Cashman & West's song, "American City Suite" hit #27 on Billboard's chart and #25 on the Canadian RPM
charts.
Cashman and Pistilli also had a #22 hit single
(#15 in Canada) "Medicine Man", under the name The Buchanan Brothers. Their song "Son of a Lovin' Man" hit #50 in Canada. Cashman and West jointly produced Jim Croce
's recordings in the early 1970s. In 1975 they launched Lifesong Records, which would have hits including "Shannon" by Henry Gross
and "Ariel" by Dean Friedman
.
Inspired by a picture he had received of Willie Mays
, Duke Snider
, and Mickey Mantle
, Cashman decided to write a song dedicated to 1950s baseball
. The popular choral refrain
in the song "Talkin' Baseball" — "Willie, Mickey, and The Duke" — immediately struck a chord with fans
in 1981
who were disappointed by the Major League Baseball strike that summer.
Cashman has later redone this song with new lyrics
for most of the Major League teams, still featuring the "Talkin' Baseball" refrain. Because of this, he is now known as "The Balladeer of Baseball". He did a parody of the song, Talkin' Softball, for an episode of The Simpsons
, called "Homer at the Bat
." The song plays over the closing credits
.
The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Cashman in summer 2011 as part of induction weekend, 30 years after his song that pays homage to Mays, Mantle and Snider became a ballpark favorite. Cashman will perform his ballpark anthem once again during ceremonies on July 23, 2011, a day before Roberto Alomar
, Bert Blyleven
and Pat Gillick
are inducted.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, best known for his 1981 hit, "Talkin' Baseball
Talkin' Baseball
"Talkin' Baseball" is a 1981 song written and performed by Terry Cashman. The song describes the history of American major league baseball from the 1950s to the beginning of the 1980s. The song was originally released during the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, and was inspired by a picture of...
." While the song is well recognized today, it was all but ignored by typical Top 40 radio during its chart life, making only the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Cashman was the lead singer for a band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
called The Chevrons in the late 1950s. He also played Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organization at around the same time.
In 1967, Cashman teamed up with Gene Pistilli and Tommy West
Tommy West (producer)
Tommy West is an American record producer and singer-songwriter.-Early career:...
to form the pop-folk group Cashman, Pistilli and West. Their debut album, Bound to Happen (1967) included the Cashman-Pistilli composition "Sunday Will Never Be the Same", a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for Spanky and Our Gang
Spanky and Our Gang
Spanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s folk-rock band led by Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The band derives its name from Hal Roach's popular Our Gang comedies of the 1930s...
that year and #7 in Canada
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
. Cashman, Pistilli and West (later reduced to Cashman & West) enjoyed modest success, recording six albums through 1975. In the fall of 1972, Cashman & West's song, "American City Suite" hit #27 on Billboard's chart and #25 on the Canadian RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
charts.
Cashman and Pistilli also had a #22 hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(#15 in Canada) "Medicine Man", under the name The Buchanan Brothers. Their song "Son of a Lovin' Man" hit #50 in Canada. Cashman and West jointly produced Jim Croce
Jim Croce
James Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles...
's recordings in the early 1970s. In 1975 they launched Lifesong Records, which would have hits including "Shannon" by Henry Gross
Henry Gross
Henry Gross , is an American singer-songwriter best known for his association with the group, Sha Na Na, and for his hit song, "Shannon".-Early years:...
and "Ariel" by Dean Friedman
Dean Friedman
Dean Friedman is an American singer-songwriter who plays piano, keyboard, guitar and other instruments, including the harmonica.-Music:...
.
Inspired by a picture he had received of Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, Duke Snider
Duke Snider
Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider , nicknamed "The Silver Fox" and "The Duke of Flatbush", was a Major League Baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , and San Francisco Giants .Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of...
, and Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
, Cashman decided to write a song dedicated to 1950s baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. The popular choral refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
in the song "Talkin' Baseball" — "Willie, Mickey, and The Duke" — immediately struck a chord with fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
in 1981
1981 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager, co-MVPsNOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
who were disappointed by the Major League Baseball strike that summer.
Cashman has later redone this song with new lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
for most of the Major League teams, still featuring the "Talkin' Baseball" refrain. Because of this, he is now known as "The Balladeer of Baseball". He did a parody of the song, Talkin' Softball, for an episode of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, called "Homer at the Bat
Homer at the Bat
"Homer at the Bat" is the seventeenth episode of The Simpsons third season, which originally aired February 20, 1992. The episode follows the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant softball team, led by Homer, having a winning season and making the championship game. Mr. Burns makes a large bet that the...
." The song plays over the closing credits
Closing credits
Closing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
.
The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Cashman in summer 2011 as part of induction weekend, 30 years after his song that pays homage to Mays, Mantle and Snider became a ballpark favorite. Cashman will perform his ballpark anthem once again during ceremonies on July 23, 2011, a day before Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
, Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to , and was best known for his curveball. Blyleven was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011...
and Pat Gillick
Pat Gillick
Lawrence Patrick David Gillick is a retired American professional baseball executive. He was the general manager of four Major League Baseball teams, and guided two teams to three World Series championships in his career: in 1992 and 1993 titles with the Toronto Blue Jays, and a 2008 title with...
are inducted.