Scott Boehm / Getty Images Contributor

The sausage races at Miller Park are one of baseball's great traditions.

Hitting seventh …

The seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field
Fans sing the 7th inning stretch at every baseball game, but only at one ballpark do fans look up to the press box for inspiration. The late Cubs broadcaster, Harry Caray, was known to lead the 7th inning stretch from his perch in the press box at the Friendly Confines. And this tradition has continued since his death with celebrities leading the crowd into the stretch, from Chicago sports greats like Mike Ditka to “musician” Ozzy Osborne.

Batting eighth …

A video tribute to the Clydesdales at Busch Stadium
In the middle of the eighth inning, you might notice a familiar tune on the sound system and some noticeable horses on the gigantic right center field scoreboard in St. Louis. It’s the Clydesdales stomping across the videoboard (and literally across the field on Opening Day) along with the organist playing the “Here Comes the King” jingle from the original Budweiser Clydesdales television commercial of yesteryear. It’s still a fitting tribute for a city that has been making Budweiser since the 1880s. Incidentally, August A. Busch Jr. had presented the first Clydesdales to his father back in the 1930s to celebrate the repeal of prohibition.

And batting ninth …

The wildest, wackiest, most entertaining mascot in sports at Citizens Bank Park
You always need to be on your toes in the City of Brotherly Love because you never know what the Phillie Phanatic will be up to next. When he’s not stomping atop the Phillies dugout trying to ignite a rally or distract the opposing pitcher, the Phanatic is riding around the field on an ATV slinging hot dogs out of a cannon or just causing a general ruckus of wholesome entertainment.

Joe Connor is a freelance writer and author of the online MLB ballpark tour guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate Ballpark Tour: Fully Loaded!” which is available for purchase exclusively at his Web sites: www.modernerabaseball.com and www.mrsportstravel.com

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