Top 10 Phillies players with the best walk-up songs

The evolution of walk-up music has transformed from an occasional ditty by a creative ballpark organist to a staple for baseball players, fans, and organizations.

But how did it start? In the 1970s, organist Nancy Faust would play the home state song of each White Sox player when they made their way to the plate. Fans started to take interest, believing it contributed toward how the players performed.

» READ MORE: Chase Utley’s iconic walk-up song can be traced back to Dick Allen and a White Sox organist

Now, whether what is played is Led Zeppelin, Meek Mill, or any other genre, players are recognized in their home ballparks by their song choices. They’re a window into each player’s personality and interests.

Over a long history of many song options, it wasn’t easy compiling a list of Phillies players with the best walk-up songs. Here’s the top 10.

Pierre signed a minor league contract with the Phillies in 2012 and choose the Philly hit as his walk-up song. It was released in 1982 and was the soundtrack for Rocky III.

Maybe Eye of the Tiger motivated Pierre, who batted .307. It sure did drive Rocky to beat Clubber Lang.

Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury’s book, The Rotation: A Season with the Phillies and the Greatest Pitching Staff Ever Assembled, mentioned Kevin Camiscioli, former Phillies’ manager of video services. Camiscioli asked Halladay what he would want his warm-up music to be. Halladay said he could not care less because he couldn’t even hear it.

Camiscioli told music director Mark Wyatt to play the Led Zeppelin tune. It was a good pickby Wyatt.

Zeppelin must have been playing throughout the Phillies’ locker room. Utley didn’t care much about his walk-up song, but he finally decided on Kashmir.

“I went home, listened to it, and said, ‘You know what, the beginning of that is pretty cool. It creates some drama and has a good vibe,’ ” Utley said.

The best walk-up song moment had to be when Utley returned to Citizens Bank Park in 2016 as a Los Angeles Dodger. He walked up to bat with Kashmir playing in the background. The crowd stood and applaudedthe six-time All-Star, who won a World Series title with the team in 2008.

Howard used the song as his walk-up music in his final year with the team in 2016.

A fun fact about this song is that it was the last single the two artists collaborated on before their feud in 2015. The Philly-based rapper criticized Drake on Twitter after being upset with Drake’s non-involvement in the promotion of the album Dreams Worth More Than Money. Mill claimed Drake used ghostwriters to write songs.

Stop comparing drake to me too…. He don’t write his own raps! That’s why he ain’t tweet my album because we found out!”

A couple of diss tracks later, the two put an end to their beef in 2018, dropping the single Going Bad.

Saunders played one season with the Phillies in 2017. The outfielder struggled to a .205 batting average with six home runs, but had this superb walk-up song.

The R&B hit from the 1990s was the last song released before Biggie’s death from a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997.

Hypnotize has carried The Notorious B.I.G. legacy, being heard in films, TV shows, and in this case, a walk-up song.

Hamels used the famous rock song for his pitching warmups.

The single dropped in 1990, and is still memorable. When it comes to opening verses, Thunderstruck nails this with a guitar riff that builds up more and more throughout the song.

Another pitcher who choose an iconic heavy metal song for warmups.

This has to be on Metallica’s list of greatest hits, as it is also one of the band’s most streamed songs and has often been played live at award ceremonies. Talking about a build up ― the 90s’ single doesn’t have any vocals until more than a minute in.

Stubbs used the wit and easy sounds of Sinatra as the catcher’s walk-up music.

This classic tune is a different pace than rock. That’s Life became a top-five hit for Sinatra in 1966-67 at a time when rock music dominated the charts.

Eflin warms up before home games with the opening notes of the band’s classic. The relaxing 1970s tune helps balance Eflin’s emotions on the mound.

After Free Bird was released in 1973, the song became more popular over time. It was included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

» READ MORE: Phillies second-half preview: Trade needs, road to the playoffs and when will Bryce Harper return?

Harper, a man with a laundry list of superstitions that he runs through before every game, most likely put some thought into his choice.

The slugger has three other walk-up songs: Paradise by Bazzi, Young Once by Sam Hunt, and Ride Wit Me by Nelly and City Spudmost. But he has said he’s most associated with Flower by Moby.