Walk Up Mixtape: A List of the Best Walk Up Songs in MLB History
By Manny Gómez
Player: Trevor Hoffman, closer
Song: “Hells Bells” by ACDC
Before Mariano Rivera firmly took the mantle as the greatest closer of all time, the title belonged to Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman was never as dominant as guys like Rivera or Craig Kimbrel or Kenley Jansen, but when it came to closing out a game, he was just as automatic as any.
In his career, Hoffman amassed 601 saves while pitching to a 2.87 ERA and a 1.058 WHIP.
So automatic was Hoffman that upon being called upon to perform his duties on the mound, the loudspeakers Petco Park fittingly blasted the second song on this Walk Up Mixtape, ACDC’s “Hells Bells”. Akin to the Grim Reaper ushering the dead into the afterlife, Hoffman ushered the opposing team to their impending loss.
Watch Hoffman enter to “Hells Bells” HERE!
Player: Craig Kimbrel, closer
Song: “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent
Craig Kimbrel has already established himself as one of the greatest closers of all time. Among all closers in history with a minimum 500 IP, Kimbrel leads all in ERA (1.91), FIP (1.96), K/9 (14.67).
Kimbrel doesn’t just hold a reputation for his dominance, however. He is also the owner of one of the best walk-up songs in baseball. I’m talking about “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent, the third song on my Walk Up Mixtape. Like the song, Kimbrel’s presence on the mound means that the game is over.
It’s too bad that with less than 3-weeks before opening day, Kimbrel doesn’t have a team to play for. So slow has the market been for the dominant closer, that, though unlikely, he has actually considered sitting out.
Watch Kimbrel enter to “Stranglehold” HERE!