For the second time, Brad Paisley performs National Anthem before historic World Series game
By Matthew Young, RealWV
LOS ANGELES, CA. – Although West Virginia is not the home of any major league teams, recent years have seen the Mountain State play a significant role in shaping the future of professional baseball.
Bolstered by the successes of the 2024 Southern Division Champion Charleston Dirty Birds, attendance numbers indicate that more and more West Virginians are turning their eyes to our national pastime. In addition to the Southern Division title, back-to-back seasons have seen Charleston ballplayers named league MVP. However on Monday night, it was a world famous musician from Marshall County who helped bring more than 30 million eyes from all over the world to southern California, for game three of the World Series.
Glen Dale’s very own Brad Douglas Paisley – whose 2017 release, “Love and War,” marked his twelfth studio album – for the fourth time in his storied career, performed the National Anthem to kick off a World Series game.
Not only was Paisley’s performance well-received by fans and critics alike, but it marked the start of what would become a historic game for Major League Baseball. For only the second time in the 122-year history of the World Series – and the post-season as a whole – the game lasted 18 innings. The Los Angeles Dodgers would eventually defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, after a walk-off home run from Freddie Freeman. But if Monday night’s game wasn’t enough to solidify the Dodgers’ place in World Series history, the club’s performance in the 2018 World Series makes the argument irrefutable.
This situation was incredibly similar that October. Removing Toronto and inserting the Boston Red Sox, but game three was once again played in Los Angeles. The game once again went 18 innings – the only other time a post-season game has gone 18 innings – and the game was once again won by the Dodgers after a walk-off home run.
And for yet another piece of baseball trivia, the National Anthem for game three of the 2018 World Series – which was once again won by the Los Angeles Dodgers on a walk-off home run in the 18th inning – was performed by Brad Douglas Paisley, of Glen Dale, West Virginia.
In the “bonus” round of any game of baseball trivia, each of Paisley’s four World Series performances have seen the game go to extra innings. In 2017, game two lasted 11 innings. And in 2024, with Paisley kicking off the spectacle with a performance at game one, fans got a small bonus with a 10 inning game.
In a Tuesday interview with Billboard, Paisley jokingly referred to himself as “Mr. More Baseball.” And as is to be expected from a sport that loves, loves, loves its statistics, MLB writer Theo DeRosa referred to Monday’s game as “déjà vu.” And while speaking with Variety, Paisley said that he “had no idea” that his performance at the game would have “major cosmic ramifications.”
Growing up, Paisley says he, like most in northern West Virginia seem to do, rooted for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But after locating to Los Angeles with his wife, “Father of the Bride” star Kimberly Williams, Paisley has become a die-hard Dodger fan, making these remarkable coincidences even more special. And as the cherry on top, Tuesday marked Paisley’s 53rd birthday. Due to the lengthy game lasting well over six hours, it was already Paisley’s birthday in West Virginia when the winning home run was hit.
RealWV would like to join all of West Virginia, and Dodgers fans everywhere, in wishing Brad Paisley the happiest of birthdays.
