TAKE ME OUT TO THE RATT GAME.

For many of us, baseball is one of those sports that automatically makes you think of summertime. More specifically though, “America’s national pastime” means also the arrival of summer and everything that welcomes this time of year. Birds are chirping, the trees are lush, kids are out on their bikes and the ice cream man truck’s jingle can be heard in the distance. The crack of that wooden bat hitting the ball followed immediately by feet hitting the dusty infield.

Then suddenly, Ratt’s “Lay It Down” plays over the PA system!?

In 1985, iconic heavy metal vermin Ratt played a charity softball game in Tampa Bay against the radio station 95YNF. It pains me that I have to even say this but NO, these photos are NOT AI.

TNUC’s sources don’t provide stats or plays from the actual game, but based on images taken by photographer Christopher Helton, these Ratt ‘n Rollers were having a grand old time. Custom Team Ratt uniforms, ripping cigs in the dugout, drinking Bud heavy’s in the outfield and even singer Stephen Pearcy posed for a photo at the pitcher’s mound with his trusty inflatable rat.

“Take me out to the Ratt game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some Quaaludes and a fifth of Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back”

Here’s to summer days and double plays. I wonder if Ratt won the game and if they celebrated at Pizza Hut afterwards! Just the way God intended it…

Stephen Pearcy cruising the salad bar and smoking a cig. Warren DeMartini standing on a red checkered table playing a guitar solo. Robbin Crosby under the infamous Pizza Hut chandelier with a super supreme pan pizza. Juan Crucier practicing his stage moves by twirling around the brass railings. Bobby Blotzer in the bathroom the entire time after a bad decision to order that nuclear bowl of chili.