The Baseballs are a German rock and roll band founded in Berlin in 2007. They became popular with 1950s and 1960s style rock cover versions of modern pop hits such as "Umbrella" by Rihanna, "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé, "Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry, and "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen. The band members are only credited by their nicknames (Sam, Digger, and Basti). Their version of "Umbrella" was a hit in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway.
Musical career Their debut album, Strike!, was produced by JMC Music and released in May 2009 in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, in October 2009 in Finland, in December 2009 in Sweden, in February in Norway and in March 2010 in The Netherlands. It reached No. 15 in Austria, No. 6 in Germany, No. 2 in Switzerland and the Netherlands, No. 1 in Finland, No. 1 in Sweden and No. 1 in the Norwegian album charts. In the UK it was released on Rhino Records UK on 17 May 2010.
The band re-released the album in 2010 as Strike! Back! The lead single is a rockabilly version of Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars." The video features the band rocking a 1950s prom.
In the UK, The Baseballs have appeared on ITV1's The David Dickinson Show, Magic Numbers and This Morning. In Ireland, The Baseballs have appeared on RTÉ's The Late Late Show. In Australia the group appeared on Channel 9's Hey Hey It's Saturday. In New Zealand they appeared on TVNZ's Good Morning.
In 2010 the band supported guitarist Jeff Beck on his "Emotion and Commotion" tour as his opening act.
On 6 June 2011, the Baseballs released their second album titled Strings 'n' Stripes. It included new singles tracks such as "Candy Shop", "Hello" and "Paparazzi".
On 1 August 2011, The Baseballs released together with General Mills – the producer of the ice cream Häagen-Dazs – within an advertising campaign with Cosma Shiva Hagen a free download of the song "Wha Wha" – which was written especially for the campaign. The track is freely available and can be downloaded from the German site of the brand Häagen-Dazs.
On 25 May 2012, The Baseballs released their first live CD/DVD, Strings 'n' Stripes Live.
On 17 July 2023, The Baseballs announced that Digger had left the band.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications GER AUT BEL (FL) DEN ESP FIN NL NOR SWE SWI UK Strike! Released: 15 May 2009 Label: Warner Formats: CD, digital download 6 5 1 5 29 1 2 1 1 2 4 BVMI: Platinum BPI: Gold GLF: Platinum IFPI FIN: 3× Platinum IFPI NOR: Platinum IFPI SWI: Platinum NVPI: Platinum Strings 'n' Stripes Released: 15 April 2011 Label: Warner Formats: CD, LP, digital download 5 3 10 — 29 2 4 — 4 1 74 Good Ol' Christmas Released: 11 February 2012 Label: Warner Formats: CD, digital download 25 22 — — — 36 — — — 10 — Game Day Released: 7 March 2014 Label: Warner Formats: CD, digital download 22 17 — — — — 88 — — 5 — Hit Me Baby... Released: 9 September 2016 Label: Warner Formats: CD, digital download 9 8 54 — — — 62 — — 4 — The Sun Sessions Released: 20 October 2017 Label: Warner Formats: CD, digital download 43 38 — — — — — — — 36 — Hot Shots Released: 28 May 2021 Label: Electrola Formats: CD, digital download 13 — 151 — — — — — — 7 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) Album GER AUT ESP FIN ICEIcelandic Singles Chart NL NOR SWE SWI UKChart Log UK 2010 Weekly Updates (scroll down to Baseballs - artists in alphabetical order) 2009 "Umbrella" 43 58 38 1 22 3 6 19 9 124 FIN: Platinum Strike! "Hot n Cold" 68 65 — 7 — 99 — — 52 — 2010 "Last in Line" — — — 13 — — — — — — Strike! Back! "Chasing Cars" — — — — — — — — — — 2011 "Candy Shop" — 69 — — — — — — — — Strings 'N' Stripes "Hello" 100 41 — — — — — — 68 — "This is a Night (Het is een Nacht)" (feat. Guus Meeuwis) — — — — — 69 — — — —
Various releases 2011: "Wha Wha" (Promotional) 2016: "...Baby One More Time" 2019: Cadillac Maniac ft. Kissin Dynamite 2020: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" 2020: "Take On Me" 2020: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" 2021: "Rock Me Amadeus"
Awards Year Ceremony Award Result 2010 EMMA Awards Best selling Album ECHO Awards Best National Newcomer 2011 EBBA Awards European Border Breakers Award EBBA Awards Public Choice Award ECHO Awards Most successful Act on foreign country, national
References
External links Official Website