Philadelphia Flyers and New York Yankees to cut all ties with Kate Smith
The Philadelphia Flyers and New York Yankees have announced that they will stop using Kate Smith’s version of “God Bless America” due to a recent controversy.
Since 1969, Kate Smith’s version of “God Bless America” has been a staple at Philadelphia Flyers games. The team believed it was good luck when they had her sing or they played her version. As of 2016, the Flyers had a remarkable 100 wins, 29 losses, and five ties when using Smith’s version.
She first sang “God Bless America” on Dec. 11, 1969. Smith would later sing it in person numerous times, including right before Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Final. Her last live performance was during the 1985 Stanley Cup Final.
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
One day after the New York Yankees announced that they will not use Smith’s version of “God Bless America” during home games, the Flyers issued a statement saying they will follow suit immediately.
"We have recently become aware that several songs performed by Kate Smith contain offensive lyrics that do not reflect our values as an organization. As we continue to look into this serious matter, we are removing Kate Smith’s recording of ‘God Bless America’ from our library and covering up the statue that stands outside of our arena."
The bronze statue that stands outside of Xfinity Live, where the Flyers arena is located, is now draped in black. It was originally erected in 1987 outside of the Spectrum to honor Smith and her part in Flyers history. When that building was demolished in 2011, the statue was moved to the new Sports Complex.
The New York Yankees announced yesterday, via a statement to the NY Daily News, that they would no longer play Smith’s version of the song. The Yankees began playing Smith’s rendition shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. It has been used during the seventh-inning stretch of Yankees games since that time. Since then, it has been replaced with a different version of the song.
Next. Every Team's Mount Rushmore. dark
The Flyers have been relying more on Lauren Hart, daughter of former broadcaster Gene Hart, as their anthemist of late. The club last played Smith’s version as a split screen duet with Hart, during their 2018 Stanley Cup series against cross-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins.