In this, the penultimate episode of our summer listen series, we're taking you out to the ball game.

This piece was reported way back in 2001 by then-O-TM reporter, now just host Mike Peska.

The Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 9 to 7 at the stadium Wednesday night.

The game featured two innings of stellar relief from Mariano Rivera, Tino Martinez's 24th home run of the season,

and 41,714 people simultaneously standing and invoking a brand-name consumer non-durable.

On Wednesday night, as on most nights throughout the summer,

thousands of Americans stood up and sang the word

Cracker Jack.

Last year, over 72 million customers

saw a Major League Baseball game,

and at a certain juncture in each,

they were all invited to participate

in the most entrenched

product placement in American history.

Cracker Jacks! Cracker Jack!

It is technically Cracker Jack, not Cracker Jacks, on the box and in the song lyrics.

Pluralized or not, Cracker Jack has achieved a singular place in the American psyche, if not consciousness.

So what do you eat when you come to the ballpark?

Of course you got to have a hot dog and you always eat Cracker Jacks.

Why?

Well, because they're just the best.

Why?

...