That's Quite a Stretch

Answer: TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

Explanation: Ten entries are really a long stretch indeed - since they're all ERA (a long stretch). But there has to be more than that! When in doubt, check the clues: the initial letters of the ERA entries (across first, then down) spell out KATIE CASEY. Who's that? Since we're finding a song, a quick search on the Google of "Katie Casey song" gives us a bevy of hits for TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME. Katie Casey is the named character in the original lyrics, with a great message that gets lost with only the chorus. That song is our meta answer and, of course, its presence during the 7th-inning stretch in many ballparks (not just Wrigley!) is our titular tie-in.

YAY I got a sportsing(ish) meta! Very clever idea and implementation. I was afraid this was going to be one of those songs I'd never hear of. Thanks, Mikey!

Apt. Nice. Thanks.

Didn't find Katie Casey, because we also included the two clues that have ERA embedded. The solution was a SWAG based on the seventh inning stretch.

My first choice was “We ARE never ever getting back together” by you-know-who cuz ARE getting back would be ERA.

My first submission was wrong, although I thought it a great answer. But once I got the correct answer, I knew it had to be right. Very nice mini meta. Thanks, Mikey!

Shoulda known...shouda known... Good one, Mikey! Thanks!

Wow. Not what I was expecting but dang am I glad.

Very cool!

Oh good gracious -- needed the nudge but shouldn't have. When solving a Mikey G puzzle, always always always look at the clues if you don't see anything else. Oh well, onto baseball season. Thanks for the puzzle.

Definitely needed the hint!

found out way more about Taylor Swift than I need to know. We are never ever getting back together. There.

I'm accepting "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - that's just too good.

I believe the Swift song is the only one from the Eras tour music list that has a seven word title.

Hmm, too bad "we are never ever getting back together" wasn't accepted when I tried this the first time by googling 7 word song titles by taylor swift. I had to use all the nudges and all the google to come up with the intended answer. Even after the nudges I couldn't make anything with CAKASTEYIE and then when I tried to separate them I had CASEY KATIE for which the top five google hits were some variation of "For Katie - song and lyrics by Casey". I'll just take the L.

Was scared this would require TS knowledge, none of which I possess. Turned out to require other knowledge I didn't possess . But eventually I got around to googling the result of the blatant nudge in enough different ways that I eventually hit upon it. Fun concept, thanks. :)

Heh. Heh. I just got the title.

So you could not get Nelly Kelly in there? I wasn't sure what to do with the 10 eras, but when I got KATIE CASEY, well I bought myself some peanuts and crackerjacks and then waited because I didn't care if I ever got back....

I have to admit, when I first solved the grid I wanted it to be: "in one era and out the other" but saw it was an actual song you wanted. Now I have to work on the Middle puzzle where I am stuck.

Needed the 2nd nudge...thanks Mikey!

I just kept waiting for you to accept my 7 word answer

I've Had the Time of my Life... you can't get any more "era" than that!