The Ballpark Organists

[Elvis]

Found a Wonderfull Link:

http://www.ballparktour.com/Organists.html

I grew up listening to Helen Dell in Dodger Stadium. She was great!

[Soxphotos]

ballpark organists

Thank you for the link! Growing up with the White Sox, I foundly recall the days our family would arrive early for batting practice in White Sox Park (early 1970's). Nancy Faust would play song after song from the time the gates opened until the game was over. Hopefully baseball officials will keep the live organ music. In Chicago, the canned music blasted every 2 seconds is really bad. Nancy Faust is heard about 1/3 of the time. I wonder if stadium organists are being phased out everywhere.

For a sample of Nancy's music circa 1973 (and soon 1972), visit WWW.Chicago-Baseball-Photos.com Type letter 'F' then select Nancy Faust.

If anyone has sound clips from other stadiums it would be neat to hear them!

[west coast orange and black]

maybe the detroit tiger fans can straighten me out to this: on

i recall somewhat fuzzily that the organist at detroit, doing the 1968 world series against the st. louis cardinals, hit the keyboard just as denny mc clain was going into his motion. the sudden, loud blare caused mc clain to pause his motion, which resulted in a balk.

mickey (i got three) lolich and co took that series title, but i am pretty certain that mlb, before the following season, instituted rules governing when and when not an organist (or the team's sound system) could play music.

does anyone have better info on this?

[baclightning]

maybe the detroit tiger fans can straighten me out to this: on

i recall somewhat fuzzily that the organist at detroit, doing the 1968 world series against the st. louis cardinals, hit the keyboard just as denny mc clain was going into his motion. the sudden, loud blare caused mc clain to pause his motion, which resulted in a balk.

mickey (i got three) lolich and co took that series title, but i am pretty certain that mlb, before the following season, instituted rules governing when and when not an organist (or the team's sound system) could play music.

does anyone have better info on this?

I just checked the boxscores for all seven games of the 1968 WS, and no balks were committed by either team during the entire series. McLain did not have any balks during the 1968 regular season, either. He was well known for playing the organ however, even recording a couple of albums...

[DODGER DEB]

WE grew up listening to OUR GLADYS GOODING everday at OUR EBBETS FIELD, in BROOKLYN!

I have been to most of the ballparks and have heard many organists, but I will tell you that OUR GLADYS had a unique style, that was hers alone, and she always made her organ music "grab you"....which it did, everyday!

SHE was truly ONE OF A KIND!!

c.

[Dizzy]

I wish that I could have lived in that era. The music that they play at Busch Stadium almost ruins the game for me. I have to bring a headset radio to avoid it.

[WillieKamm]

Nancy Faust is great and I think the White Sox are phasing her live music back in a little bit at the ball park. The canned music at all sporting events these days really leaves a lot to be desired. is how I feel about that. By the way, do any old time Chicago fans here remember organist Shay Torrent, who worked for the White Sox in the fifties and sixties? Shay and Nancy were and are the real deal. I envy you old time Dodger fans. I would have enjoyed hearing Gladys Gooding. I wonder are there any old newsreels or play by plays where she is recorded for posterity?

[DODGER DEB]

Nancy Faust is great and I think the White Sox are phasing her live music back in a little bit at the ball park. The canned music at all sporting events these days really leaves a lot to be desired. is how I feel about that. By the way, do any old time Chicago fans here remember organist Shay Torrent, who worked for the White Sox in the fifties and sixties? Shay and Nancy were and are the real deal. I envy you old time Dodger fans. I would have enjoyed hearing Gladys Gooding. I wonder are there any old newsreels or play by plays where she is recorded for posterity?

Gladys did infact make a recording, in the 50's, of OUR TEAM SONG "FOLLOW THE DODGERS" which she played as EBBETS FIELD opened each day. I have a 45 record of it. It was sold at OUR EBBETS FIELD.

I have seen it listed on e-Bay a few times, so perhaps you could keep an eye out for it.

c.

[Elvis]

After leaving the White Sox, Shay Torrent moved out west and became the organist for the California Angels in 1965 -- Where he remained until his retirement in 1986.

[west coast orange and black]

I just checked the boxscores for all seven games of the 1968 WS, and no balks were committed by either team during the entire series. McLain did not have any balks during the 1968 regular season, either. He was well known for playing the organ however, even recording a couple of albums...

thanx for straightening me out, baclightning. as i said, my recollection is fuzzy on this one. i gotta go look this one up rather than rely on my diminishing brain cells, because i know that a balk occurred and led to the rule creation.

maybe i tapped into mcclain because of his organ playing. haha. thanx again.

[Soxphotos]

Shay Torrent

Shay Torrent is pictured in a Hammond Times publication from 1960. It featured the new Hammond organ installed in Comiskey Park. The organ used to be placed in a perch in the center field bleachers. I think he came up with a few songs on the Sox in the 50's or 60's. The Hammond organ company used to really promote the fact that their equipment was used in comiskey Park.

[Chisox73]

Nancy Faust also put out a record of her organ music in the late 1970s.In 2005,Faust will be entering her 36th season as White Sox organist.

[tonypug]

Regarding Gladys Gooding, any of the tapes of old Brooklyn Dodger games include her doing the National Anthem and playing before during and after the game.

[LetsGoBucs]

Thanks for the link! I think with the new generation of ballparks and the state-of-the-art age coming along, ballpark organists are a forgotten part of a trip to the ballgame

[ColtscorrAL]

Gladys Gooding played "FOLLOW THE DODGERS" when the team took the field. Does anyone know of a link where I can hear that song again? She also played a similiar song for the Rangers when they took the ice. I loved the organ music.


Gladys Gooding is the answer to the trivia question WHO'S THE ONLY PERSON TO PLAY FOR THE DODGERS, RANGERS & KNICKS. :atthepc