Stadium organists providing fun and music at ye ole ballgame

[Mattingly]

Nice to know that people can still sing along when they pay their money for a few ducats. Even sing along with a total stranger you'll never meet again, unless at another time at the same park. If not, at least enjoy the game, the hot dogs, the peanuts and Cracker Jacks ...

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2006/04/21/gwtwZREA.jpg
Nancy Faust plays the organ at Cork and Kerry's
pub in Chicago during the 2005 World Series.
(Joshua Lott/AP)

To many, organs give life to baseball
Several parks proud to embrace game's rich musical tradition (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060421&content_id=1411088&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb)
CHICAGO -- White Sox organist Nancy Faust could be described as one part entertainer, one part musician and one part mad scientist. How else could the following scenario be explained?
Let's say, for example, Cleveland's Travis Hafner is stepping to the plate at U.S. Cellular Field. What music does Faust immediately decide to play for the Indians slugger? Her choice is either J. Geils' "Centerfold" or Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer," of course.

"Livin' on a Prayer" has the lyric "We're halfway there," thus relating somewhat to HAF-ner. But "Centerfold?"

"Because of Hugh Hefner," said Faust with a laugh, referring to how Hafner and Hefner have very similar last names. "That's the way my little brain works."
Organists around the Majors
Select clubs splitting natural music with recordings (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060421&content_id=1411101&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb)
Nancy Faust of the White Sox is the dean of Major League organists, and Nancy Bea Hefly has been sending the dulcet sounds of organ music through Dodger Stadium since 1988. Here's a look around the Majors at some of the other organists still kicking around and tickling the ivories.

BRAVES: The Braves no longer use an organist. Carolyn Jones retired after the 2004 season, and they've since used artificial organ sounds.

BREWERS: Dean Rosko took over in 2003, when he was a senior in high school. Organ music was brought back after a town-hall meeting showed a desire for one.
CUBS: Gary Pressy is his 20th season at the organ at Wrigley Field.

[ESPNFan]

I think organ music at a ball game is just as much a part of the experience as a peanut vendor throwing 20 row strikes and kids bringing a glove to a game.

You don't need to look further than the NBA to see what happens when you abandon your roots and traditions.

[Elvis]

I don't agree with what the Sox are going to do when Faust retires - they're not going to replace her. They say, "who ccould possibly follow her". What? So stop the tradition of ballpark organ music because the organist retires? Here's a thought: Do what George Steinbrenner did whe the Legandary Yankee Stadium organist Eddie Layton retired in 2003 - HIRE A NEW ORGANIST! You don't close down a restaurant when the chef retires for crying out loud, you get a new chef!

[Mattingly]

I don't agree with what the Sox are going to do when Faust retires - they're not going to replace her. They say, "who ccould possibly follow her". What? So stop the tradition of ballpark organ music because the organist retires? Here's a thought: Do what George Steinbrenner did whe the Legandary Yankee Stadium organist Eddie Layton retired in 2003 - HIRE A NEW ORGANIST! You don't close down a restaurant when the chef retires for crying out loud, you get a new chef!
I do hope that Nancy does stay around for a lot longer, and I do also hope that when she does eventually play her last tune at Comiskey Park (errrrrrr, Cellular Field) ;), hopefully will make a few TV appearances playing the organ, just so people can enjoy the love of the music.

As to what the Pale Hose will do, their comments seem to be non-commital, but not necessarily looking towards her eventual replacement. From the end of the 1st article:
Most parks still have an organist, in some sort of in-game capacity or another. But whereas they once served as the hub of entertainment, almost a focal point for some, now they seem to be more background music.

And despite her reduced workload, Faust has a job for as long as she wants one with the White Sox, according to Boyer. As for whether Faust will be replaced when she departs, well that's a situation to be decided at that given time.

"The analogy I used is, 'Who follows Coach K at Duke?' " Boyer said. "If we bring in someone else behind her, the person doesn't have a chance from the get-go."