Party Winds Down for Baseball Organist

After 41 years at Chicago White Sox games, Nancy Faust plays her last note

27 September 2010

Nancy Faust's days of playing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame,' are coming to an end when she retires in October.

Going to a baseball game is an American summer tradition, and a big part of that ballpark experience is the stirring, up-tempo organ music that's played throughout the game.

When teams score runs or players make hits, organ music leads the fans in chants and cheering.

At the seventh inning stretch, the organ always plays "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." And in some baseball stadiums, the organist treats fans to an impromptu concert before the game or when there's a break in the action.

Last season

For 41 years, fans at Chicago White Sox games have been entertained by organist Nancy Faust. But this is her last season.

Faust planned to be a school teacher but her college friends encouraged her to apply for a job as a ballpark organist for the Chicago White Sox. She did and got the gig. That was in 1970.

Until then, she admits, she'd only attended one baseball game.

White Sox organist Nancy Faust autographs a baseball cap for a fan.

"So I came in not knowing what to do exactly but the organ was located in the center-field bleachers," says Faust. "What I did then was mainly play songs that reflected the towns that the ballplayers were from, (or) the states. If Bill Melton was from California, I'd play, "California, Here I Come." But since then, I've branched out and I do more crazy, far out things."