While MLB’s current commisioner (small c) is doing everything in his power to push the game forward while snubbing the history of the game, the White Sox have done something brilliant. They have hired longtime and retired organist Nancy Faust, to play at sox home games this season.
According to Faust, there are only a handful of ML organists playing these days. And while many are good at their jobs, good luck connecting or finding them in the ballpark. Technology and superior audio systems have rendered the organist obsolete. And that’s where Nancy comes in. She was never hidden off in some corner of a broadcast booth. She operated amidst the crowds. She mingled with the fans, took requests and answered questions. The smarter minor league teams in town have had her make cameo appearances since her retirement. In an age of netting and fake social media connections, she is the real deal.
Like the hometown radio and TV voices, the organist provided the backdrop for our summers. Brewers fans (and beyond) are just figuring out how to listen to games without Bob Uecker. White Sox fans who have had to endure some absolutely lousy baseball for the past few years will be able to do so with Nancy.
The game is much better because of people like Nancy Faust and not the boobs that can’t correctly announce the lineup changes as they occur. Forget flashing the advanced metrics on the video board, get the batter’s name right when he enters the game in the 7th inning.