There’s nothing better than a day at the ballpark. The sun, the hot dogs and the music. Specifically, organ music at Wrigley Field. Organist Gary Pressy has spent 18 years tickling the keys at Wrigley, providing fans with a soundtrack for Cubs baseball.
“There is no hard part about being the organist,” Pressy said. “Except the rain delays when you play continuously. I prefer games that last 8 1/2 innings, they’re more fun.”
Because Wrigley uses little pre-recorded music, Pressy is always busy taking the hits you know and reforming them to work on the organ. While organ music plays when the batters step to the plate, does any of it sound vaguely familiar? That’s Pressy working his magic. Here’s a sampling of what’s played when the Cubs come to bat.
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Cubs Player/Song Artist
Corey Patterson/”Centerfield” John Fogerty
Jerry Hairston /”My Hometown” Bruce Springsteen
Jeromy Burnitz/”Puttin’ On The Ritz” Taco
Derrek Lee /”Bad Bad Leroy Brown” Jim Croce
Aramis Ramirez/”You’re Sixteen” Ringo Starr
Jose Macias/”Still The One” Orleans
Todd Hollandsworth/”Have A Holly Jolly Christmas” Burl Ives
Michael Barrett/”Eight Is Enough” TV Theme
Mark Prior /”Tribute to Troy” USC Marching Band
Kerry Wood/”Carry On My Wayward Son” Kansas
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Edited by Curt Wagner (cwwagner@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
