A Night at the Dodgers
Nancy Bea Hefley, Dodgers organist (1988-2015).
By Lynn Hutchinson
October 15, 2019
Some folks ice fish
In the town where I grew up, the winter months see the local lake heavily dotted with wooden fishing shanties. Inside of each, you’ll find bundled up sportsmen and women hovered around space heaters, eating and drinking fantastical things like Little Debbie cakes and Budweiser. I personally didn’t set foot in one until I was well into my 30s. Not out of judgment. But because, you see, there are folks who ice fish, and those who don’t.
My resistance to local sports culture has been, in hindsight, a little unfortunate. I didn’t have a negative connotation towards our local Vikings or Twins. I just didn’t think of them at all. I was busy in a world that existed in my home, school and neighborhood. Attending sports events was something other people did…with fervor, it seemed. But I was happy enough without it. Fast forward a few decades. I’m married to a lifelong Broncos fan and absorbent sports sponge. The guy may forget where folded laundry goes, but he’ll recall - in order - every scoring play in the 1998 Super Bowl. Overtly, he spends time twelve months a year keeping up with football news. But magically, he also seems to just “know” all sorts of other sports trivia, too. I don’t understand this. It’s fascinating.
Myself, when I have the opportunity to attend a sport event, I’m more likely to observe what’s happening around me than what’s going on on the field or court: people interacting with each other and the stimulus that is tens of thousands of people experiencing entertainment together.
And of course, the music. Whatever it is.
In 2013, a renovation at Dodger Stadium yielded a sound system that includes (188) WET W2-2W8s, (17) R-Series R.5s, (70) Distributed Design DS5s and (52) D6 loudspeakers. I have no idea what those things are. I acquired that information from an LA Times article. But I can assure you that the stuff projects musical sound loud enough to be heard by each of the 56,000 attendees from every corner of the place. As I’m in line getting the requisite Dodger dog, I hear familiar strains of Hotel California, I Love LA and Saturday Night’s Alright.
Thanks to winning a drawing at our local library, I was able to treat myself and three others to Dodgers game. As the inning settles in, pre-recorded music is replaced by the Musical Main Event: intoxicating little organ ditties bestowed upon baseball fans by the player hidden like Waldo in a sea of fans and faces. It’s easy to imagine that a computer is outputting the organ music. But bespoke responses betray and you know there’s indeed someone out there.
The LA Dodgers used to be the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1942, in its place of origin, Gladys Goodding was the first to play organ for the Dodgers. When the team moved to Los Angeles in 1957, Gladys stayed in New York. So, sadly, the Dodgers were denied their organ transplant (ahem).
Gladys Goodding, Dodger organist 1942-1957
Donna Parker, Dodger organist for four months in 1972
When the building of the new stadium was completed in 1962, Bob Mitchell took over the role, followed by Don Beamsley, and a short stint by high school sophomore Donna Parker. Helen Dell came next, followed by the Godmother of Peanuts and Cracker Jacks, Nancy Bea Hefley. Hefley entertained Angeleno fans from 1988 to 2015. Although the job has been dominated by female players, the newest on the bench is seasoned sports organist Dieter Ruehle.
Dieter Ruehle, Dodgers organist 2015-present.
CHARGE!
It’s a wonder how our small but mighty champion, The Triad, can be presented in so many distinguished iterations. From trite to significant, these three notes can sing a baby to sleep or lead an army to battle. And there’s not a baseball game out there that is complete without this little ditty. Originating not far from where the LA Dodgers would eventually land, the Charge Fanfare is credited to Tommy Walker who was a junior at USC in 1948 when we penned the six-note call to arms. Although there seems to be scuttlebutt about ownership, Walker is generally recognized as its composer. The Dodgers have used it steadily since year one in Los Angeles.
So has Scrappy Doo.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
The eighth inning is about to begin. Dodgers are winning in a landslide and our two under-10s are ready to go home. As we pack up our stuff and beat the crowds to the parking lot, I hear wavering strains of the song I’d been waiting for. I’m happy to leave without disappointment. I look around the stadium, hoping to catch a glimpse of the secret source and give him a nod, but no such luck. So I just hum along, chiming in on the best line: “One…two…three strikes you’re out at the old ballgame.”
Man, I love sportsing.
Is your electric organ in the shop? Are your feet all thumbs? No worries. You can still play it like a pro. Based on the version Helen Dell played, here’s Take Me Out to the Ballgame for piano. Enjoy!
