Paul Richardson
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Paul Richardson (1932-October 2, 2006) was the home field organist for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1970 to 2005.
In 1980 when the Phillies won the World Series, Richardson was awarded a World Series Ring alongside the players.
Richardson also played organ for the New York Yankees (owned by his friend George Steinbrenner) from 1978 to 1982 when the Phillies were on the road.
He is credited with popularizing the use of the "Charge!" fanfare in sports games, and with being the first to play a theme song for each player as they stepped up to the plate.
Once a staple of Phillies games, Richardson's organ music was heard much less frequently from the mid-1990's on, as pre-recorded ("canned") music became more prevalent. When the team moved into Citizens Bank Park in 2004, Richardson was not given a booth at the park, and was seen only before games on the concourse behind first base.
A recording of his version of Take Me Out to the Ballgame was used for the seventh-inning stretch. Health problems combined with a diminished role and no longer having a place where he could see the game were factors in Richardson announcing his retirement prior to the 2006 season.
On October 2, 2006, Richardson passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer [1].
[edit] External links
- Paul Richardson's home page
- "Hot Seats" (Philadelphia City Paper article on Richardson)
