Former Phils organist Richardson dies

Former Phils organist Richardson dies
Fixture's passing comes after 35-year tenure with club

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- To the 73 million who passed through Connie Mack Stadium, Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park since 1970, he was known as the guy behind the organ.
That guy, organist Paul Richardson, performed for 35 seasons before retiring after the 2005 season. He passed away Monday, at his Wilmington, Del., home after a long illness.

"Paul was a character who was more than just a gifted organist," said Phillies chairman Bill Giles, who hired Richardson in 1969. "He was an entertainer extraordinaire, someone who had the feel for how to excite and entertain the crowds. He loved to perform."

A part-time realtor and organ teacher, Richardson began playing at Phillies games at Connie Mack Stadium in 1970. Giles arrived after the 1969 season as vice president of business operations. Impressed by Richardson's performance at the team's Christmas party that December, Giles hired Richardson to play at Phillies games.

He kept playing through the 2005 season at Citizens Bank Park, before health problems forced his retirement. He never revealed his age.

"It's time. I've had a great run and enjoyed every minute," he said in February. "They gave me the freedom to do a lot. Thirty-five years is a long time."

Richardson was also a fixture during the team's annual winter caravans and was honored this winter at the banquet of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.

Many of his songs were recorded. His rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was played often at Citizens Bank Park this season, and will continue to be played.

He left in February because of the health problems that weakened his legs to the point where he could no longer operate the foot pedals of his Roland AT-70 organ. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer nearly eight years ago and had been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Richardson graduated from Wilmington High School in 1950. He estimates that he missed only a handful of games over his career, which also included five seasons playing weekends at Yankee Stadium.

He was there for Tug McGraw's leap in October 1980 and Mitch Williams' famous 4 a.m. single in July 1993. He saw Kiteman's many crashes into the seats and tightrope walker Karl Wallenda's leisurely stroll across the Vet. When a streaker in cowboy boots ran the bases in the summer of 1972, Richardson quickly found an appropriate melody.

"I played that Peggy Lee song, 'Is That All There Is?'" he recalled, laughing. "'If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing.' The crowd liked that one, and it got written up in the newspapers the next day."

"Paul had a great sense of timing and a feel for the game of baseball," Phillies president David Montgomery said. "He was a big part of our in-game entertainment. He was always suggesting ways to pump up our fans."

Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.