Wrigley’s ironman organist retiring after 33 years

Gary Pressy has performed the organ at Wrigley Subject for two,679 consecutive Chicago Cubs video games — and counting. That streak, nevertheless, will come to an finish after this season.

The 61-year-old Pressy, who started his profession with the Cubs in 1987, is retiring after this season.

“I have been there a 3rd of a century, 33 years, and I feel the cup is full,” Pressy advised the Chicago Tribune on Friday. “I used to be debating it back-and-forth, however I actually simply wished to spend extra high quality time with my household. Across the All-Star break I actually acquired to interested by it and made my resolution.”

Wrigley Subject organist Gary Pressy, who has performed 2,679 consecutive Cubs residence video games, hopes to hit his final notice after the Cubs win the World Collection this season. He’ll retire after the season. Matthew Kosterman/MLB Pictures/Getty Photographs

Amongst his duties is to play “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the course of the seventh-inning stretch — made well-known by late broadcaster Harry Caray and a convention that has continued with visitor conductors since Caray’s loss of life in 1998.

“[Mike] Ditka is No. 1,” Pressy advised the Tribune about his favourite friends. “He ran a bit late, arising the ramps on his synthetic hip, grabbed the mic from Steve Stone and did a polka model. Then we scored a whole lot of runs.

“Everybody requested, ‘What did you consider Ditka?’ I mentioned: ‘He simply put it on the map.'”

The Cubs will honor Pressy in the course of the closing homestand of the season, which ends subsequent Sunday.

Wrigley Subject has had a full-time organist since 1967, and the crew advised the Tribune that they’re going to start a seek for Pressy’s substitute after the season.

“I am hoping my final look this yr will likely be at one other parade,” Pressy advised the Tribune. “That may work out.”