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Paul Richardson (1932 – October 2, 2006) was the home fieldorganist for thePhiladelphia Phillies from1970 to2005.
In1980 when the Phillies won theWorld Series, Richardson was awarded aWorld Series ring alongside the players.
Richardson also played organ for theNew York Yankees (owned by his friendGeorge Steinbrenner) from 1978 to 1983 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 atheme song for each player as they stepped up to theplate.
Once a staple of Phillies games, Richardson's organ music was heard much less frequently from the mid-1990s on, as pre-recorded ("canned") music became more prevalent. When the team moved intoCitizens Bank Park in 2004, Richardson was not given a booth, and was seen only before games on theAshburn Alley outfield concourse. A recording of his version ofTake Me Out to the Ballgame was used for theseventh-inning stretch. This diminished role combined with health problems and no longer having a place where he could see the game were factors in Richardson announcing his retirement prior to the2006 season.
On October 2, 2006, Richardson died after a long battle with prostate cancer[1]. The Phillies paid tribute to him prior to their2007 home opener and also during the seventh-inning stretch of that game.
