Wilbur Snapp (August 5, 1920 – September 6, 2003) was a self-taught American musician who was the stadium organist for the Clearwater Phillies, a minor-league baseball team, and for the Philadelphia Phillies in spring training, over a period of 20 years.
Wilbur Snapp | |
|---|---|
 Snapp in 1985 at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium | |
| Born | August 5, 1920 |
| Died | September 6, 2003 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Stadium organist |
Snapp served in the Army Air Forces in World War II; he married his wife Janice in 1942. Despite being unable to read sheet music, Snapp taught himself to play the organ at age 35;[1] upon his retirement from operating a music store in Ohio, he moved to Florida and became a ballpark organist for the Clearwater Phillies.[2]
On June 26, 1985 he was ejected from a game at the Jack Russell Stadium for playing "Three Blind Mice" in response to what he thought was a bad call from the umpire, Kevin O'Connor.[3] The umpire pointed up to Snapp, who was sitting at his organ behind first base, then thumbed him out of the game.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Wilbur Snapp, 83, Organist Ejected by Ump". The New York Times. September 10, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
- ^ "Wilbur Snapp, 83; Only Baseball Organist Ousted by an Umpire". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
- ^ "Play it again, Wilbur". The Miami News. June 28, 1985. p. 2B. Retrieved February 4, 2013.