Eddie Layton
Encyclopedia
Edward M. "Eddie" Layton (October 10, 1925 – December 26, 2004) played the organ
at old Yankee Stadium for 31 seasons, earning him membership in the New York Sports Hall of Fame.
. He graduated from the West Chester State Teachers College majoring in meteorology
with a minor in music. He began playing the organ when he was twelve years old. While serving in the United States Navy
during World War II
, he learned to play the Hammond organ
. After the war, he began a career as a professional organist writing scores for soap opera
s on CBS
.
He joined the New York Yankees
franchise in 1967
when team president Mike Burke inaugurated organ music at the stadium. When he was hired, he had never been to the stadium and knew nothing about baseball
, but quickly learned the ropes. He went on to play for the Yankees for over 3 decades, with a break from 1971-1977 while he pursued other musical commitments. When he retired on September 28, 2003, his last performance was to play "Take Me Out to the Ball Game
", with fans chanting "Eddie! Eddie!".
In addition to playing for the Yankees, he was the organist for the New York Knicks
and the New York Rangers
for 18 years. This made him the answer to a popular trivia question among New York sports fans: "Q: Who was the only person to play for the Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers? A: Eddie Layton." He also performed concerts in more than 200 cities for the Hammond Organ company and released 26 albums, selling over 3 million copies. In addition, Layton played the organ at Radio City Music Hall
for Pace University
commencements held there. The student union at Pace University's
New York City campus was named in his honor.
On December, 26, 2004, he died at his home in Forest Hills, New York, at age 79, following a brief illness.
, Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds
stadium games from 1963-1972.
Ken Burns' 1994 Baseball
, a documentary, contained some video-graphic evidence buttressing Silverbush's claim. During the sequence on the new New York Mets
fans in the film's 8th installment, Silverbush can briefly be seen playing a trumpet at the Shea Stadium
in 1969.
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
at old Yankee Stadium for 31 seasons, earning him membership in the New York Sports Hall of Fame.
Career
Layton was a native of Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He graduated from the West Chester State Teachers College majoring in meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
with a minor in music. He began playing the organ when he was twelve years old. While serving in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he learned to play the Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
. After the war, he began a career as a professional organist writing scores for soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
He joined the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
franchise in 1967
1967 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim Stadium: National League, 2-1 ; Tony Pérez, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
when team president Mike Burke inaugurated organ music at the stadium. When he was hired, he had never been to the stadium and knew nothing about baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, but quickly learned the ropes. He went on to play for the Yankees for over 3 decades, with a break from 1971-1977 while he pursued other musical commitments. When he retired on September 28, 2003, his last performance was to play "Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. The song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of...
", with fans chanting "Eddie! Eddie!".
In addition to playing for the Yankees, he was the organist for the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
for 18 years. This made him the answer to a popular trivia question among New York sports fans: "Q: Who was the only person to play for the Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers? A: Eddie Layton." He also performed concerts in more than 200 cities for the Hammond Organ company and released 26 albums, selling over 3 million copies. In addition, Layton played the organ at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
for Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
commencements held there. The student union at Pace University's
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
New York City campus was named in his honor.
On December, 26, 2004, he died at his home in Forest Hills, New York, at age 79, following a brief illness.
Controversy
One item that Layton took credit for was being the first to come up with the idea of playing charge calls at a baseball game in 1971. However, Michael Silverbush claims to have made the innovation eight years prior. Silverbush brought his trumpet to Shea StadiumShea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
, Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
stadium games from 1963-1972.
Ken Burns' 1994 Baseball
Baseball (documentary)
Baseball is an 18½ hour, Emmy Award-winning documentary series by Ken Burns about the game of baseball. First broadcast on PBS, this was Burns' ninth documentary.- Format :...
, a documentary, contained some video-graphic evidence buttressing Silverbush's claim. During the sequence on the new New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
fans in the film's 8th installment, Silverbush can briefly be seen playing a trumpet at the Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
in 1969.