Soundtrack of the Game: Behind The Scenes of Nothing Night

Somewhere between the crack of the bat and the hum of the Tuesday night night crowd on July 22, a familiar melody floats through the humid Kentucky air. It might be a snippet of “The Kids Aren’t Alright” during a half-inning break or a playful riff from “Crazy Train.” Whatever the tune, it’s not coming from a playlist or a preset. It’s coming from a man in the corner of the press box, hunched over a keyboard with his hands dancing across the keys.

That man is Al Greener, a member of the Louisville Bats grounds crew as well the official organ player during Nothing Night, a night dedicated to the past times of baseball. In an era where ballparks increasingly rely on digital soundboards and pre-packaged audio cues, Al brings a warmth and wit that can’t be automated. He reacts in real-time, matching the game’s rhythm with flourishes of musical personality.

We sat down with Al to talk about his process and love of music as well as baseball during Nothing Night, his night in the spotlight.

Q: What was your experience like playing the organ on Nothing Night at Louisville Slugger Field?

A: It was absolutely fantastic. I remember last year when “Nothing Night” happened, I thought this would be really neat with nothing going on as far as the click track music–canned music–or whatever, if I brought the keyboard down and played since I had played for 15 years for the University of Louisville baseball team at Jim Patterson Stadium. And as it turned out, one thing led to another and Nick Curran contacted me and said “your name is on the list. Would you like to take a shot at this?” And I said, absolutely. Everything turned out well. We got a lot of nice feedback and just a real thrill for me.

Q: How long have you been playing?

A: Well, I started piano lessons when I was six. So basically, quite a while. But a lot of the same things apply to piano and organ. And then I also played the trombone, which would be my band instrument. My dad was a band director and so I kind of had music in the family. So therefore, I got into playing the organ at church and all this kind of stuff. Me being a real baseball fan, this was obviously a big deal for me too.

Q: How did you get into being an organist at baseball games?

A: This goes back to 1973. It was Willy Mays’ last year with the Mets. It was my first trip to Wrigley Field. I grew up in northeast Iowa, so we could get the Cubs back then on WGN Radio, and my grandfather was a big Cubs fan. We went to Wrigley Field the last weekend of the season. There was a two-hour rain delay and it was all organ music. And I immediately thought, this is cool, being a baseball lifer as I am. So that's how the whole thing got started.

Q: What are some of the highlights or events that come to mind from playing the organ?

A: The games at UofL are probably the biggest ones. But just to be able to go into the ballpark every day and realizing that, back in the UofL days, you know you're gonna play. It springs life into your soul or whatever. Just knowing that the people really enjoy it, that's the biggest highlight for me.

Q: We know about the seventh inning stretch “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the National Anthem and all the other common songs, but what else was on your playlist for the game?

A: Two came to mind, but one was just as of recently. I made sure that I put “Viva la Vida” on there with all the Coldplay stuff going around right now. And then with the recent passing of Ozzy Osborne, I made sure I played “Crazy Train” as a tribute to him.

Q: Is there anything that you might take from being here all day on the grounds crew that helped you in the booth or vice versa?

A: Yes and no. I think with me just being at the ballpark, Harry Caray once said that any day you get to go to the ballpark is Christmas day. So that's the way I feel. So therefore, whether it's something to do with the grounds crew, something to do up here in the boots with the keyboard, or organ, it's just special to me that's all.

Q: Why is an organ at a baseball game, or any sporting event, such an important thing to you?

A: Because I'm of the old school that believes that anything that we can do to mesh old school with new school is wonderful. I’m also into stuff that comes about not by being programmed, but actually me playing stuff because I'm reacting to something that happened on the field. That way it's incidental humor or makes the crowd think “Why did he play that at that point?” Because of a name, because of a hometown, because of something that happened on the field. I just think it makes it so much more enjoyable.

Q: What was the biggest highlight of Nothing Night for you?

A: Just being able to play, playing the national anthem, playing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Just being able to add to the atmosphere of the ballpark, which is basically what we organists strive to do.

Q: What about your favorite song to play?

A: Oh man. Well probably “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” because everybody knows it and they sing along. But any number of ones you know, can fit in.

Q: Is there anything else you want fans to know about you or playing the organ?

A: I will say one thing. It never fails whenever I'm playing that people will come up to me and say, we really appreciate this. The two words that come out right after that, they say real baseball, and that's what makes me feel the best.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.