CHICAGO -- When Nancy Faust received a call from the White Sox to return to Rate Field to play the organ for six selected games this season, it was “music to my ears,” as she described it.
There was only one issue. Faust thought the opportunity might have passed without her responding.
“Actually, I got a call from Jeff Szynal, the scoreboard director, a couple of months back just expressing interest. I got a text from him. And it was funny because, when I received the text, I had just picked my phone up -- it had been out of commission for a week,” said Faust during a phone interview Tuesday. “And I thought, ‘Oh, great. This text is a week old.’
“I didn’t even realize they were interested. I was just so joyful I could hardly sleep. I feel very comfortable there. I’m in my wheelhouse.”
Faust had a practice run at the ballpark Tuesday afternoon before her first appearance this Sunday for the finale of the weekend series against the Marlins. It’s fair to say she is one of the more well-known figures in Chicago sports history, although she has never played an inning, taken a jump shot or shot a puck.
Instead, she carved out an ardent fan following by playing the organ at old Comiskey Park and new Comiskey Park, now known as Rate Field, from 1970 to 2010. She was known for her skill and creativity, basically developing walkup music before walkup music went higher tech and was selected by the players.
So, it’s Dick Allen at the plate during his Most Valuable Player campaign of 1972? How about a customized version of "Jesus Christ Superstar?" Faust sees a player’s name and immediately thinks of the songs.
“They’ve got [Andrew] Benintendi. I would probably play the theme from Nintendo or ‘Benny and the Jets,’” Faust said. “It was ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ for [Pete] Incaviglia.”
As for Luis Robert Jr., the frontline player for the 2025 White Sox? Well, Faust had a number of ideas for the man who sports jersey No. 88.
“Oh, well, ‘Double Vision,’” Faust said. “I would play ‘Mr. Roboto,’ I think would be cool. ‘Eight is Enough’ -- the theme from there. ‘Louie, Louie.’”
This limited ballpark run for Faust covers six Sundays, including May 25 vs. the Rangers, June 8 vs. the Royals, June 29 vs. the Giants, July 13 vs. the Guardians and Aug. 10 vs. the Guardians. That appearance on July 13 concludes the 2005 World Series reunion weekend, featuring Mark Buehrle’s ballpark statue dedication on July 11.
That World Series championship from 20 years ago was one of the best memories of Faust’s illustrious run, along with the parade and ensuing celebrations featuring the throng of elated White Sox fans. She fondly remembers working with Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray and owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Bill Veeck. A one-time on-field promotion held by Veeck featuring a donkey led Faust to take said donkey home as a pet, which she kept until it passed away. She still owns two donkeys now in a five-acre home shared with her husband in an unincorporated area near Hawthorn Woods, Ill.
Gates will open at 11:40 a.m. CT Sunday, and Faust will start playing. She likes that early opportunity to feature complete songs instead of just a measure or two to get an idea across once the game gets going.
“I’ve worked up great songs with my sequencer and my drum unit,” Faust said. “Probably a flow of emotions. They say déjà vu. I don’t know if that’s going to happen. I’ll settle in after a few songs.”
Since 2010, Faust has played a number of Minor League ballparks, including for the Independent Windy City Thunderbolts in near-by Crestwood, Ill. She has also played baseball-themed private events and during Spring Training in Glendale, Ariz., at Camelback Ranch. But this is her first stop at a big league ballpark since 2010.
White Sox fans can’t wait for her return.
“I’m blown away by the response. I really am,” Faust said. “My 41 years [with the team] were the best years of my life. I made so many great connections and friends.
“Where else can you go where everybody is in agreement and out to have a good time? And that’s what I was surrounded with for so many years. I’m just going to be happy to see some familiar faces and share some stories and play some music that I hope strikes a nerve with a lot of fans. I did miss it. … So, I’m back.”