Latest news with #NancyFaust
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Afternoon Briefing: New Dolton mayor sworn in to replace Tiffany Henyard
Good afternoon, Chicago. While a flurry of journalistic and social media attention over the past four years has associated Dolton with chaos, financial mismanagement and secrecy, Jason House pointed to a more positive result of Tiffany Henyard's leadership after he was sworn in as her replacement last night. 'Unity,' the new mayor said was top of mind. 'That's what's really going to grow this moment to its culmination. And that's what it's going to take for us to work together.' Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. As aquifer dries up, some Will County towns say they aren't worried about running out of water As Joliet races to meet state requirements to be eligible to tap into Lake Michigan water before the region's groundwater is depleted, a handful of neighboring towns are holding off on making plans to identify alternative sources. Read more here. Leaning Tower YMCA site being razed, creation of a downtown Niles planned for the site Crews began last week to tear down the Leaning Tower YMCA building in Niles, clearing the way for development of a downtown area in the north suburb that may include an entertainment venue. Read more here. More top business stories: Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals across the country, eliminates 55 jobs at Oakbrook Terrace office Highland Park 6-bedroom home with in-ground pool, patio: $1.5M Nancy Faust on her Chicago White Sox return after a 15-year absence: 'I never expected a resurgence like this' Nancy Faust is as synonymous with the Chicago White Sox as the team's exploding scoreboard. Had things gone differently, however, then the team's longtime organist might have instead led the North Siders in singing 'root, root, root for the Cubbies.' Read more here. Stressed athletes and coaches wait as deadline nears to solve NCAA's 'changing' roster limits issue What's standing out about Chase Meidroth and Edgar Quero? Chicago White Sox hitting coach weighs in. Column: Bradley Cooper's next screen role will be the cantankerous Chicago writer Nelson Algren In the wake of his failure to grab an Oscar for playing Leonard Bernstein in 'Maestro,' Bradley Cooper plans to return to the bio-pic business by portraying the Chicago writer Nelson Algren, focusing on his 17-year love affair with that French writer-feminist Simone de Beauvoir, author of 'The Second Sex,' who is said to be played by French actress Elsa Zylberstein. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: Homeland Security chief says travelers with no REAL ID can fly for now, but extra steps are likely Kristi Noem told a Congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits tomorrow.
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Nancy Faust on her Chicago White Sox return after a 15-year absence: ‘I never expected a resurgence like this'
Nancy Faust is as synonymous with the Chicago White Sox as the team's exploding scoreboard. Had things gone differently, however, then the team's longtime organist might have instead led the North Siders in singing 'root, root, root for the Cubbies.' When the Edgebrook native attended North Park University in 1967, Faust's then-boyfriend wrote to Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley, asking if he would hire her to play 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Wrigley wrote back a week later to say, essentially, thanks but no thanks. The Cubs' loss was the White Sox's gain. Faust spent 41 seasons — more than 3,000 games — on the South Side, missing only a handful of games due to the birth of her son. She is widely recognized for incorporating popular music into ballpark repertoire and for choosing songs that relate to each player based on their name, number or even their home state. Ever chant 'Na-Na Hey-Hey Goodbye' when the opposing team pulls their pitcher? That's because Faust played it first. Her choices, considered the inspiration for today's walk-up music, have earned Faust a gold record and the admiration of generations of baseball fans. She stepped away on Oct. 3, 2010, to the tune of 'This Used to Be My Playground' by Madonna, the theme to the 1992 film, 'A League of Their Own.' The White Sox announced Monday that Faust, 78, will return to The Rate — which was known as U.S. Cellular Field the last time she played there almost 15 years ago — with her organ for six home games on select Sundays. Her appearances start on Sunday with Mother's Day and end on Aug. 10, which happens to be her and husband Joe's 45th wedding anniversary. When contacted by the Tribune on Monday, Faust admitted she didn't anticipate this reunion. Her participation in the 2023 documentary 'Last Comiskey' and the 2022 book ' Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, the '72 White Sox and a Transforming Chicago' made her realize fans miss her — and she misses them. And maybe she could use a little cheering up, too — just like Sox fans do after making it through the team's 121-loss season in 2024. Not everything has been 'Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows' for Faust in the past year. A car mishap broke multiple bones in her right foot, which she uses for her organ's volume pedal. Mandy, one of her beloved donkeys, died. And a burst pipe inside her Wisconsin cottage, meaning it will have to be gutted. 'I never expected a resurgence like this. It's very heartwarming to know that I'm remembered,' Faust told the Tribune. 'What can I say except that I'm just so excited and honored to be included. It's the fans that really made my time at the park glorious and special.' The catalyst for her return is thanks to her 'Superstar' friend Dick Allen, who will be posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27. Allen received 13 out of a possible 16 committee votes in December 2024 to earn enshrinement in the Class of 2025 — clearing the 75% threshold. He will be joined by Dave Parker, who received 14 votes. 'It's special for me because I've been championing for so long — since I started on Twitter — to get Dick Allen into the Hall of Fame,' she said. 'So it's a really exciting year that we get to go to Cooperstown. And then to get this call on top of it was like all the stars aligned.' Faust's debut with the White Sox in April 1970 came as the result of another letter — one she penned to general manager Stu Holcomb after she performed at a luncheon he attended. Despite not knowing the rules to baseball, Faust was hired. For her first few decades with the Sox, she commuted from Des Plaines, then Deerfield and finally, Mundelein. 'I never played for a ball game — let alone attended more than one game my whole life,' she recalled. Every tune Faust plays is by ear, what she calls 'my crutch since I was 4.' Because she doesn't read sheet music, she's been dusting off her catalog. Someone on Twitter told Faust of their love for the way she played Michael Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror,' so she's boning up on that one. 'I forgot that I ever did it,' she said, 'so I had to learn it again.' She also plans to add songs Gen Z will recognize. Faust has taken suggestions, including the disco-themed Dua Lipa song 'Dance The Night' from the 2023 film 'Barbie.' Wait, a disco track embraced by a woman who was at old Comiskey Park on Disco Demolition Night? 'You can't help but love that beat,' she said. 'It gets into your soul.'
CBS News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
A visit with retired Chicago White Sox organist Nancy Faust as she plans to return for 6 games this year
Nancy Faust retired from the Chicago White Sox to much fanfare in 2010, after over four decades behind the organ console. This season, as the White Sox celebrate their 125th anniversary, Faust will be returning for a series of nostalgic performances on six Coca-Cola Family Sundays. The National Baseball Hall of Fame noted that Faust was a luncheonette organist in 1970 when then White Sox then-general manager Stu Holcomb heard her — and hired her on the spot. Organ music had been part of the baseball experience — and the White Sox game experience specifically — for some time by the time Faust took over. The Cubs across town were the first team to feature organ music at their games. Contemporary published reports say organist Ray Nelson played an organ with pipes behind the grandstand for one Cubs game, against the St. Louis Cardinals, on April 26, 1941. But it was not until 1967 that organ music became a regular feature for Cubs games at Wrigley Field. Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York City installed an organ for Brooklyn Dodgers games in 1942, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gladys Gooding was the star behind the console there. In 1960, White Sox owner Bill Veeck had an organ installed in the center field stands at Old Comiskey Park. Shay Torrent was the first organist to play at White Sox games, until 1967. But Faust Fis the star everyone knows, and has known for over half a century. According to the Inside the White Sox official blog, organ music selections were fairly limited before Faust took over — the National Anthem of course, as well as "Charge," and "Take Me out to the Ballgame." But Faust provided a new approach, and has gone down in history as the first ballpark organist to incorporate pop and rock songs into ballgame playlists. She engaged fans by playing to crowds' moods and in reaction to what they were seeing on the field. She also introduced personalized music themes for the White Sox players — "Jesus Christ Superstar" for slugger Dick Allen in 1972, "I Feel the Earth Move" for Frank Howard, "He's So Shy" for Harold Baines. Faust is also known as the first ballpark organist to incorporate pop and rock songs into ballgame playlists. Perhaps the most famous among them is a 1969 pop hit that was in regular rotation on oldies radio for many years — performed by studio musicians and credited to an initially fictitious band called Steam. Faust began playing "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" as a taunt to opposing teams in 1977 — and even won a gold record from Mercury Records for repopularizing the old hit. Faust is set to say hello again This story is not about "goodbye." It's about hello — again. Faust was thrilled when the Sox called her to be part of the team's historic 125th anniversary. "I just couldn't be more excited about returning," Faust said. "I think I'll feel a little 'stressured' that first day — a little stress, a little pressure." But she's not that worried about it. "I'd say pretty much, it's like riding a bike," Faust said. During her run as White Sox organist, Faust almost never missed a game. "In the 41 years that I was there, I missed five games — and that was due to the birth of our son, Eric," said Faust. Eric practically grew up at the ballpark. His first step was captured in photos at a family picnic outing in center field at Old Comiskey Park. While Faust has been retired from the White Sox since the 2010 season, by no means has she covered up her organ and called it a day. She has played some minor league games over the last 15 years. Nevertheless, this is Faust's first performance at a Major League Baseball game since her retirement. Faust will play the old favorites — including local favorites like "Sweet Home Chicago." But there will also some new songs for her repertoire, when she returns for her first game back at the organ console on Sunday, May 11. "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys may be on the playlist as a nod to moms in honor of Mother's Day. Son Eric will be there for the occasion. Faust does not read sheet music. Instead, her system involves handwritten papers and a great ear. It is a recipe for magical sounds that have been enjoyed by the likes of Sammy Davis Jr.; legendary broadcaster Harry Caray, who called games for the White Sox before switching to the Cubs; and Andy the Clown of, "Come on, you White Sox!" chant fame. And of course, generations of Sox fans have enjoyed those magical sounds too. "I just want to say how excited I am to be back with the fans again, and watch ballgames," Faust said. In retirement, Faust, an animal lover, has spent much of her time with donkeys. She currently has a miniature donkey named Gigi, and a new addition to the stable this year named Jackpot. And who could forget Faust's dog, Cooper. He howls with delight as Faust plays "Take Me out to the Ballgame." "He'd get a treat. Pretty soon, he associated that song, 'Take me out to the Ballgame," with a treat — and before you know it, he was barking along with it," Faust said. "He sleeps through everything else I do." Faust earned a spot in the Baseball Reliquary Shrine of the Eternals in 2018 for her contributions to baseball. She also has a ring from the White Sox' 2005 World Series championship. Faust will be playing at Rate Field during White Sox games on the following dates: Sunday, May 11, vs. Miami. Sunday, May 25, vs. Texas. The first 7,500 fans who enter the ballpark for the game will receive a Charles Comiskey Bobblehead. Sunday, June 8, vs. Kansas City. The first 7,500 fans who enter the ballpark for the game will receive a Ray Durham Bobblehead. Sunday, June 29, vs. San Francisco. The first 7,500 fans who enter the ballpark for the game will receive a Luis Aparicio Bobblehead. Sunday, July 13, vs. Cleveland. The first 10,000 fans who enter the ballpark for the game will receive a Buehrle, Garland, García & Contreras Bobblehead. Sunday, August 10, vs. Cleveland. The first 7,500 fans who enter the ballpark for the game will receive an Ozzie Guillén Bobblehead. Meanwhile, Faust gave CBS News Chicago a little preview of her playlist. First, "Take Me out to the Ballgame." While it later became a Cubs tradition, published reports note that Harry Caray originally sang the standard during the seventh-inning stretch at White Sox games as Faust played, beginning in 1977. Here, Cooper howls along. Next, "Dance the Night," by Dua Lipa, an example of a new song that Faust will be adding to her repertoire for her comeback. Next, the Chicago classic "Lake Shore Drive" by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah. And of course, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."
