Nancy and I celebrated the interview at our local, Half Sour. (Photo: Joe Jenkins.)
At this time one week ago I was in a StoryCorps booth in Chicago interviewing renowned retired White Sox baseball organist Nancy Faust. A producer at StoryCorps Headquarters in New York City had been hounding Nancy for months, urging her to get in a StoryCorps booth to record her story.
StoryCorps is a non-profit that was set up to “record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives,” and Nancy had no idea why a radio producer in New York City would take such interest in a Chicago baseball organist. “My life story is not that interesting,” she told me. “What would I say?” The NYC producers kept hounding her, though, and she finally told them she’d to it “as long as my friend Beth Finke can be the one doing the interview.”
How about that?
Aside from their studio in New York City, StoryCorps only has two satellite sites: one in Atlanta and the other in Chicago. We asked sound producers at the Chicago site if they knew why StoryCorps Headquarters in NYC had taken such a big interest in Nancy. They didn’t know. But when that happens, they said it means the piece is very likely to be produced into something that will air nationwide on NPR.
How about that?
I’ve done a couple StoryCorps interviews with writers from my memoir classes before, but this one was different. The NYC producer called me ahead of time to check me out, and to let me know they’d be emailing me specific questions to ask Nancy during the interview.
I had to explain I wouldn’t be able to read a list of questions while we were recording, and she was reassuring. “Do your best to memorize them ahead of time,” she said. And if you forget some, that’s okay, too.” Know what? Last week in that recording booth, Nancy Faust and I hit it outta the park! You’re all going to have to wait until the interview airs to hear our answers. Trust me, I’ll let you know if/when it really does get scheduled on NPR, but to whet your appetite, hear are the questions they requested:
Beth to ask Nancy:
How did you feel about baseball (or sports in general) when you were growing up?
Can you tell me the story about how you learned to play the organ?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Tell me about how you ended up getting the organist job with the White Sox?
What was your first day playing for the White Sox like?
How did you come up with songs for players?
Do you have any song choices you’re especially proud of? Are there any song choices that you regret?
Tell me about the first time you used “Na Na, Hey Hey Goodbye.”
Tell me about the most memorable game you ever played at.
What were the White Sox fans like?
Are there any fans who’ve made an impact on you? People you still keep in touch with?
Can you talk about the most difficult part of doing this job?
Why did you decide to retire?
What do you miss most about the job?
What was your last day at the White Sox like?
What lessons has your time at the White Sox taught you?
How would you like to be remembered?
Nancy to ask Beth:
How did we meet?
How would you describe me?
How did you feel about baseball (or sports in general) when you were growing up?
Did you ever come to a White Sox game and see me play?
Were there any song choices of mine that you liked? Ones that you didn’t like?
If you could pick songs for me to play at a game, what would you choose?
What does baseball mean to you now?Is there something about me that you’ve always wanted to know but have never asked?
How exciting!!! Can’t wait to hear the interview. You must have had a great time based on the fact that your glasses are nearly empty in the attached photo. A question I would like to ask Nancy is: What was it like to work for Bill Veeck? Particularly the part where he had her accompany Harry Carey in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Oh, Mel, that’s one of the things we talked about! If our interview never airs, or if her answer about that doesn’t make the cut, I’ll tell all afterwards. I can tell you now, though, that she was fond of Bill Veeck and adored Harry carey. And here’s a tease: her relationship with Veeck has something to do with a donkey…!
I will be listening! Hope all of those questions are answered! Maybe it will be on the StoryCorps podcast.
Oh, yeah. Forgot they have a podcast, too. Let’s all stay tuned.
You do all the cool things, Beth. Can’t wait to tune in!
Not so sure about that. I haven’t yet traveled overseas to attend the Women’s Soccer World Cup, for example, like you-know-who did…!
OMG, you have me in complete suspense. Now, I’m even more anxious than before.
Hmmm. A nice hunk of cheese might serve as a bribe to get more information from me before the interview airs…just sayin’.
Looking forward to hearing the interview! I remember attending a Sox game one time with you and you explained how Nancy captured specific plays of the game with different doings and songs on the organ, which allowed you to “hear” the action of the game. That was a fun day.
You know what? That was a great day! Miss you guys but confident you are enjoying the peace,quiet and beauty of Michigan now. Thanks for leaving this sweet comment.
As a listener, I can always tell when the questions are prepared in advance. What makes for a great interview are the follow-up questions that arise from what the interviewee has just said. That’s what separates a Terry Gross interview from just about anybody else. I’m looking forward to hearing this, Beth! As if anybody ever has to tell you what to say! To anybody!
We talked for about 45 minutes, but I think the radio StoryCorps interviews are no longer than 5 minutes — we’ll see if my follow-up questions make the cut.
Can’ t wait to hear it!
Beth, Joe and I just returned from Boston. We were guests of organist Josh Kantor . YOU were a big topic of conversation. You are fans of each other. Thank you everyone for expressing interest in our interview, I would not and could not have done without Beth,. When I think of the great aspects of my career, Beth is the stand out. I am so thrilled we remaim friends and in touch.
What a coincidence. See you later this month, Nancy — I want to hear all the Josh Kantor stories! PS: For you readers who are unaware, Josh is the young baseball organist for the Boston Red Sox, he takes requests via tweet during games!
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