Bobby Cressey (born 1981) is an American musician and composer who is the stadium organist for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB).[1] Cressey also plays organ for the San Diego Gulls and the San Diego Sockers.[2] He has been playing organ at Petco Park for over ten years as of 2020.[2] When he plays daytime games for the Padres, his organ is in section 313 and he takes requests in person and over social media.[2]

Cressey got the job in 2010 when he was at a special preview night for the Padres and the owners were discussing having "throwback" Thursday games with live organ music.[3] They disclosed they had no organ player in mind and Cressey introduced himself and persisted in suggesting himself until he got an audition and got the gig.[3][4] He began by playing just Thursday games, but now plays day games and Sunday games.[4]

Cressey plays keyboards in the San Diego–based band The Mighty Untouchables.[5] He has recorded one solo album in 2017, Cali Native, with 20 local musicians.[6][7] He has played music for video games including MLB 14 The Show, writing both original songs and other audio cues for the game.[3]

Personal life

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Cressey was born in Carlsbad, California, in 1981.[8] He graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in structural engineering.[8] He learned to play piano on his mother's Baldwin Acrosonic. He and his wife wed in 2011, and are now the parents to two children - one daughter and one son.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Warth, Gary (December 8, 2020). "Voices of Our City to perform at governor's tree-lighting, annual holiday concert". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Hamblin, Abby (April 25, 2019). "Meet the Padres, Gulls and Sockers organist who plays classics and "Game of Thrones" music - and takes requests". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "MLB 14 The Show Interview: Organist Bobby Cressey". Operation Sports. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Bobby Cressey hustled to bring the organ to Petco Park". San Diego Reader. August 1, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "Home". The Mighty Untouchables Band. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "The Mighty Untouchables". San Diego Reader. December 29, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Bush, Robert (September 2017). "BOBBY CRESSEY & FRIENDS: Cali Native". San Diego Troubadour. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Touching base: Bobby Cressey". The Kept Faith. March 26, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.