Eddie Layton

Eddie Layton
Layton at his retirement party in 2003
Born	Edward M. Layton (1925-10-10)October 10, 1925 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	December 26, 2004(2004-12-26) (aged 79) Forest Hills, New York
Nationality	American
Occupation	Organist

Edward M. "Eddie" Layton (October 10, 1925 – December 26, 2004) played the organ at old Yankee Stadium for nearly 40 years, earning him membership in the New York Sports Hall of Fame.

Layton was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the West Chester State Teachers College majoring in meteorology with a minor in music. He began playing the organ when he was twelve years old. While serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he learned to play the Hammond organ. After the war, he began a career as a professional organist writing scores for soap operas on CBS. Two noted CBS soap operas were "The Secret Storm" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." During that time, he recorded nearly 27 albums of organ music. He was also noted for traveling the world as a spokesperson and artist for the Hammond Organ company.

Layton joined the New York Yankees franchise in 1967 when CBS purchased the Yankees from Dan Topping. Because of pressure from the success of the New York Mets, their new Shea Stadium facility and the popularity of their organist, Jane Jarvis, Topping had installed an organ in Yankee Stadium at the beginning of the 1965 season. Lowrey organ demonstrator Toby Wright was the first Yankee organist and did the 1965 and 1966 seasons. Team president Mike Burke brought Layton in to play organ music at the stadium in 1967. At the time, he had never been to the stadium and knew nothing about baseball. He went on to play the organ for the Yankees for over three decades, taking a break from 1971 to 1977 to pursue other musical commitments. (Wright had returned as organist during that time.) When he retired on September 28, 2003, he played a final performance of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", while fans chanted "Eddie! Eddie!". Current New York Yankees organists Ed Alstrom and Paul Cartier were recruited by Layton to take his place at Yankee Stadium.