Lambert Bartak

Lambert James Bartak[1] (April 8, 1919 – November 3, 2013) was an American organist, best known for playing at the College World Series.

Lambert Bartak
Born(1919-04-08)April 8, 1919
Clarkson, Nebraska
DiedNovember 3, 2013(2013-11-03) (aged 94)
San Diego, California
OccupationOrganist
Years active1955–2010
Known for

Biography

Bartak was the full-time organist for the NCAA Division I College World Series at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. He played full-time for the series from 1983 through his retirement in 2010. He had first played the organ for the event in 1955.[2][3]

Bartak also played the organ for the minor league Omaha Royals from 1973 to 2002.[2] Bartak performed in one of the few stadiums that still featured live music, as most stadiums had switched to prerecorded music. His image was often shown on the video screens at Rosenblatt and on broadcasts of the games.

Bartak is one of three organists to be ejected from a baseball game, the others being Wilbur Snapp in 1985 and Derek Dye in 2012. During an Omaha Royals game on May 26, 1988, Royals catcher Larry Owen argued a call with home plate umpire Ángel Hernandez. Manager Glenn Ezell joined the fray and, during the argument, Bartak played the theme song from The Mickey Mouse Club. After Bartak played the spelling portion of the song, "M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E", another umpire, Tony Maners, motioned to the press box ejecting Bartak.[4] Coincidentally, Maners later umpired during the 2006 College World Series.

Bartak retired following the 2010 College World Series, ending his career with the ballpark he loved, Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium.[5] TD Ameritrade Park, when it opened in 2011, ushered in the era of Lincoln, Nebraska, native Jerry Pawlak as Bartak's successor at the organ.[6] The original organ that Bartak played at Rosenblatt has been restored and is being used at TD Ameritrade Park.[7]

Bartak was born in Clarkson, Nebraska, in 1919.[2] His father was a Czech immigrant to he United States.[2] Bartak served in the United States Army during World War II, playing in a military band.[2] He died in San Diego at the age of 94 in 2013.[8]

References
  1. "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. October 1940. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via fold3.com.
  2. "Passings: Organist for baseball stadium". Los Angeles Times. November 6, 2013. p. 13. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "New Ballpark gets new organist". omaha.com. Omaha World Herald. 2011-06-14. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  4. "Organist Hits Wrong Note". The New York Times. AP. 1988-05-29. Retrieved 2006-06-19.
  5. "Blue note to stadium's swan song". omaha.com. Omaha World Herald. 2010-06-25. Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  6. "New ballpark gets new organist". omaha.com. Omaha World Herald. 2011-06-14. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  7. "Organ transplant for new ballpark". omaha.com. Omaha World Herald. 2011-03-05. Archived from the original on 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  8. "Lambert Bartak, longtime Rosenblatt organist, dead at 94". omaha.com. Omaha World Herald. 2013-11-04. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
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