A centenarian's dream come true

100-year-old master musician, Ted Kowalski, plays the organ, meets Vin Scully at Dodger Stadium

By Rene De La Cruz
APPLE VALLEY REVIEW

LOS ANGELES • The Vin Scully Press Box at Dodger Stadium was a flurry of activity as journalists from around the country prepared to cover the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nancy Bea Hefley, the Dodgers’ organist since 1988, began preparing 100-year-old Thaddeus “Ted” Kowalski of Apple Valley to play the stadium organ during Wednesday’s game. The buzz quickly spread throughout the room that the centenarian was about to perform.

As Kowalski began playing, a handful of reporters left their laptops and game notes and focused their attention on the master musician.

“Oh, I love this organ, it sounds so good,” said Kowalski, as he continued to play.

“Nancy is so beautiful and she really knows how to play this organ,” Kowalski said. “I’m honored just to be sitting here.”

A few minutes later Dodger radio announcer Vin Scully entered the room and made his way toward Kowalski.

“We are delighted and honored to have you here,” said Scully, as he smiled and shook Kowalski’s hand.

“You are my favorite announcer and I’ve listened to you since you came here,” Kowalski said. “I could listen to you forever. You know what to say at the right time.”

“Well you ought to get a medal,” Scully replied. “I’ve been known to put people to sleep.”

The veteran broadcaster, 83, who is considered the “Voice of the Dodgers,” has been the team’s announcer since 1950 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

When Kowalski told Scully he couldn’t listen to any other radio announcer, Scully replied, “I’m like an old pair of shoes: You just get comfortable with them.”

As Scully and Kowalski began wrapping up their brief conversation, Kowalski told Scully he was still a young man and wished him many more years behind the microphone.

After discovering Kowalski’s dream of playing at Dodger Stadium and meeting Scully, the American Federation of Musicians, Local 47, helped to make the dream a reality for one of their long-standing members.

“It’s an exciting day for him and it’s something that he really wanted to do,” Hefley said. “It’s amazing that he does as well as he does. I hope I’m as good as that at that age.”

Kowalski, who was scheduled to perform “God Bless America” in the seventh inning, had difficulty with the organ headphones which prevented him from playing.

But that didn’t erase the joy on Kowalski’s face, as many journalists and stadium staff members wished him well as he left the press box.

“I think it’s remarkable and wonderful, inspirational, all of the above and then some,” Scully said. “He’s such a pleasant man. It really is an honor to have him here.”

Rene De La Cruz may be reached at Rene@AppleValley-Review.com.