At 89, Fred Costello Plays The Organ On Opening Day In Rochester Just Like He Has Since 1977

Fred Costello could swing a bat about as well as he could perform a melody as a kid growing up in Syracuse, New York. He wanted to play at ballparks, and figured the best way to reach that dream was through slick fielding and a sweet swing.

"I thought I was going to be the next Mickey Mantle," he said.

The idea of blossoming into the next great Yankees slugger hit a sour note for Costello.

His baseball career ended after a few years in semi-pro ball but that goal of getting to play in a ballpark night in, night out for decades and beyond, well that lived on - only as the person widely believed to now serve as the longest-reigning sports organist in history, playing since 1977 for a minor league baseball team in Rochester.

Before the Rochester Red Wings settled in for Tuesday's home opener, Costello got comfortable behind his Yamaha and Korg keyboards for the start of his 48th baseball season.