Vince Lascheid

{{Short description|American musician (1923–2009)}}

Vincent C. Lascheid, Jr (December 26, 1923 – March 19, 2009) was a prominent Pittsburgh organist. With distinctive keyboard stylings, Lascheid was best known as the organist for the Pittsburgh Pirates from the 1960s to 2009 and from 1970 to 2003 the Pittsburgh Penguins.{{Cite news| title = Longtime sports organist Vince Lascheid dead at 85| newspaper = Pittsburgh Tribune-Review| date = March 20, 2009| url = http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_617062.html| access-date = February 7, 2010| archive-date = May 8, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110508020139/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_617062.html| url-status = dead}}{{Cite news | title = Pirates, Penguins organist Vince Lascheid dies| newspaper = Pittsburgh Business Times| date = March 20, 2009| url = http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2009/03/16/daily64.html}}{{Cite news | title = Vince Lascheid, well-known organist, dies| newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| date = March 20, 2009| url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09079/957106-100.stm}}{{Cite news | last=Batz | first=Bob Jr. | title = Obituary: Vincent C. Lascheid Jr. / Organist set tone for Bucs, Pens| newspaper = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| date = March 21, 2009| url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09080/957305-122.stm}}{{Cite news| title = Penguins, Pirates Organist Vince Lascheid Dies| newspaper = WPXI| date = March 20, 2009| url = http://www.wpxi.com/sports/18975190/detail.html| access-date = February 7, 2010| archive-date = April 22, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090422211041/http://www.wpxi.com/sports/18975190/detail.html| url-status = dead}} He was inducted into the Penguins' Hall of Fame in 2003.{{Cite web| title = Pens Hall of Famer Vince Lascheid Passes Away| work = NHL - Penguins| publisher = Pittsburgh Penguins| date = March 20, 2009| url = http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=496813}} In 2005, he was honored by being awarded the "Pride of the Pirates" by the Pittsburgh Pirates and with a moment of silence in 2009 from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Joe Brown and Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince met Vince Lascheid while he was playing at the Colony restaurant and nightclub before the opening of Three Rivers Stadium. They asked if he was interested in playing organ at the new stadium, which was the beginning of Vince’s long tenure as organist for the Pirates.{{Cite web |date=2009-04-13 |title=Vince Lascheid: Thanks for the Memories! |url=https://eleventhstack.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/vince-lascheid-thanks-for-the-memories/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Eleventh Stack |language=en}}

Vince was renowned for his sly and witty association of played song titles with player’s names.{{Cite web |title=Long live the '70s And they do, at PNC Park |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/businessnews/20010413baseball2.asp |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=old.post-gazette.com |archive-date=2022-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409180955/http://old.post-gazette.com/businessnews/20010413baseball2.asp |url-status=dead }}{{Citation |title=11/5/92 - Vince Lascheid Interview | date=11 October 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awHYDNHPuRE |language=en |access-date=2022-04-09}} Digital recordings of his performances continued to be played at Pirates home games.{{Cite web |last=Guggenheimer |first=Paul |date=2019-03-06 |title=More Vince Lascheid melodies to be heard at PNC Park this season |url=https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/more-vince-lascheid-melodies-to-be-heard-at-pnc-park-this-season/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=TribLIVE.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hertzel |first=Bob |title=Music of Pirates' colorful organist will live on |url=https://www.timeswv.com/sports/music-of-pirates-colorful-organist-will-live-on/article_e87d55d9-fa72-5d3b-9473-696c1876ebc2.html |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Times West Virginian |date=22 March 2009 |language=en}}

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