ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Baseball is a game of tradition. Rochester Red Wings organist Fred Costello has single-handedly created one longtime tradition at the ballpark. It’s one for which he’s being recognized, for his thousands of days and nights spent at the stadium.

At Frontier Field, there was anticipation in the spring air for a big night at the ballpark. Each season’s opening day marks a baseball milestone. The game is defined by tradition. 

In a booth high above the playing field is a man whose presence has come to help define Rochester baseball. Fred Costello isn’t just any ballpark organist. He now holds the record for the longest-playing sports organist — ever.

“I love playing at the ball games,” said Costello. “I love music.”

Costello is in his 46th season as Red Wings organist.

Baseball is a game that can have a lot of action. But for all of that, there is also a lot of downtime. That’s where Costello does his best work.

“It kind of makes me feel good that people appreciate what I enjoy doing,” he said. “The fact that they love me being here and love what I’m doing, what more could I ask?”

Music was not always Costello’s only career goal.

“I thought I was gonna be the next Mickey Mantle,” he said. “That didn’t work out.”

But music did. Born in Syracuse, Fred started playing the accordion at age 7. 

“People asked me 'now why did you switch from accordion to organ?' I said, 'well, no places to put the drink,' ” he laughed and said.

Costello played in several bands, and spent 11 years on the road, mostly on the West Coast, playing nightclubs. He worked opposite Wayne Newton in Las Vegas. Then, a three-month, six-night-a-week gig brought him to Rochester.

“One phone call changed my whole life,” said Costello of the call to new Red Wings general manager Don Labbruzzo in 1977.

“I said 'Don, how would you like to have live music at the ballpark?' 'We’ve never had that. Let’s try it for a year.' ” 

A one-year contract turned into another, and another, never feeling like work to Costello.

“People say, 'how long are you going to do this?' I say 'well, you take it year by year,' ” said Costello. 

The game of baseball has changed a lot in 46 years. Analytics have joined traditional scouting and coaching. There is a statistic for just about everything. In Rochester, the soundtrack to the game has also evolved with the times.

“This year, I’m doing a little Dr. Dre,” laughed Costello.

The ballpark traditions, meanwhile, are played by the same steady hands of a humble legend.

“As trite as it sounds, I look forward to going to the ballpark each night as much as I did my first night,” he said.