Wilbur Snapp once was ejected from Jack Russell Stadium after his musical mockery angered an ump.
By CRAIG BASSE
Published September 9, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - Wilbur Snapp saw a lot of bad calls during two decades as organist at Jack Russell Stadium.
The worst was when Mr. Snapp, himself, got ejected.
It was a minor league game in 1985. A 22-year-old umpire made what Mr. Snapp thought was a bad call at the plate - a call that went against Mr. Snapp's Clearwater Phillies. Snapp responded with a rendition of Three Blind Mice.
Not amused, the ump pointed up at the organist, then made a heave-ho motion with his thumb. Translation: You're out of the game.
Snapp's ejection made him a folk hero and brought him phone calls from around the country. Weatherman Willard Scott mentioned it on NBC's Today show, and Paul Harvey talked about it on his syndicated radio show.
Fans asked for his autograph, and he signed it "Wilbur Snapp, Three Blind Mice organist."
Mr. Snapp, who taught himself to play the organ when he was 35 and couldn't read music, died Saturday (Sept. 6, 2003) at Palms of Pasadena Hospital, South Pasadena. He was 83.
Earlier this year when the Clearwater field played host to its final major league contest, Snapp was mentioned among the greats of the sport. Mickey Mantle's name was called. Hank Aaron's name was called. And then there was Wilbur Snapp, the organist who was kicked out of a game.
Mr. Snapp, who lived in St. Petersburg, provided the music at Philadelphia Phillies games during spring training and for minor leaguers through the summer.
For the 1997 season, Jack Russell Stadium purchased recorded music and dismissed him.
"They just told me they weren't going to hire me this year," he said. "It wasn't anything I did or didn't do."
He remained a baseball fan - even a Phillies fan. Then the Phillies had a change of heart and rehired him, returning him and his organ console to the park.
He missed six games.
He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, and came to this area in 1978 from Springfield, Ohio, where he owned and operated a music store.
Mr. Snapp was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran.
He was a Mason in Bloomingburg, Ohio, Shriners of Tampa, and Scottish Rite of Columbus, Ohio.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Janice; a son, the Rev. C. Thomas, Fort Myers Beach; a daughter, Elaine Parker, Peachtree City, Ga.; a brother, Herbert, Palm Harbor; a sister, Ada O'Burn, Pennsylvania; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter, 10255 Paradise Blvd., Treasure Island, where he was a member.
National Cremation Society, St. Petersburg, is in charge.
- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.
