Let’s face it – not everyone has a job that’s a dream but every now and then, it seems you find that diamond in the rough. Yes, we’re talking about people with awesome, super cool, downright envy-worthy jobs. And more often than not, it’s these people who are bombarded with the classic question, “How’d you get that job?” So we journeyed to find out.
Our first aren’t-you-jealous job is perhaps one of the most well-known. If you’ve ever been to a Minnesota Twins game, you’re familiar with Sue’s work.
Perched on the second flood of Target Field, Sue Nelson easily has the best seat in the house — but she has to work for it.
Anytime you hear the organ fire up with a rally tune or a little ditty during a discussion at the pitcher’s mound, you’re hearing Sue.
Since about 1998, Sue has been tickling the ivories of her trusty organ, after a somewhat dream opportunity. Sue started as the organist for the good ol Minnesota North Stars on March 18, 1981 and played for the team until the end. In 1984, Ronnie Newman (the former Twins organist) called her up and told her about a new sport in town where “they won’t let the boys catch the ball with their hands, they have to hit it with their heads and kick it with their feet,” she said. “He goes, ‘I don’t want any part of it. Will you help me?'”
Sue’s first game playing for the Minnesota Strikers soccer team had a crowd of 50,000, plus a special appearance from the Beach Boys.
“It was just unbelievable,” she said. “It was phenomenal and I just loved it.”
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When the North Stars left in 1993, Sue said she kept in touch with Ronnie, played a few high school games and waited for her next team. Well, five years later, Ronnie called and asked her to sub for him and play for the Minnesota Twins. She played about three or four times for Ronnie that year and before long, he was asking her to fill in full-time.
“He couldn’t do it anymore,” she said. “He had arthritis in his fingers so he couldn’t play anymore.”
Take It From The Top
Sue, of Nicollet, Minn., was a basketball cheerleader in high school and said she’s always loved sports. After rooting for the home team in school, she started working at a music store — thinking she’d be doing light dusting and answering phones. Instead, they asked her to help sell organs.
“They said, ‘Well, we really need you to sell these,'” she said. “Well first I had to learn how to play it and learn how to improvise.”
She learned how to play quickly — mostly on pop music — and had her first gig playing at a supper club.
“It was a fiasco, and I remember the supper club soon after that went out of business and I always thought it was because I was so bad,” Sue said.
She got better, started playing at grocery stores and was able to sell a few organs for about $500 a piece. She would play and talk to customers at the same time — and of course, with every organ sold, it came with free lessons on how to play. She said she’s had tons of students over the years — and every now and then, they’ll pop by Target Field and say hello.
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Career With The Twins
Sue said she never thought she’d be a musician for a living.
“Oh I don’t know, you don’t think you’re going to be a musician for goodness sakes,” she said. “I just played piano. I think I thought I would be a teacher. But I didn’t like school.”
Her first Twins game was in September of 1998 and since then, it’s been a wonderful ride. She said by far the best part of her job is getting to watch the Twins play every day from the best seat in the house.
And if she had to name the worst part of her job? Well, Sue says there’s not much to complain about.
“I mean, I guess I feel bad at the end of the season,” she said. “I just love it when they go on.”
(credit: CBS)
As far as the skills needed to do her job, Sue says she always has to pay attention to the game and be prepared to play. At times, her duties to play “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” can pose a challenge when the singer is soft-spoken. Sue said she tries her best to keep up with them but with so many excited Twins fans around her, it can be tough to hear the singer. Still, she cranks up her speakers and plays on.
When asked if she could have any job in the world, what would she want to do, Sue said she’s true to her Twins and would never want to play for another team or do another job.
She said her love of the Twins started in high school, when she was the deciding vote to go watch the team for their class trip.
“None of the other girls wanted to go,” she said, with a laugh.
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Since then, she’s loved being a part of the Twins family. She recalls meeting Harmon Killebrew for the first time — and then becoming overwhelmed when she found out he knew her by name. She also became buddies with former Twins star Michael Cuddyer, plus his family, and tries to keep in touch when she can.
For those that are wondering how Sue’s job works, she said she’s allowed to play her “cheerleading” anthems as soon as someone’s on base. Whenever the catcher goes out to the pitcher’s mound, that’s a must for some organ music.
“That’s a really big deal,” she said. “I’ll be watching it and watching it and as soon as I turn around to talk to someone, I’ll look back and there goes Joe, walking up to talk to the pitcher.”
She gets a script every night of her obligations, which includes first pitch songs and a few tunes after the National Anthem.
(credit: CBS)
Sue didn’t reveal her age but said it’s really an asset.
“In this situation, it’s good to be a grandma,” she said. “It’s really easy for people to talk to me. Because they don’t have to worry that I’m going to think they’re trying to pick me up or something.”
The job has certainly brought her a lot of great memories, which is one of the many reasons she says she’ll never retire.
“I say I want to die on the bench,” she said. “I won’t quit.”
For Sue, it’s definitely been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — one she’s grateful for and thrilled to do every day. Beyond the team, she said she loves talking to the fans.
After all, since day one, Sue said she was told mingling with the fans is part of her job.
“I remember asking, ‘what’s my job, the music or the schmoozing?’ and they said, ‘Both,'” she said.
So the next time you’re at the ballgame, stop up to the 2 Gingers Pub and say hello to Sue — just make sure it’s not during a chat at the pitcher’s mound.
