Retirement can wait for Ernie Hays

St. Louis -- Busch Stadium organist Ernie Hays isn't going anywhere right now, other than to Arkansas for some fishing.

"Basically, what [the Cardinals] said to me was, 'You can stay here as long as you want to,"' Hays said. "I don't know if I want to, but I appreciate the offer."

Hays, 72, has been the Cardinals' organist since 1971, and reports of his impending departure have circulated in the local media in recent years.

Though the number of games Hays works per year is down to about 60, the Cardinals say it's because they want to get a replacement ready for the time when Hays does retire.

"We've been putting some people in the seat for a handful of games, just for precautionary reasons," said Tony Simokaitis, manager of scoreboard operations at Busch. "Ernie's not getting any younger, and we're planning for the future.

But there's nothing immediate. ... What we don't want to have happen is because of health he can't do it anymore and we have no one with game experience."

Hays had a heart valve replaced in February 2006 but was in his seat for opening day at the new ballpark and said he feels fine.

Hays is concerned about the future of the stadium organist.

Only 17 of 30 major-league teams still have an organist (the rest used prerecorded music), and the majority of work done by an organist is limited to playing "charge" or a hand-clapping rhythm.

Simokaitis said the Cardinals are "committed to organists."