Here’s the all-time greatest New York sports riddle:
WHO PLAYED FOR THE RANGERS, THE ROVERS, THE KNICKS AND THE BROOKLYN DODGERS.
None other than Gladys (Two D’s) Goodding – alias MSG organist.
This marvelous musician PLAYED the organ at Madison Square Garden for NHL games, Eastern Amateur Hockey League Rovers games and even for the Met League Sunday afternoon contests.
Ditto for the Knicks and championship fights at the Eighth Avenue arena.
When big-league baseball arrived in Brooklyn in early April, Gladys worked the Ebbets Field console until the Dodgers left for Los Angeles.
For NHL games, Gladys had a special tune for each NHL team. The easy ones were “Pretty Red Wing” for Detroit, “Chicago” for the Blackhawks and “Canadian Capers” for the Habs.
The toughies included “Paree” for the Bruins. Miss Goodding explained: “In the late 1920’s the Bruins barnstormed France after the NHL season and “Paree” was a hit tune. For those reasons it fit.”
She played “Saskatchewan” when the Maple Leafs stepped on the ice presumably because Toronto forwards Nick and Don Metz were from Wilcox in the province.
I don’t have to tell you that Gladys really tickled the ivories for “The Rangers Victory Song.”
She was quite the “player” for some of our favorite teams and a wonderful subject for a redoubtable riddle.