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The Braves' organist trolled Daniel Murphy with songs about love and inclusion.
The Atlanta Braves' organist delivered a pointed musical message to antigay Chicago Cubs player Daniel Murphy at last Thursday night's game.
Second baseman Murphy, who recently joined the Cubs after stints with the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals, made a famous antigay comment in 2015 when asked about working with Billy Bean, Major League Baseball's ambassador for inclusion, who is gay.
"I disagree with his lifestyle," Murphy said. "I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn't mean I can't still invest in him and get to know him." This year he said he has become friendly with Bean, but he didn't apologize for his homophobia.
In response, Braves organist Matthew Kaminski sent a message of love and inclusion, as noted by Twitter users. When Murphy batted in the fourth inning, Kaminski played "Lola," a Kinks hit about a man dating a woman who is apparently transgender. For Murphy's at-bat in the sixth, he played "What the World Needs Now Is Love," and when the player came up in the ninth, the musical choice was Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."
\u201cHere's a montage of songs @bravesorganist played for Daniel Murphy ("Lola" in the 4th, "What the World Needs Now is Love" in the 6th, and "Born This Way" in the 9th):\u201d— Organist Alert (@Organist Alert) 1535686354
What most accounts of the game didn't mention was that his song for Murphy's first at-bat, in the first inning, was "Axel F" from Beverly Hills Cop, the 1984 action movie starring Eddie Murphy. It may have been chosen because of the actor's last name, but Eddie is known for homophobic remarks too.
\u201cBeverly Hills Cop theme song from Braves organist for Daniel Murphy. Took me a while.\u201d— Evan Altman (@Evan Altman) 1535673831
Murphy didn't get a hit in the game, which the Cubs nonetheless won 5-4, but it's impossible to know if that was an effect of Kaminski's performance. But Twitter lit up with praise for the organist, who is generally renowned for his witty song choices.
\u201c@organistalert @bravesorganist The gaga in the 9th is perfection.\u201d— Organist Alert (@Organist Alert) 1535686354
\u201c@organistalert @bravesorganist BRAVO Braves! @PFLAG will appauld your support! #LGBTQ\u201d— Organist Alert (@Organist Alert) 1535686354
\u201c@MrsSweatheifer @bravesorganist Love that you are needling this guy who just doesn\u2019t get that it\u2019s not still 1957. As a Mets fan, I don\u2019t care how many homers he hits v. us, I\u2019m just glad his intolerant lifestyle isn\u2019t in our clubhouse any longer. Thanks! P.s. wish Mets still had a live organist!\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udc99\ud83e\udde1\u201d— #61 Matthew Kaminski \ud83c\udfb9 (@#61 Matthew Kaminski \ud83c\udfb9) 1535686157
Kaminski was grateful.
\u201c#Braves vs #Cubs - Wow! My Twitter feed was on fire tonight! Thank you for all the love \ud83d\udc4d\u201d— #61 Matthew Kaminski \ud83c\udfb9 (@#61 Matthew Kaminski \ud83c\udfb9) 1535686157
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