Raised Royal – Stadium Tour Tells Kansas City Royals History
In the fall of 1967, the Athletics said goodbye to Kansas City and hopped a bus for greener turf on the West Coast, calling Oakland their new home. The A’s dominated Major League Baseball for the next decade winning three World Series titles. Meanwhile, Kansas Citians wondered what was to become of them in the eyes of baseball’s lords.
Ewing Kauffman rescued the City of Fountains from becoming a footnote in baseball history, or a minor league baseball team. Immediately offering to buy a new team for Kansas City, Kauffman persuaded baseball owners to give him an expansion team. The Royals’ first lineup took the field in 1969, allowing Kansas City to miss only one baseball season.
As the Royals celebrate their 50th season in baseball, history comes alive during a tour of Kauffman Stadium. Tours take fans behind the scenes, and up to the playing field.
As a kid who shagged fly balls during practice and played games in a makeshift backyard diamond, an opportunity to stand next to a Major League one is truly a dream come true. As you stand in the Royals dugout, where Hall-of-Famers, All-Stars, and other great Royals players watched games awaiting their at-bat or turn on the mound, you can imagine George Brett, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen, Paul Splittorff and Eric Hosmer joking around with teammates or focusing on the action on the field. Envision Jack McKeon or Dick Howser studying the action, deciding their next managerial move.
As visitors stroll through the dugout, they head to the team’s clubhouse area. Though we weren’t allowed to visit the clubhouse during this visit (the team was in the middle of a homestand, so no tours were allowed inside), we caught a glimpse of the entry.
The interview room offers managers and players an opportunity to comment on each game while reporters ask questions about games and other items.
Besides the players’ areas, fans can see some of the special seating areas, such as the Diamond Club. Fans can pay extra to sit in the area. I told Lisa a visit to the club area would make a great birthday gift.
As a former sportswriter, any chance I get to sit in a professional press box, I’m all in. KC’s press box is named for Joe McGuff, a former Kansas City Star editor who helped lead the way for the return of baseball to the city. The view of the field from the box is spectacular.
In addition to the stadium tour, fans can look at the team’s history with a trip through the Royals Hall of Fame. With 3,154 balls forming the numeral 5 in honor George Brett;’s career hits total, the Hall of Fame takes a closer look at the team’s success on the field. Brett, a baseball Hall of Fame member, played 21 seasons and was a 13-time All-Star, as well an American League Most Valuable Player. He was the first third baseman to get more than 3,000 hits and 300 home runs.
Two Royals combined for 13 Gold Gloves, marking them as the best fielder at their position. Frank White earned eight gloves during his 18 seasons in Major League Baseball. White was a five-time All-Star. A 12-year veteran, Gordon has been named to three All-Star games in addition to winning his five Gold Gloves.
Three Kansas City pitchers have combined to win four Cy Young Awards as the best pitcher in the American League. Bret Saberhagen, a two-time winner, was the first to bring home the hardware, winning in 1985 and ’89. David Cone won the award in 1994, followed by Zach Greinke in 2009.
Two former Royals pitchers have special exhibits. Paul Splittorff, a former Morningside College pitcher, played for the Royals his entire career. A 25th round pick in the 1968 draft, the left-hander won 166 games in a 15-year career with Kansas City. The popular Splittorff spent several years as a radio/TV analyst for the Royals. He passed away from cancer in 2011 at the age of 64.
Former KC pitcher Yordano Ventura was 30 when he died in 2017 in a car accident in his native country of Dominican Republic. Called up in late 2013, Ventura went 38-31 during his short career.
The Royals have played in four World Series, winning in 1985 and 2015. The championship trophies are proudly displayed at the Hall of Fame.
The team celebrates its minor league system by showcasing uniforms of each team, from Class A to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.
The Hall of Fame also looks at the history of bats, baseballs and gloves through special exhibits.
Fans can take one of three levels of tours. Each tour includes the Hall of Fame, dugout, press box, interview room and outfield plaza. The All-Star and Grand Slam tours each add an additional item. We took the All-Star tour, which included The Triple Crown Suites.
Regardless of which team you root for, a chance to tour a team’s stadium is a must. We recommend taking a Kauffman Stadium tour.
For more information on the Royals and tours, please visit www.mlb.com/royals.
