Will someone please tell me why this isn’t considered a national holiday.
Today’s date has been circled on my calendar since last October. It has actually been marked on my calendar for the past 56 years. Opening Day for the Kansas City Royals.
Now in their 57th season, the Royals have returned to build off of last year’s Wildcard berth and are favorites to win the American League Central Division title.
I’m not sure why but, I’m as excited today as I was on April 12, 1971 - the very first Royals opening day. I still remember listening to Buddy Blattner and Denny Matthews call the first game in Royals history, a 12-inning, 4-3 win over Minnesota at Municipal Stadium in front of 17,688 fans. Lou Pinella became an instant Royals favorite that day as he went 4-5 from his leadoff spot and Moe Drabowsky earned the first win in Royals history. (FYI - Matthews has been with the Royals since their inception in 1969, making him one of four announcers in Major League history to broadcast for the same team for 50+ seasons.)
This wasn’t the first Major League team in Kansas City history. Charlie Finley and the Kansas City Athletics had been in KC since 1955 and then forced a move to Oakland in 1967. Fortunately, Major League Baseball had the foresight to bring another team back to Kansas City, making them a part of the expansion of 1969 that also included the Seattle Pilots, Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres.
Times were definitely different back then. A ticket to sit on the lower level in 1969 cost $3.50. Today, lower level tickets start at $178. If you want to sit behind the plate, be ready to shell out $668. Today, Bobby Witt Jr. is the highest paid Royal after signing a $275M contract before last season. In 1969, future Hall-of-Fame pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm was the highest paid Royal, earning $55K. The majority of the Royals were earning between $10-30K. Guy’s Potato Chips and Hamm’s Beer were two of the biggest sponsors.
Owned by Pharmaceutical mogul Ewing Kauffman, the Royals rise to the top happened faster than most expansion franchises. After coming close in the early 70s, KC won AL West titles in 1976, 1977 and 1978, edging out the hated Oakland Athletics each year. They won the West again in 1980 while also capturing the American League crown, beating the New York Yankees in the championship series. They would lose to Philadelphia in the World Series.
They won their first World Championship in 1985, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in the Series.
Then, things went south in a hurry and lasted for what seemed like an eternity. But they finally came back to play in the World Series, losing to San Francisco in 2014, and beating the New York Mets for the championship in 2015.
Like everyone else, I like my team to be winning a majority of its games. I also like it when it appears ownership and management seem to be trying to put a winner on the field. Both of these seem like possibilities in the foreseeable future. That makes this old man happy.
The Kansas City Royals have been a major part of my life. My oldest son is named Clinton Brett after, you guessed it, Clint Hurdle and George Brett. We’ve made several trips to KC to take in games and BBQ. As a kid, I would listen to my transistor radio under the covers when they played on the west coast. I could recite all their stats. The agate page (stat page) in the newspapers was the greatest thing in print. Today, I sit on my front porch and listen.
Blattner, Matthews, Fred White, Steve Stewart, Ryan Lefevre and Rex Hudler have entertained and educated me on the radio for 56 years. Today begins the 57th. Since it isn’t an official national holiday, I may have to call in sick.
It meant something then. It still means something today.
PLAY BALL!
- Keith Lippoldt
