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Kansas City, MO —
Frank White, the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame second baseman, served as the spokesman for a group of 25 volunteers who were recognized by the Kansas City Council Thursday afternoon for their role in the success of the recent All-Star Game that was played at Kauffman Stadium.
“I wasn’t around in 1985,” said City Councilman Jermaine Reed, who was too young to remember White’s exploits during the Royals’ world championship run in the 1985 World Series, “but I have seen the highlights and know what you meant to your team when the Royals won the World Series.
“But I know – and admire you – for what you did during the All-Star Game festivities in and around Kansas City. What you did in 1985 did not go unnoticed, and what you did in representing the city at the All-Star Game festivities did not got unnoticed. You were an ambassador for an entire city, and we thank you.”
The comments caught the personable White off guard.
“I really didn’t do any more than all the other volunteers who were honored today,” White said. “I didn’t expect to be the spokesperson today, but since I am, I want to say that it took a team effort to make the All-Star Game festivities so successful.
“It wasn’t one person – it was a group of people, and many of them are here with me today.”
White kicked off the All-Star festivities with an appearance at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum with Major League Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith as they introduced the greatest all-time Negro Leagues fielding team. Each member of the team was honored posthumously with a Gold Glove.
The night of the All-Star Game, White and his wife Teresa were taken to four All-Star Game watch parties in Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp’s patrol car.
“Teresa kept asking Mike to turn on his siren,” White joked. “We started out at the zoo, then went down to 18th and Vine (the site of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum), Crown Center and the Guadeloupe Center.”
White gave a brief speech at each appearance, signed autographs, posed for photos and then went on to a new site.
“It was a whirlwind, but it was a lot of fun,” White said. “It’s like Mayor James said, you didn’t need a ticket to the All-Star Game to enjoy it or the events surrounding it. I think Kansas City should be proud of itself. I’ve heard a lot of good things about our town, and since I grew up here that makes it even more special.”
Frank White, the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame second baseman, served as the spokesman for a group of 25 volunteers who were recognized by the Kansas City Council Thursday afternoon for their role in the success of the recent All-Star Game that was played at Kauffman Stadium.
“I wasn’t around in 1985,” said City Councilman Jermaine Reed, who was too young to remember White’s exploits during the Royals’ world championship run in the 1985 World Series, “but I have seen the highlights and know what you meant to your team when the Royals won the World Series.
“But I know – and admire you – for what you did during the All-Star Game festivities in and around Kansas City. What you did in 1985 did not go unnoticed, and what you did in representing the city at the All-Star Game festivities did not got unnoticed. You were an ambassador for an entire city, and we thank you.”
The comments caught the personable White off guard.
“I really didn’t do any more than all the other volunteers who were honored today,” White said. “I didn’t expect to be the spokesperson today, but since I am, I want to say that it took a team effort to make the All-Star Game festivities so successful.
“It wasn’t one person – it was a group of people, and many of them are here with me today.”
White kicked off the All-Star festivities with an appearance at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum with Major League Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith as they introduced the greatest all-time Negro Leagues fielding team. Each member of the team was honored posthumously with a Gold Glove.
The night of the All-Star Game, White and his wife Teresa were taken to four All-Star Game watch parties in Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp’s patrol car.
“Teresa kept asking Mike to turn on his siren,” White joked. “We started out at the zoo, then went down to 18th and Vine (the site of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum), Crown Center and the Guadeloupe Center.”
White gave a brief speech at each appearance, signed autographs, posed for photos and then went on to a new site.
“It was a whirlwind, but it was a lot of fun,” White said. “It’s like Mayor James said, you didn’t need a ticket to the All-Star Game to enjoy it or the events surrounding it. I think Kansas City should be proud of itself. I’ve heard a lot of good things about our town, and since I grew up here that makes it even more special.”
