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Kansas City, Kan. —
Inez Holland’s lips were trembling and her eyes were misty.
The Mission, Kan., resident was apprehensive at first, wondering what it would be like to meet her childhood idol, Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame second baseman Frank White.
White was attending an early-morning RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner-city) All-Star Game ceremony that featured several hundred youngsters who were participating in the Kansas City, Kan., wing of the metro-wide program. Holland’s husband, brother and brothers in law were coaching a team that included her son.
He was too young to remember White’s glory days with the Royals, but Holland remembers being a 9-year-old sitting in the nosebleed section at Royals Stadium watching White perform his magic at second base.
As she approached White, following his talk that seemed to inspire everyone at Eisenhower Field, Holland began to tear up.
“I didn’t want to get all emotional,” she told White, who shook her hand and gave her a hug, “but you just mean so much to me. I got your autograph when I was 9, and I will never forget meeting you.”
That’s a reaction White often receives, as he has been a fan favorite for nearly four decades. Wednesday morning, the KCK RBI Program presented him with an honor unlike any he has received.
A youngster on every RBI team who was nominated by his coach, was given the No. 20 – White’s number that is now retired by the Royals.
“It’s like a reverse retirement of Frank’s number,” explained Cle Ross, the executive director of the KCK RBI Program. “We want every player on every team to know about Frank, to know what he has meant to this community, to know what type of player he was.
“So, rather than retiring his number, we want to make sure that a deserving young man on every one of our teams wears No. 20. That way, 20 years from now, the kids who play in the RBI Program will know about Frank White and he will never be forgotten.”
White, a resident of Lee’s Summit, became involved with the KCK RBI Program shortly after signing on with the Kansas City T-Bones, an independent baseball league team that plays its games in KCK.
“Frank didn’t know who I was, but I sent him an email and he answered it,” Ross said. “I called him and he actually picked up the phone and answered my call. We have 675 kids in our program, and Frank cares about every one of them.
Inez Holland’s lips were trembling and her eyes were misty.
The Mission, Kan., resident was apprehensive at first, wondering what it would be like to meet her childhood idol, Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame second baseman Frank White.
White was attending an early-morning RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner-city) All-Star Game ceremony that featured several hundred youngsters who were participating in the Kansas City, Kan., wing of the metro-wide program. Holland’s husband, brother and brothers in law were coaching a team that included her son.
He was too young to remember White’s glory days with the Royals, but Holland remembers being a 9-year-old sitting in the nosebleed section at Royals Stadium watching White perform his magic at second base.
As she approached White, following his talk that seemed to inspire everyone at Eisenhower Field, Holland began to tear up.
“I didn’t want to get all emotional,” she told White, who shook her hand and gave her a hug, “but you just mean so much to me. I got your autograph when I was 9, and I will never forget meeting you.”
That’s a reaction White often receives, as he has been a fan favorite for nearly four decades. Wednesday morning, the KCK RBI Program presented him with an honor unlike any he has received.
A youngster on every RBI team who was nominated by his coach, was given the No. 20 – White’s number that is now retired by the Royals.
“It’s like a reverse retirement of Frank’s number,” explained Cle Ross, the executive director of the KCK RBI Program. “We want every player on every team to know about Frank, to know what he has meant to this community, to know what type of player he was.
“So, rather than retiring his number, we want to make sure that a deserving young man on every one of our teams wears No. 20. That way, 20 years from now, the kids who play in the RBI Program will know about Frank White and he will never be forgotten.”
White, a resident of Lee’s Summit, became involved with the KCK RBI Program shortly after signing on with the Kansas City T-Bones, an independent baseball league team that plays its games in KCK.
“Frank didn’t know who I was, but I sent him an email and he answered it,” Ross said. “I called him and he actually picked up the phone and answered my call. We have 675 kids in our program, and Frank cares about every one of them.
“For him to come out here on the Fourth of July and participate in our all-star game tells you what kind of man he is. He’s special.”
So special, in fact, that MLB.com was on hand recording the event for a future Internet broadcast.
White told the youngsters about his early experiences with baseball and encouraged them to continue playing the game he mastered.
“I didn’t have a league like the RBI Program provides,” White said. “I got up early, went to the park, played baseball all day and got home in time to do my chores. I think that kids would be more interested in playing the game if they were given the opportunity, and this program gives you that opportunity.”
He praised the number of adults who attended the event.
“I see a whole lot of family support here today,” White added. “That just jumped out at me – how many parents and grandparents are here today. I hope you know how important that is to your kids and grandkids.”
Luis Palme, a 14-year-old who wears No. 20 for the KCK Royals, met White after he took part in a ceremonial first pitch.
“This is so special for me,” Palme said. “I’ve never met someone as famous as Frank White. I will always remember this day.”
Everyone in attendance could probably make the same statement.
“I know I’ll never forget today,” White said. “To know that someone thinks enough of you to make sure that a player on every team will always be wearing No. 20 let’s you know that you have made a positive impact in your community.
“Now that I’m away from the game, I still want to make an impact, to have a positive impact on players and their families. That’s why I was so excited to come out here today and be a part of all of this event.”
