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Kansas City, Kan. —
A group of Kansas City Royals veterans helped rekindle some all-star memories Friday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ball Park in The Legends area of Kansas City Kan., where Royals Hall of Famers Amos Otis, John Mayberry, Fred Patek, Hal McRae, Willie Wilson, T-Bones coach Frank White and trainer Mickey Cobb took part in a Legends Game ceremony that had the fans begging for more.
Each player was driven to home plate in a convertible, where they participated in a first-pitch ceremony that included former Blue Springs High School all-state and T-Bones catcher Bubby Williams.
Some of the veterans made their throws from the mound, others were a few steps closer to home plate. Once they returned to the sidelines, they were mercifully razzed by their former teammates.
The event was coordinated by White’s wife, Teresa, who took advantage of many of the players being in Kansas City for the All-Star Game events that are taking place across the metro area.
As Otis, the first Royals player to ever start an All-Star Game, walked to the mound, chants of “A.O., A.O.” began ringing throughout the ballpark.
A five-time all-star, Otis said his start in the 1973 midsummer classic at Royals Stadium was his most memorable.
“We had five hits in the game and I had two and Big John (Mayberry) had one,” Otis recalled. “Of all my all-star appearances, that was the one that meant the most to me. It was in front of our fans, Big John and I each had some success and we got to play against future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.”
Otis had two singles, stole a base and drove in the only AL run, as his second-inning single scored Reggie Jackson, who had doubled. The National League won the game 7-1 on the strength of homers by Johnny Bench and MVP Bobby Bonds.
“It was the first and only time I was picked as a starter,” Otis added. “I was third in the voting behind Reggie and Bobby Murcer. Bobby was also a center fielder but he told me, ‘This is your hometown, you play center and I’ll play left.’ That was nice of him.”
Both Otis and Mayberry got the chance to talk to their boyhood idol, future home run king Aaron, at the game.
“I felt like Hank put me right up on that pedestal alongside him,” said Mayberry, who had a single in the game. “I was a young kid. I grew up in Detroit and watched Al Kaline and Willie Horton. I never got to see Hank play in person. To be on the same field with him was something I’ll always remember.
A group of Kansas City Royals veterans helped rekindle some all-star memories Friday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ball Park in The Legends area of Kansas City Kan., where Royals Hall of Famers Amos Otis, John Mayberry, Fred Patek, Hal McRae, Willie Wilson, T-Bones coach Frank White and trainer Mickey Cobb took part in a Legends Game ceremony that had the fans begging for more.
Each player was driven to home plate in a convertible, where they participated in a first-pitch ceremony that included former Blue Springs High School all-state and T-Bones catcher Bubby Williams.
Some of the veterans made their throws from the mound, others were a few steps closer to home plate. Once they returned to the sidelines, they were mercifully razzed by their former teammates.
The event was coordinated by White’s wife, Teresa, who took advantage of many of the players being in Kansas City for the All-Star Game events that are taking place across the metro area.
As Otis, the first Royals player to ever start an All-Star Game, walked to the mound, chants of “A.O., A.O.” began ringing throughout the ballpark.
A five-time all-star, Otis said his start in the 1973 midsummer classic at Royals Stadium was his most memorable.
“We had five hits in the game and I had two and Big John (Mayberry) had one,” Otis recalled. “Of all my all-star appearances, that was the one that meant the most to me. It was in front of our fans, Big John and I each had some success and we got to play against future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.”
Otis had two singles, stole a base and drove in the only AL run, as his second-inning single scored Reggie Jackson, who had doubled. The National League won the game 7-1 on the strength of homers by Johnny Bench and MVP Bobby Bonds.
“It was the first and only time I was picked as a starter,” Otis added. “I was third in the voting behind Reggie and Bobby Murcer. Bobby was also a center fielder but he told me, ‘This is your hometown, you play center and I’ll play left.’ That was nice of him.”
Both Otis and Mayberry got the chance to talk to their boyhood idol, future home run king Aaron, at the game.
“I felt like Hank put me right up on that pedestal alongside him,” said Mayberry, who had a single in the game. “I was a young kid. I grew up in Detroit and watched Al Kaline and Willie Horton. I never got to see Hank play in person. To be on the same field with him was something I’ll always remember.
“I felt like an extra and he made me feel like an all-star.”
Otis added, “I got to talk to my idol, Hank Aaron, for about 45 minutes. I met him when I was a kid. I was about 10 years old when Aaron and the Braves won the World Series in 1957.”
White, who also played in five All-Star Games, said his most memorable game was 1986, following the Royals winning the 1985 World Series.
“Because we won the World Series, Dick (Howser) got to manage the American League team,” White said. “I never got to start an All-Star Game, but I hit a pinch-hit homer and we won the game (3-2 in Houston). Dick was really happy, but you could tell something was wrong.”
The popular Royals manager later died from a malignant brain tumor.
McRae said the memories he treasures didn’t happen on the field.
“It was special to be in the same locker room with so many great players, guys you played against and busted your butt against to beat,” said McRae, a tough-nosed leader who many consider to be the heart and soul of the Royals from that era.
“I had an hour conversation with (former Detroit catcher) Bill Freehan at one All-Star Game. I never talked to him when we played Detroit – you really didn’t talk much to your opponents back then. I enjoyed having the guys I played against as teammates for a day.”
Wilson, a two-time all-star, got his lone hit in the 50th anniversary game in 1983 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.
“My only hit and we won the game (13-3),” Wilson said, grinning. “The National League was kicking our butts back then and I remember (Milwaukee catcher) Ted Simmons saying, ‘Those guys over there (in the National League dressing room) don’t take you seriously.’
“He’d been an all-star for the Cardinals, so he knew what he was talking about. Fred Lynn hit a grand slam and we beat up on them pretty good.”
Patek, a three-time all-star, said the 1978 event in San Diego was his most memorable.
“At one time, George (Brett) was at third, I was at short and Frank was at second,” Patek said. “I’ll never forget that. Three guys from the same team playing in an all-star infield.”
