VIDEOS: Kansas City Royals honored by fans during parade

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Iconic bridge will shine in Royal Blue in honor of the Kansas City Royals

KANSAS CITY, MO.  – Thanks to continued success and the winning ways of the Kansas City Royals, the Christopher S. Bond Bridge over the Missouri River will once again shine in Royal blue.

Beginning Tuesday night, Oct. 6, The Missouri Department of Transportation will light up the iconic bridge in honor of the 2015 American League Central Division Champions. Each night while our Royals battle for the crown, the dual-span bridge, which features 40 bright lights, will come to life.

Crews used blue plexiglass shields to cover each light, which will light up the nighttime Kansas City skyline beginning at dusk every night.  The bridge is named for Christopher “Kit” Bond, the former governor and Missouri United States senator.

For more information about other MoDOT projects, please visit MoDOT’s website at www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity. For instant updates, follow MoDOT_KC on Twitter or send questions and comments to kccustomerrelations@modot.mo.gov.

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Royals sign free agent pitcher Edinson Volquez to two-year deal with mutual option

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez to a two-year contract with a mutual option for the 2017 season.

Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Royals will announce a corresponding roster move at a later time.

Volquez, 31, enjoyed a career year in 2014 with Pittsburgh, going 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA (65 ER in 192.2 IP), holding opposing hitters to a .235 batting average.

Royals agree to terms with 1B/DH Kendrys Morales

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has agreed to terms with first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales on a two-year deal with a mutual option for the 2017 season. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Morales, 31, split the 2014 season between Minnesota and Seattle, signing a free agent contract with the Twins on June 8, before being traded back to the Mariners on July 24 for right-handed pitcher Stephen Pryor.

PHOTO: Be Royal, KCK style

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Technically, the Kansas City Royals play in Kansas City, Mo.

However, the entire metro area has jumped on the bandwagon - and that includes the Unified Government.

Check out this photo below of City Hall, which is lit up in Royal Blue.

Photo is courtesy of Edwin Birch:

Cancer Patients, Survivors and Supporters Rally for Royals and BRA Day

KANSAS CITY, KAN.. – Cancer patients arriving for treatment at The University of Kansas Cancer Center have been sporting Royals caps instead of wigs or scarves.

“Inspiration comes from all kinds of places, people and things,” Richard Korentager, MD, chair of Plastic Surgery and Burns said. “Many of our patients light up talking about the home team and their recent ALCS success. It’s given them something to be happy about and root for as our patients know how to be winners.”

The patients and hospital are so supportive of the Royals they moved their BRA Day event scheduled for the official national day last Wednesday to Monday, Oct. 20, in order to not miss any games.

“We want to support the Royals as well as our patients battling breast cancer and arm the patients with important information,” Dr. Korentager said.

BRA Day stands for “Breast Reconstruction Awareness”.  Women these days have many more options for breast reconstruction including the safest generation of implants as well as options for reconstructing natural breasts using tissue from the patient’s belly and thighs.

The public is invited to celebrate BRA Day and participate in a LIVE lighting event.  Dogs are also welcome at this celebration as we recognize the companionship and healing powers they bring many of our patients. There will be hotdogs and burgers for people and treats for the dogs.

Wear pink as attendees will be asked to help form a pink human ribbon that will be lit using glow sticks. There will be tables of information about breast reconstruction options. Come learn, celebrate and cheer on our patients, survivors and the Royals.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., at 10720 Nall Avenue (I-435 and Nall).

KCKCC trainer, coach impact success of Royals' Cain

By ALAN HOSKINS
KCKCC Sports Information Director

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- While the entire Royals fandom reveled in the success of Lorenzo Cain in helping the Kansas City Royals win the American League Division Playoff, it was even more significant for Rodney Christensen and Al Hobson.

Christensen is in his 17th year as head athletic trainer at Kansas City Kansas Community College; Hobson is in his 18th year as head track coach and both played major roles in Cain getting healthy and becoming a much quicker and faster outfielder and base-runner – of which Cain gave credit during a national telecast of the Royals’ four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS.

Royals announcer Steve Physioc was the first to make note of Cain’s relationship with Hobson and KCKCC during a national telecast and two local television stations followed up with taped interviews on the College campus.

Following injury-plagued seasons of 2011 and 2012 in which he played a combined 67 games, Cain underwent three months of workouts under the direction of Christensen and Hobson at KCKCC and while it would be pure folly to suggest their rehabilitation was the main reason for his recent success, the facts are that he played in 133 regular season games this year, led the Royals in hitting with a .301 average and was named the Most Valuable Player in the ALDS after hitting .533 and starring defensively.

KU Hospital celebrates Royals with hats for new born babies

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- The Kansas City Royals are in the playoffs and intend to take the crown.  They’re even finding support among the youngest of fans. 

Newborns in the Mother/Baby unit at The University of Kansas Hospital are sporting pink and blue Royals caps.

Employees and parents are both rooting for the Royals as they make their first post-season appearance, in 29 years, tomorrow night in a Wild Card game at Kauffman Stadium.

“We encourage employees to wear a sea of blue tomorrow and show their support as the Royals take on the Oakland A’s,” Bob Page, president and CEO said.

Newborns Olivia Campos and Christoph Xavier Rose both seemed to enjoy their caps making their parents all the more proud to be Royals fans.

VIDEO: Royals visit University of Kansas Hospital

KU Hospital

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Kansas City Royals’ designated hitter Billy Butler, his wife Katie, pitcher Aaron Crow and team mascot Sluggerrr visited children at The University of Kansas Hospital today.

The group met with patients on the pediatric unit, bringing souvenirs, signing autographs and posing for pictures.

The Royals also toured the hospital’s Neonatal Medical Home, a specialized center designed for the youngest patients and their families.

The Neonatal Medical Home will benefit from the Royals Charities Diamond of Dreams event, taking place on Thursday, June 26.

EDITORIAL: It's time for Kansas City sports fans to dump Royals, support Sporting Kansas City

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

There is a very big game this week at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Sporting Kansas City will be taking on Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup championship game.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals are in the midst of another losing season and are currently sitting in last place in the American League, about the same position they've been in for 20 years.

It's the perfect time for Kansas City sports fans to prioritize Sporting Kansas City over the Royals, making the soccer team the second most important professional sports franchise in Kansas City.

Because let's face it - nothing is replacing the Kansas City Chiefs.

I was born in 1985, the year the Royals won their World Series title over the St. Louis Cardinals. I rooted for them more than any other team growing up as a kid. Even when my family moved out to Colorado, I did my best to keep track of the Royals, whether that included calling relatives back home or checking out The Kansas City Star online in the "very early" stages of the Internet.

I have been a diehard Royals and for the last 20 years, I have only died hard when it comes to the Royals, usually by the time July rolls around.

After the last week, I'm done with the Royals until owner David Glass sells the team.

First, it was revealed the Royals franchise was using tax-payer dollars to pay common expenses, a big no-no at least in my opinion.

Second, the Royals fired its first base coach and designated Yuni Betancourt.

Neither of those are essential pieces of the franchise, but afterwards, manager Ned Yost proclaimed the Royals were attacking the culture of losing. If scapegoating the least critical coaching staff member and a utility outfielder is developing a culture of winning, that's news to me.

I have made the transition to the Sporting Kansas City bandwagon. While you could support both, it's time to put Sporting KC number two on your "KC teams to root for" list.

Here's why:

1. Accountability. Glass embarrassed himself in an All-Star game interview on 610 Sports just before the All-Star game happened. General Manager Dayton Moore and the owner have ducked criticism in the past few years. Let's compare this to Robb Heineman, who went on 810 WHB the day after Sporting KC's less than thrilling 0-0 draw to open up play in the new stadium out in Village West. Read the first two or three comments from Heineman in this piece from Greg Hall and tell me if you can imagine this being said at The K. It's fitting that Sporting KC turned their season around after Heineman publicly took criticism like that and won the division in 2011-12. Any sports franchise must have accountability. Right now, the Royals don't. Customers should pick accountability over tradition.

2. It's a fun experience. The crowd at Sporting KC is more lively and when it gets loud in there, it can feel like a concert. Sporting's stadium has an electric feel that The K did when the Royals were doing great in the 1980s.

3. Sporting's a better franchise right now. It may be unfair, but if you could only afford to support one franchise, you go with the winner - right? The team is currently in first place in the Eastern Conference coming off a great season last year. The Royals? Wake me up when they get to third place.

4. Local ownership and vision. Before the Kansas City Wizards became Sporting Kansas City, I was given a sneak-peak of the renaming and re-branding process by the former public relations director there. It's clear there's a vision from the ownership group. Can you find a vision with the Royals right now? They have some nice talent in the major and minor leagues, but it's tough to find a master plan to win the division, let alone making a run at the World Series. Another benefit about the ownership group with Sporting - it's local and based in the Kansas City metro area.

5. Give soccer a chance. I realize soccer is not popular with everyone. I used to be in the majority of Americans who hated soccer. However, after watching soccer up close in recent years - whether it be national soccer, high school soccer or Sporting Kansas City - it's won me over. And if it can win a diehard American football and basketball fan over, it can win baseball fans over too. Soccer is a tremendous sport with tremendous athletes in it. If you watch soccer, you quickly learn to appreciate the endurance and athleticism required to thrive in the sport.

There's five reasons why you should put Sporting Kansas City over the Royals.

Amos Otis' All-Star thrills topped by '73 game in Kansas City

By ALAN HOSKINS

A five-time All-Star selection, Royals Hall of Famer Amos Otis has a lot of all-star memories but none to match playing in front of home town fans.

 “Of all the All-Star games, my biggest thrill,” says Otis, who holds the distinction of being both the first Royal to play in an All-Star game in 1970 and the first Royal selected to start an All-Star game in 1973.

Catcher Ellie Rodriguez was the first Royal to be selected to an All-Star team in 1969 but did not play.

Along with Steve Busby the first members of the Royals Hall of Fame, Otis will return to Kansas City for the All-Star festivities starting Friday when he and five Royals Hall of Fame teammates – Frank White, Hal McRae, John Mayberry, Fred Patek and Willie Wilson – will sign autographs prior to the T-Bones game with Sioux City.

In addition, he’ll be appearing at Fan Fest festivities at Bartle Hall.

For the immensely popular centerfielder known best as A.O., each of his five selections carried special significance but it is the 1973 game played at Royals Stadium July 21 that he remembers with greatest satisfaction despite a 7-1 American League loss.

“We only had five hits and I had two of them, stole a base and drove in our only run,” says Otis, whose second inning single following a double by Reggie Jackson gave the AL a brief 1-0 lead.

“It was my only two times at bat because (manager) Dick Williams took me out because he wanted to keep Reggie in the game. John Mayberry also had one of the five hits. He got to start because Dick Allen was injured.

“It was the first and only time I was picked as a starter. I was third in the voting behind Reggie and Bobby Murcer. Bobby was also a center-fielder but he told me ‘This is your home town, you play center and I’ll play left.’ That was very nice of him. He didn’t have to do that. He was a heckuva player.”

The NL took a 2-1 lead in the third and got a two-run homer in the fifth from Bobby Bonds, the game’s MVP.

But the biggest blow came in the fourth, a 480-foot solo shot over the concourse in left-field by future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench off Bill Singer, a blast that still stands as the longest home run in stadium history.

Not all of Otis’ thrills came during the game.

“I got to talk to my idol, Hank Aaron, for about 45 minutes,” says Otis, who, like Aaron, grew up in Mobile, Ala., about a half-mile from where Aaron was raised. “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.”

Ironically, Aaron was on hand for Otis’ first major league hit. “It was in Atlanta and I was 0 for 13 before I got my first hit against knuckleballer Phil Niekro. I was three for four that night. I got the baseball from the first hit and still have it along with my first home run and 2,000th hit.”

The 1973 game was an All-Star Game in every sense. A total of 18 players selected for the game are now in the Baseball Hall of Fame and seven members of the first All-Star Game in 1933 were also in attendance – Carl Hubbell, Bill Hallahan, Lefty Gomez, Dick Bartel, Lefty Grove, Jimmie Dykes and Charlie Gehringer.

Only one of the active selectees, Carl Yastrrzemski, did not play because of an injury. The game would be the final All-Star appearance by Willie Mays, who was joined on the NL team by Joe Morgan, Ron Santo, Tom Seaver, Willie Stargell, Don Sutton, Billy Williams, Aaron and Bench.

In addition to Jackson, the AL Hall of Famers included Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Rollie Fingers, Carlton Fisk, Catfish Hunter, Brooks Robinson and Nolan Ryan.

For Otis, each of his All-Star years was memorable. Here’s a look back:

1970 – “Nobody knew who I was until I made that great throw in the bottom of the 10th inning in Cincinnati,” says Otis. “That’s the play that Pete Rose ran into Ray Fosse at the plate in a violent collision. It took a toll on Fosse, he was never the same after that. A very good ball player, it was unfortunate it happened.” Otis entered the game in about the seventh inning and was hit-less in his only time at bat. “That was the game the kissing Morganna jumped on the field. I think she was going after Brooks (Robinson) but they stopped her.”

1971 – “It was the game in Detroit when the big boys went deep. Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente and Johnny Bench hit home runs and Reggie Jackson hit one that almost went out of the ballpark. It hit the transformer on top of old Tiger Stadium. It was very impressive. I had to keep running back to the right center-field wall chasing those home runs,” noted Otis, who was hit-less in two times to the plate.

1972 – “I was picked as an All-Star for the game in Atlanta but the Sunday afternoon before the game I crashed into the center-field wall, in old Municipal Stadium and ended up in the hospital with a couple of stitches in my eyebrow, a hole in the back of my tongue when I bit it and a very deep bruise to my shoulder. And I missed catch the ball.”

1976 –  “President (Gerald) Ford came in before the game in Philadelphia and shook everyone’s hand,” says Otis, who also has met Presidents Nixon and Clinton. “The only other things I remember is that during batting practice, Greg Luzinski was hitting balls in the third deck and I struck out to end the game.”
     
PHOTO: The first Royal to play in and start an All-Star Game, Amos Otis will be joined by Royals Hall of Famers Frank White, Hal McRae, John Mayberry, Fred Patek and Willie Wilson in an autograph session prior to the T-Bones game with Sioux City Friday night. (Photo by Alan Hoskins)