Visual Proof of my lifelong of suffering (Camera Day Content)
by GoBabies!! on Jul 22, 2009 3:48 PM EDT
42 comments
A month or so ago, the subject of Camera Day @ old Royals stadium came up in the UL Washington, greatest Royals thread, and I said that I'd try to find some old pictures of me, with legends of days past. Well, I had asked my parents to help in that endeavor some time ago, and I just got an email from my dad with the scans...
I think it would be a fun thread if anyone else has any photos of themselves, or their kids from Camera Day...
*1981*
I was born in December of '78, so I was just under 3 years old on Photo Day in 1981. On August 19, 1981 the Royals squared off against the Toronto Blue Jays. Dennis Leonard vs Juan Berenguer. The Royals entered the game a mere 14.5 games out of first, while the Jays were just 17.0 games back, so this game had major playoff implications! The Jays would ruin all hopes of the Royals making a comeback in that fateful 1981 season by pounding KC 9-4 in front of 28,174 Polaroid wielding fans on that fateful Wedensday afternoon.
THat vacant look in my eyes tells you I knew I was being held by the wrong Brett brother! via i94.photobucket.com
Who knew that just 25 or so years later, that tarp would give Ken Harvey nightmares! via i94.photobucket.com
Upon looking at this picture closely, I am left to ponder what Peyton Manning was doing dressed as a Nebraska fan! via i94.photobucket.com
And you thought Rance Mulliniks was a highlight! via i94.photobucket.com
Creepy via i94.photobucket.com
The player that brought up the discussion that led to this thread. May he live in infamy for that honor! via i94.photobucket.com
I'm not sure what that white powder is on the top of my hat... via i94.photobucket.com
via i94.photobucket.com
Probably my favorite of the bunch. When asked as a child between the ages of 2 & 5, it is reported
that when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I only responded, "I'm gonna be a hitter like Hal."
The Pre-Outfield Experience. via i94.photobucket.com
*1982*
Nearing my 4th birthday, you can tell I was really hitting my stride as a future Royals fan in these epic shots. due to an unfortunate labeling error, it is impossible to tell exactly when in August of '82 these shots were acquired. No matter the date, the Royals were much more in the thick of the race this season. The entire month of August, the Royals were either in first, or within at least 2 games of first.
This is one thing I do remember. Sheer disappointment that George wasn't holding any kids, and had a crack security force consisting of Charlies Angels wannabees. via i94.photobucket.com
This was my parent attempt at tricking me into thinking I was "In the Photo with George" I'm sure. via i94.photobucket.com
I believe I have the look of terror on my face because there was a phone nearby...via i94.photobucket.com
I got my picture taken with a guy that walked on the Moon!!! Oh, wait...via i94.photobucket.com
I'm not sure what that white...Oh, I already used that line huh? via i94.photobucket.com
Willie was so fast, he actually took this picture himself. via i94.photobucket.com
*1983*
The 1983 Photo Day was earlier in the season than the past 2 excursions. The Royals hosted the hated White Sox on this fateful day in May, featuring a pitching matchup of Lamarr Hoyt & Larry Gura. Hoyt definitely got the better of this matchup, as the Sox won 11-3 behind HR's from Greg Luzinski & Harold Baines, and Hoyt threw a complete game. The Royals only managed 7 hits with noone collecting more than 1, and the immortal Pat Sheridan collecting 2 RBI. 31,210 saw the game at Royals Stadium, a crowd that can only hope to be acheived when a Free T-Shirt, or $1 Hot Dogs are there for the fans taking nowadays.
I must have been in a good mood this day. Some of the best facial expressions of any pics I EVER took as a child...
This is the ONE picture that I specifically remember having taken of me. Dick Howser had a DEATH GRIP on me. It was like he was holding me out of a balcony in Europe! via i94.photobucket.com
Who can't think of Don Slaught when pondering great Royals teams of the 80's? via i94.photobucket.com
We need blood tests to confirm that Leon Roberts isn't Mike Jacobs father. via i94.photobucket.com
I have no idea. via i94.photobucket.com
??? Is it just me, or do I look like the little Japanese kid from The Grudge?via i94.photobucket.com
I can't figure out who these 2 guys are...Coaches maybe?via i94.photobucket.com
Post your pics!!!!!!
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last picture...
looks like the one guy is #25 maybe? Jerry Martin?
by royalsreview on Jul 22, 2009 1:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey, now, the Royals made the "playoffs" in 81!
In the fullness of time, one may stop to consider the horrible reality that in 1982, hundreds of little kids were being held for pictures… by soon-to-be-convicted coke fiends. Yikes.
This space for rent.
by jonfmorse on Jul 22, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh geez
I knew when I was typing this last night that it looked just plaing wrong for me to type that they were that far out…It completely slipped my mind that ’81 was split in 2 halves…
BOOM! ROASTED!
by GoBabies!! on Jul 22, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great pics..thank you
I can’t even imagine getting a 25 man roster to do that now..
the Gale pic in 81 is interesting because he would have just survived the Hyatt collapse
In 1981 during the players’ strike Gale was serving as a bartender at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, MO when a disaster happened – a couple skywalks collapsed, killing many people. Gale was near but not on or under the skywalks at the time.
the story that i have heard but never been able to prove…was that some one asked for more crown royal and he did not have any at the bar so he left to get it and the whole thing collapsed as he was in the storage area with the extra booze
pretty crazy that just 28 years ago players still had to work when they were not playing…
the jerry grote shot is unique considering how fast he was here..
"our deepest fears are not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fears is that we are powerful beyong measure."
by gashousegang on Jul 22, 2009 2:08 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Grote
I was going to add…I always remember him because his skin mark on his right chin always looked odd and made any facial hair a different color than the rest of his hair
"our deepest fears are not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fears is that we are powerful beyong measure."
by gashousegang on Jul 22, 2009 2:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i like the handlers around brett...
by royalsreview on Jul 22, 2009 2:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
obviously to protect him from the cokeheads on the team
he was the only clean one. Him and Quis.
All the white dudes were clean fasho
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by devil_fingers on Jul 22, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, I think Jerry Martin
was busted too, but he wasn’t prominent enough to be well-remembered.
by hunter s. royal on Jul 22, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
were the handlers there to protect Brett from fans, or the other way around? I'm confused...
soon to change name to, "The Not So Curious Case of Benjamin Bratt"
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jul 22, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
at the time
George couldn’t lift up the kids in fear of blowing out his hemorrhoids. Back then, Nick Swartz was much more conservative about injury risk. Especially with our $1M player.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 22, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Man
that astroturf sure was worth it… ugly as hell, hot, but you can have camera day. Provided the kids are wearing shoes. And even then, your shoes might melt.
Enough is Enough - Fire Trey Hillman
by BHWick on Jul 22, 2009 2:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So very cool...
Definitely gonna try and find any old pictures my parents might have of those camera days as well. Do you remember what year they stopped doing this?
by lionsden on Jul 22, 2009 4:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The bottom pic
Pretty sure that’s bullpen coach Jimmie Schaffer and Ron Johnson
by trauty on Jul 22, 2009 5:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great post
Thanks for sharing these pictures.
by 2X2L on Jul 22, 2009 5:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also
if you care to know, I’m pretty sure photo day in 1982 was on August 18
by trauty on Jul 22, 2009 5:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
1995
I believe 1995 was the last year for this event. Now you can get your picture taken with most of the current guys at FanFest every January.
by trauty on Jul 22, 2009 5:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm horribly jealous
I must be roughly the same age as you and I don’t think my parents took me to a Royals game until I begged and pleaded and whined so much that a kind family friend brought me along with an extra ticket when I was 6.
Great post.
by chiefstatnut on Jul 22, 2009 8:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
awesome -- i may have actually been there the same day as you
i have some of these floating around back home. we were roughly the same age
by marbotty on Jul 22, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great pics
I only made it to one picture day, probably in the late 80’s or very early 90’s. I remember it being really hot and the lines were ridiculous so you only made it to one or two guys. They rotated the players around so you didn’t know who you were going to get and just as I was getting close to Brett they shifted so I got my pic with Jim Eisenreich instead.
by Pauli on Jul 22, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Epically awesome post
Your expressions as a kid are hilarious. Great to see the old school Royals. Ah, better days.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 22, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great
My favorites are Quis (obviously) and also the Otis ’83 one. That was his last season with the team, right?
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by devil_fingers on Jul 22, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Renkos Lived
Across the street from me when I was a toddler, and Steve’s little brother John was one of my nemises in the 3&2 League. Steve had a long career, and he played in KC only one year, 1983, his last in the pros.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/renkost01.shtml
Great post.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jul 22, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I've probably mentioned this (to you directly, even) before
Renko and my dad graduated from Wyandotte the same year.
This space for rent.
by jonfmorse on Jul 22, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Would Have
Graduated with John if I hadn’t moved to Topeka. We didn’t really know each other, but he would tell you I was a better baseball player than he was. Steve was a different story.
Circumstances prevented me from attending the 30 and 35 year Wyandotte class reunions, but I’m planning on making the 40th. I grew up with those people even though I graduated from Topeka West. I played football in purple and white for a team known as the Chevaliers. Ugh.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jul 24, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome.
I love the UL pic, and also Otis, my favorite all-time Royal not known for shitting himself (as far as I know).
Splittorff looks way more intimidating than a man with those glasses and seventeen consonants in his last name ever should be.
Rangers, Royals, Raiders, Knicks...the man loves a winner.
by self loather on Jul 22, 2009 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Amazing post!!!!!
Absolutely the coolest post just for the shear nostalgia of the entire thing. UL !!!!!!
Some of you facial expressions are priceless…priceless!!
soon to change name to, "The Not So Curious Case of Benjamin Bratt"
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jul 22, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yea...
in the picture of Lee May, look at the line in the background
by royalsreview on Jul 22, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I forgot how ugly the K used to be with those orange seats.
He can get 4, NOT 5.
by Warden11 on Jul 22, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It is pretty funny
The seventies loved orange for some reason.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 22, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
our school bought those old orange seats
for our football/baseball/soccer seating………..so if you’re reaaaaaaaaalllly nostalgic, just swing over here and get another opportunity to sit in those actual seats! Of course, they don’t go in numerical order anymore—-they’re just all random.
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 22, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My dad has a couple in the basement
They were selling them for something like $100 a pop after they put in the new ones. Someday I want to get them cleaned and mounted for use in some fashion.
by SSmanque on Jul 22, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow did/do you go to platte county?
i seem to remember orange seats… which stuck out since i went to excelsior and we bought the yellow seats from the royals crown level.
hah small world! or not really, since I would guess most everyone here is familiar with KC..
by kevinf on Jul 22, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never went to a photo day
but I did get a photo with a cardboard standup of Brian McRae at the kids’ area when I was 10!
Way cool post.
by SSmanque on Jul 22, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great stuff GoBabies.
You must have had an amazing disposition as a child for your parents to get that many great pictures taken.
by hunter s. royal on Jul 22, 2009 7:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yea
I’m not sure where I went wrong.
I don’t have a lot of specific memories from those days. I do remember being handed over the rope that separated the fans from the players, and I really do remember being in intense pain when Howser was holding me, that wasn’t just a joke, I remember yelling in pain! I’ll have to go out to their house & check, but I think there are more pictures than he emailed to me…it may be childhood imagination, but I do seem to remember getting picked up by Brett one year.
I learned to read at age 4, mostly from Baseball cards, so I’m sure I impressed the guys by knowing who they were at that age
I definitely grew up in a baseball loving household though. My parents just told me a while back that when we would go camping at local areas like Watkins Mill in Excelsior Springs, even at 4 & 5 years old, I would go from campsite to campsite to gather all the kids up to organize a baseball game.
I cried for MONTHS (well probably not, but it felt like months, and I STILL wonder what happened to it) when we moved when I was 7, and somehow we lost my Blue “Dennis Leonard” glove. Leonard used a dark blue glove, and I had a blue glove that was my Dennis Leonard glove. Alas, it was lost in the move and I still miss it :(
BOOM! ROASTED!
by GoBabies!! on Jul 22, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice post, with
funny commentary to boot.
Loved the Jerry Grote picture, although it sorta makes me cringe because he is STILL tied for the team record of recording 7 RBIs in one game. Grote? Really? This almost ranks up with Balboni’s 36 homers surviving a quarter centrury despite the steroid era, the moving in of the fences, etc.
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
by loyal2sdad on Jul 23, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Epitomy of Patheticness.
Your 199X – 200X Kansas City Foibles.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 23, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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