Things I am thankful for

With 2018 in the books and 2019 spring training a couple of months away, I thought it a good time to reflect on America’s pastime, and specifically the Kansas City Royals, and consider the things we most appreciate about the game and the Royals. Feel free to add yours in the comments.

· Having one of the best stadiums in baseball.

· Walking through the tunnel and seeing the scoreboard and the grass, which is so

green it almost hurts your eyes.

· Plenty of parking close to the stadium.

· Organ music at baseball games.

· The Negro League Hall of Fame.

· The memory of Buck O’Neal, sitting in his seat, enjoying the game.

· The baseball All-Star game.

· Seeing Rusty Kuntz in the first base box, before he retired, clapping his hands in

encouragement.

· The couple who sit on the right field rail, holding up signs.

· A good seat, a cold beer, a hot dog and a good game on a beautiful, sun kissed

summer evening.

· The W guy, Mr. KayCee, Dave Webster, putting up another W, before the curmudgeon

Royals let him go.

· Mascot races.

· Sal Perez’s enthusiasm.

· The Salvy splash.

· Watching Joel Goldberg get soaked in the Salvy splash.

· The classic powder blue uniforms.

· Seeing an adult give a foul ball to a child.

· Watching a hard-breaking slider.

· Watching the Royals young core of Mondesi, Merrifield, O’Hearn, Dozier, Phillips,

Keller, Lopez and Junis and dreaming about what they may develop into.

· Watching the joy of a walk-off home run celebration, especially when the batter

rounds third and throws his batting helmet into the air.

· The enthusiasm and joy with which the young Royals played during the last couple

months of the 2018 season.

· The triple, the most exciting hit in baseball.

· Watching Alex Gordon make another fabulous catch in left field.

· Seeing a base runner round first to test Gordon’s arm.

· Watching the development of Adalberto Mondesi into what may be our first

homegrown superstar since George Brett.

· Two World Series championships in my lifetime and hopefully some more before I’m

gone.

· The community we have at Royals Review.