Tag: Kansas City Royals

Coronavirus pandemic causes change in career focus

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Joel Goldberg realized he would have to find other ways to make money when the Major League baseball season was cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Goldberg, one of the announcers for the Kansas City Royals, is an independent contractor. He said he only gets paid when the team plays. So he is supplementing his income as a motivational speaker. He spoke to a combined meeting, via Zoom, of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfax Industrial Association Thursday, Aug. 13.

Goldberg built his speech around what it takes to make a successful team—trust, energy, accountability and makeup. This applies to athletics as well as other businesses.

Goldberg said trust is something a person must build with good relationships. He said Mike Matheny, the new field manager of the Royals this year, first spent time during the off-season visiting with players. Matheny has an open-door policy for players.

Goldberg said energy is important to baseball although it may not be from the person who is the loudest. He cited Alex Gordon, the Royals outfielder, who expresses energy with a quiet, confident manner. Rex Hudler, another of the Royals’ announcers, expresses enthusiasm with his “Hudisms,” similar to what Yogi Berra did. Salvador Perez, the Royals’ catcher, gives off much energy as part of his personality. Goldberg said.

Accountability means that as a team member, a player has to share the blame when things are not going so well.

The makeup of a team is important—that was something that Dayton Moore realized when he took over as general manager of the Royals in 2006. By acquiring players and negotiating appropriate contracts, he built a team that won the World Series in 2015.

Goldberg grew up in suburban Philadelphia and Chicago. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He came to the Royals in 2008; he also does play-by-play announcing for the Kansas City Mavericks hockey team.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

1985 world champion Royals reunion banquet to be Aug. 20

by Alan Hoskins

The Kansas City Royals’ greatest baseball team is reuniting for a dynamic “Celebration of Champions.”

Thanks to the Kansas City Baseball Historical Society, nearly every member of the 1985 World Championship team will be on hand for a banquet at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino Thursday, Aug. 20, that will be open to the public.

Six members of the Royals Hall of Fame – George Brett, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen, Dennis Leonard, Hal McRae and Willie Wilson – head the list of 1985 standouts expected to attend. They will be joined by pitchers Danny Jackson, Mike Jones, Charlie Leibrandt, Steve Farr and Bud Black, catcher Jim Sundberg, infielders Steve Balboni, Buddy Biancalana and Greg Pryor and outfielders Lynn Jones, Darryl Motley and Pat Sheridan.

Three other Royals Hall of Famers are also expected, long-time scout Art Stewart, iconic groundskeeper George Toma and outfielder Amos Otis along with three special guests, Mrs. Dan Quisenberry, Mrs. Dick Howser and umpire Don Denkinger. Other past Royals who will attend include Brian McRae, Al Fitzmorris, U.L. Washington and Jay Hankins.

Pre check-in will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. for a reception where guests may meet players and take photos. A banquet buffet will begin about 7 p.m. with Royals players to be seated at various tables with KCBHS attendees. A program with former players reflecting on the 1985 championship season will follow.

Tickets are $75 and can be reserved by sending a check to KCBHS, Celebration of Champions Event, P.O. Box 10568, Kansas City, MO., 64188. Reservations can also be made on-line to [email protected] or by phone at 913-284-9729. However, no reservation will be completed until payment has been received. Non-KCBHS members will receive a free 6-month KCBHS trial membership.

World Series may have spillover effect on tourism in Kansas City, Kan.

by Mary Rupert
Kansas City, Kan., can expect some good business effects from the Kansas City Royals being in the World Series starting Tuesday night in Kansas City, Mo.

Although all of the official events are taking place in Kansas City, Mo., Bridgette Jobe, executive director of the Kansas City, Kan., Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she anticipated some increased hotel room nights in Kansas City, Kan.

She added the Kansas City, Mo., Convention and Visitors Association has taken the lead on all tourism efforts involving the World Series.

There are expected to be a large number of out-of-town visitors to the metropolitan area for the World Series, including a large media contingent.

Some visitors who were already planning to be in the metropolitan area for reasons other than the Royals probably will be compressed out of their normal stay on the Missouri side because of the game, Jobe said, and Kansas City, Kan., may pick up some room stays in the process.

Currently, she said she is working with the Missouri side convention officials to get banners out, and get a list compiled and sent to the Kansas City, Mo., convention association so that anyone looking for activities may find them.

While all official events are happening in Missouri, Jobe anticipates plenty of other types of events may be held on the Kansas side by restaurants or other businesses that are not official Major League Baseball events.

She noted that even if visitors are not staying in Kansas, they may be driving through the area and shopping here while they are in town.

The Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Kansas City, Kan., is planning to put a “Take the Crown” slogan on its marquee and electronic signage, she said. Also, she’s encouraging others with the capability of changing electronic signs to post the same message next week.

Jobe noted that another big plus for tourism in the area is that Sporting Kansas City, which plays its soccer games in Kansas City, Kan., has recently secured a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs. The playoff spot was clinched at last Friday’s 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire at Sporting Park.

“It’s a good time to be in KC,” she said.