Seven strange-but-true connections between careers of George Brett and Billy Joel

Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett was excited to reveal Friday that Billy Joel will be playing at Kauffman Stadium later this year.

“I have seen this man in concert before and I will be here on Sept. 21 as he is one of my all-time favorites,” Brett said Friday.

Oddly, the careers of Brett and Joel have many shared connections. Royals vice president of publicity Toby Cook shared these notes with The Star:

1. George Brett started his professional baseball career in Billings, Mont., in 1971. Billy Joel released his first album, “Cold Spring Harbor,” in 1971.

2. Brett made his Major League debut in 1973. Joel’s first Billboard Top 100 release, “Piano Man,” hit in 1973.

3. Brett made multiple All-Star teams and went to the playoffs from the late 1970s through the 1980s. Joel had multiple No. 1 singles and albums in the late 1970s and 80s, including “Glass Houses” in 1980, the year Brett hit .390 and won the AL MVP.

4. Brett and the Royals won the World Series in 1985. Joel released his “Greatest Hits, Volumes I and II” in 1985.

5. Brett was the first major-league player to win batting titles in three different decades (1976, 1980, 1990). Joel had No. 1 singles and albums in those three decades.

6. Brett retired in 1993. Joel released his last album with original songs, “River of Dreams,” in 1993.

7. Brett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

This story was originally published January 19, 2018 at 11:33 AM.