Hosmer who? Mike Moustak-huh? Young KC Royals fans have new heroes. Plus, Salvy
OK, so maybe this Royals quiz was not completely fair. But it seemed to speak volumes.
Two young Kansas City Royals fans, Henry Glick, 7, and his older sister, Maddie, 9, dressed in Royals gear were excitedly heading into Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday with their dad, Trent, for Game 3 of the American League Division Series.
Boo, the kids said, they don’t like the Yankees.
It has been nine years since the Royals were last in this position, two years before these fans were even born. Kids, mind answering a few questions?
“Do you know who Eric Hosmer is?” we ask of the shortstop.
The kids shake their heads no.
“How about Mike Moustakas?” we say of the third baseman. “Ever heard his name before?”
No.
“I wore his jersey yesterday!” their dad interjects.
“No you didn’t,” Henry protests. Dad says yes he did.
“How about Wade Davis?” Pitcher.
“No,” Henry says. Maddie’s head keeps shaking.
So it went for pitcher Greg Holland and center fielder Lorenzo Cain. No need to even try Ben Zobrist.
“So who is your favorite player on the Royals right now?”
With confidence: “Bobby Witt,” Henry said. “Shortstop.”
For Maddie: “Salvy,” she said of catcher Salvador Perez, great in 2015 and again now.
It all makes sense, of course: New heroes for a new generation. As much as the 2014 and 2015 Royals stepped in front of the heroes of 1985 is as much as Kansas City’s playoff team of 2024 is supplanting the now-storied players from nine and 10 years ago.
At Kauffman Stadium, it’s still easy to see fans wearing George Brett and Ben Zobrist jerseys. Whoa, there goes a Bo Jackson jersey. But it’s now Witt’s jersey that rules the stands.
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Next up to take the quiz: Jacky Rendo and Hugh Johnson, both from Kansas City, both 7, with their moms, Tracy Rendo and Jordan Johnson.
Jacky is on it. The last time the Royals were in the playoffs?
“Nine years ago,” he said.
And who did they play?
“The New York Mets,” he says.
“I didn’t know any of that,” Hugh concedes.
But kind of he does.
Wade Davis?
“A famous Royals player,” Hugh says.
Eric Hosmer?
“A famous Royals player also?” he says.
Smart boy. He’s caught on.
How about the position he played?
“Pitcher?”
No, but close. He was in the infield.
Moustakas?
“Is he a famous Royals player?”
“Third base,” Jacky says.
Good! How did you get that?
“She put up her fingers,” he says of Hugh’s mom.
Who are your favorite players now?
“Bobby Witt and Perez,” Jacky says.
“Salvy and M.J. Melendez,” Hugh adds. ”Pasqua. . .”
He couldn’t pronounce his name: first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
Their moms, to be sure, remember the 2015 playoffs and World Series.
“It was magical,” Jordan Johnson said.
They wanted their children to be here for this.
“These are core memories for our kids,” Tracy said.
As it was. As it should be.
This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 8:01 PM.
