On Bobby Witt’s school visit: Bobby Breath, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ & forever memory
Displayed on a wall outside Kellee Ransom’s second-grade classroom at Ingels Elementary School in the Hickman Mills School District is the work of students largely addressed to Royals star Bobby Witt Jr.
Most bear such signatures as “your friend” or “love you forever.”
Featured on an easel pad within the room is the “Bobby Witt Jr. Approved Writing Checklist,” which includes everything from “I began each sentence with a capital letter” to “I wrote neatly” to “I gave a faithful effort and put my heart into my work!”
Then there’s the “DEEP BREATH, JUNIOR, DEEP BREATH” poster on the wall, a reference to one of Witt’s technique for calming things down around him, and the “BWJ SCOREBOARD” posted above other work.
Consider, too, the videos Witt has sent to the classes with which he’s connected. In those, he offers encouragement and advice and calls students by name and otherwise lends a certain sense of his ongoing presence: Enough so that one administrator reckoned a class motivational technique could be to say, “If you don’t get this right, I’m going to have to share with Bobby.”
Throw in such imagery as Ransom reminding the excited kids that they need to behave or they might have to go to the “dugout,” as opposed to timeout, and you get a fine snapshot of the influence of Witt and the franchise and the Royals Literacy League.
But it’s one thing for Witt to have influence from afar. Quite another for him to walk into the room as he did Tuesday morning.
As much as his reputation and participation preceded him, the arrival of the thing offered an entirely new dimension.
Maybe nothing summed up the overwhelming anticipation like the little girl who said “I’m so scared” just before Witt entered to kids jumping up and down and shrieking and playing “Eye of the Tiger” as Witt beamed and took it all in.
Then came a remarkably choreographed greeting and pep rally for the appreciative and humble Witt, who shared a hug with Ransom — who twice has been honored as the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat recipient for making a difference in the community.
The sheer wonder on all the angel faces was reciprocated in its own way on Witt. Understated as he tends to be, it was clear he was moved by the response and as attentive as he could be.
No surprise: His joy in this cause and others was recognized in February, when he was named MLB’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winner as the player who best exemplifies the character, integrity and community impact of the legendary Gehrig.
“You might want to have this crew with you every day to get you pumped up,” Hickman Mills C-1 School District superintendent Dennis Carpenter said he told Witt.
To which the ever-succinct and agreeable Witt said, “Absolutely.”
Despite learning only a day or so before that Witt was coming Tuesday, Ransom’s students created original dances and songs for their “awesome classroom champion,” as the unflappable designated host Aubree put it.
They thanked him for his “Hey Bobby” journals, had some messages for him and unveiled a segment on “Bobby Breath in Action,” courtesy of Jayneal:
“Thank you for showing your Bobby Breath and how you use it when you’re playing baseball,” he said. “We also use the Bobby Breath in class when we get frustrated with a problem or if we need to calm down.”
With a deft comedic touch, Jayneal added, “Sometimes we even have to tell Miss Ransom to take a Bobby Breath.”
Then he called the soothing method something they’d all use for “the rest of our lives.”
Speaking of the rest of their lives, chances are a good number of them will always remember Witt showing up for them through this initiative launched three years ago through the Royals Foundation in partnership with SchoolSmartKC, QuikTrip and the Sherman Family Foundation.
Also participating in the program connecting with nine local elementary schools are Maikel Garcia, Kris Bubic, Daniel Lynch IV, Noah Cameron, Vinnie Pasquantino, Cole Ragans, Carlos Estevez and Michael Wacha.
As the program progressed, Witt took a few questions.
Asked what he does when the Royals lose a game, the man known for his even-keel approach offered perspective that included being upset at first but then working to get better, not letting one loss turn into another and turning the page.
They wrapped up by having a class photo taken with Witt, who in the middle of that seemed to inadvertently tap a button on a touch-screen TV behind him.
It cued up Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” — a song that Witt and his wife, Maggie, (who attended Tuesday) sang at their wedding reception and that has become a certain anthem of his.
Perhaps that said it all.
But Witt finished up with a few words to the class — one of two he visited Tuesday — urging them to keep up the good work.
“We’re all keeping up with you,” he said. “All the team knows about you guys.”
But no one more than Witt, who punctuated his presence with them in an entirely new way.