Former Royal Interviews Archives - Page 7 of 11

Jason Grimsley

Jason Grimsley pitched for the Royals from 2001-2004 during a career that spanned parts of 15 seasons at the major league level. While at the back end of the Kansas City bullpen, the 6-3 Grimsley appeared in 251 games with a 3.94 ERA and 7.0 K/9. He also threw at the major league level for the Phillies, Indians, Angels, Yankees, Orioles and Diamondbacks before extreme controversy with performance enhancing drugs suddenly ended his career prematurely in 2006. For the very first time since the PED investigation and according to Jason, “for the very last,” Grimsley opens about EVERYTHING to Clubhouse Conversation in an exclusive interview. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Mark Littell

Mark Littell pitched for the Royals organization from 1971-1977 after being selected by KC in the 12^th round of the 1971 draft. Appearing in a combined 123 games while with Kansas City, Littell finished with marks of 18-13, a 3.32 ERA and 28 saves, and would go on to pitch for the Cardinals. The 6-3 right-hander later coached at the minor league level and in 1999, invented “The Nutty Buddy.” Littell recently joined Dave O to talk about not only “protecting the family jewels” but also his early days in the Royals minor league system, making it up to KC, the devastation he felt after allowing the infamous home run to Chris Chambliss in the ’76 ALCS, reuniting with Whitey Herzog in St. Louis and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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D.J. Carrasco

D.J. Carrasco pitched for the Royals from 2003-2005 after KC selected him in the Rule 5 Draft (December of 2002). Both a starter and reliever for Kansas City, the 6-4 right-hander would go on to also pitch parts of eight seasons at the Big League level for the White Sox, Pirates, Diamondbacks and Mets (24-21, 4.50 ERA). D.J. recently joined Dave O for a brutally honest and highly entertaining chat about his initial persistence of being a professional hitter (and how it cost him), overcoming non-prospect odds, the Rule 5 surprise, the magical 2003 KC season and tons more! (Photo Courtesy D.J. Carrasco)

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Justin Huisman

Justin Huisman pitched for the Royals during the 2004 season after coming over to Kansas City in a trade with the Colorado Rockies. A 6-1 right-hander, Huisman appeared in 14 games with KC, before ultimately pitching with the Mariners and Astros organizations. The former University of Mississippi closer recently joined Dave O to talk about growing up in suburban Chicago with Mark Mulder, playing on the same team with his brothers in college, coming up with the Rockies, a wealth of stories about his times in KC and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Joe Keough

Joe Keough played for the Royals from 1969-1972 and will always be remembered for getting the game winning hit in the first regular season game of franchise history (4/8/69). A left handed outfielder originally from the Athletics organization, Keough was selected by the Royals in the 4th round of the expansion draft and finished with lifetime marks of .323/.319/.643 with 7 HR and 63 RBI while in a KC uniform. After his times with the Royals, Keough completed his baseball career with the White Sox. Joe recently joined Dave O to talk about being drafted by the Kansas City A’s, coming over to KC for that first season and beyond, getting the first game winning hit in Royals history and multitudes more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Ernie Young

Ernie Young came over to the Royals from the Athletics and played for KC during the 1998 season. A right handed hitting power hitting outfielder, Young also spent time with the Diamondbacks, Tigers and Indians during an eight year major league career. Ernie recently caught up with Dave O to talk in-depth about his times playing pro ball at all the stops but also, winning a Gold Medal with Team USA, being stuck with the dreaded “Four A Label,” managing in the minor leagues and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy played parts of twelve seasons at the major league level, pitching with Kansas City in 1972 (when he went 3-3 with a 3.07 ERA). A 6-3 right-hander, Murphy spent time with the Angels, Royals, Cardinals, Brewers, Red Sox and Blue Jays, finishing with marks of 68-101 with a 3.78 ERA in 1,444 innings. Murphy recently joined Dave O to talk about all of his stops, including an emphasis on KC, as well as highly entertaining pranks he and his identical twin brother pulled, what it was like playing for Red Schoendienst, Bob Lemon and Don Zimmer and much, much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Terry Leach

Terry Leach pitched for the Royals during the 1989 season after seven years with the Mets. A 6-0 submarining righty, Leach would go on to also play for the Twins and White Sox, finishing his career with marks of 38-27 and a 3.15 ERA in 376 major league appearances. Terry recently joined Dave O to talk about how he got his funky delivery, playing with the ’86 Mets, the trade that brought him to KC, potentially saving the lives of a young married couple in KC, pitching in the World Series for the ’91 Twins and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Craig Paquette

Craig Paquette played for the Royals from 1996-1997 and hit a combined 30 HR and 100 RBI while in a KC uniform. Mainly a third baseman, “Pokey” played all over the field for Kansas City, including stints in left field, shortstop and first base. Besides his times with the Royals, Paquette logged parts of 11 seasons at the major league level for the Athletics, Mets, Cardinals and Tigers, finishing up with 99 HR and 377 RBI. Craig recently joined Dave O to talk about the old school days, from coming up with Oakland to coming over to Kansas City, from making the playoffs with St. Louis to finishing up with Detroit, and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Jim Frey

Jim Frey managed the Royals from 1980-1981 and has the distinction of being the first skipper in franchise history to guide KC to an American League championship. After his times in Kansas City, Frey went on to manage the Chicago Cubs (1984-1986) where he led them to the playoffs for the first time in 39 years and eventually, become their General Manager (1988-1991). In addition, Frey spent earlier chapters of his life in baseball as a part of Earl Weaver’s Baltimore Orioles coaching staff during the 1970’s, winning one World Series and three AL Pennants. Frey recently joined Dave O to discuss at all, from growing up with Don Zimmer to coming up through the minor leagues as a player, coaching with Weaver to KC, Chicago and beyond! A special emphasis on his KC days and the remarkable story of how he got the Royals job, George Brett chasing .400, beating the Yankees in the ’80 ALCS, the ’80 World Series and the REAL story of why he was let go in mid-1981. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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