Former Royal Interviews

New episodes available during the off-season – whether they played ten years with the Royals or ten days, they’re all remembered here. Listen to your favorite former Royals as they take detailed trips down memory lane and share never before publicized stories. Please note that files may take a few seconds to play when streaming from site, and that all files can also be downloaded from the site or through iTunes to enjoy while “on the go.”

Tom Bruno

Tom Bruno was signed by the Royals as an amateur free agent in 1972 before eventually debuting in Kansas City during the 1976 campaign. A 6-5 right handed pitcher, Bruno went 1-0 while with KC in 12 MLB appearances before the Toronto Blue Jays snatched him up in the 1976 Expansion Draft. From there, Bruno spent time with Toronto and St. Louis, before launching a really cool life after baseball. Tom recently joined Dave O to talk about that life as a fishing and hunting guide, as well as going back to reminisce about coming up through the Royals system, his memories of the 1976 season in KC, going to Toronto and St. Louis and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Jeff Schulz

Jeff Schulz played for the Royals from 1989-1990 as a reserve outfielder. The MLB time was well earned for the Evansville, Indiana native, as Schulz was originally a 23rd round selection of KC in 1983 and fought his way up through the minor league pipeline, hitting .300 in each of his first four seasons. Schulz would later spend time with the Pirates in 1991 and come back to KC as a potential replacement player in 1995. He recently joined Dave O to talk about growing up as a baseball teammate of Don Mattingly, the long road from the 23rd round to the Big Leagues, what it was like being a replacement player and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Former Omaha Royals)

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Lynn Jones

Lynn Jones played for the Royals from 1984-1986 and was always well regarded for his tremendous outfield defense. Besides his work with the glove, Jones was also clutch at the plate for the Royals in both the ’84 and ’85 postseason, hitting a combined .375/.750/1.125. In addition to his time in Kansas City, Lynn also spent parts of five seasons with the Detroit Tigers. After his career, Jones went on to a long career as an MLB coach, including times with the Royals, and winning world championships with the Marlins and Red Sox. Jones recently joined Dave O to discuss how he never imagined he’d make it out of AA, having an older brother play in the Big Leagues, being a part of that ’85 World Series team, getting ribbed for being the first base coach that got George Brett picked off after his 3,000 hit and multitudes more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Joel Johnston

The Royals drafted Joel Johnston in the 3rd round of the 1988 June Amateur Draft out of Penn State University. A 6-5 hard throwing righty, Johnston made his Big League debut with KC in September of ’91, finishing with an ERA of 0.40 in 22.1 innings. Heading into 1992, Baseball America called Johnston KC’s top prospect and as such, at the end of that season, he was the key cog in the trade to Pittsburgh that brought back the Royals Jose “Chico” Lind. Johnston would go on to pitch for both the Pirates and Red Sox in a career that spanned five seasons at the MLB level. Joel recently joined Dave O to talk about how the Royals discovered him, coming up through the KC system, the trade to Pittsburgh, an absolutely classic Bo Jackson story and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Gail Hopkins

Gail Hopkins played for the Royals from 1971-1973, primarily starting at first base in ’71 before splitting time with John Mayberry in ’72 and ‘73. A lefty and tough hitter to strike out, Hopkins finished his Royals career with marks of .358/.381/.739 to go along with 11 HR and 68 RBI. Gail also played at the MLB level for the White Sox and Dodgers and after his career, earned four graduate degrees en route to becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Hopkins recently joined Dave O to talk about his COMPLETE SHOCK of being called up to the Big Leagues, two historic at bats he had against Nolan Ryan, playing with a rookie George Brett, stories and memories to honor many of his deceased teammates and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Phil Hiatt

Phil Hiatt was drafted by the Royals in the 8th round of the 1990 June Amateur Draft to be the heir apparent to Kevin Seitzer at third base. Hiatt, who played for Kansas City in 1993 and 1995, finished his Royal career with 11 HR’s, 48 RBI and a line of .278/.367/.645. He then went on to appear at the major league level for the Tigers and Dodgers, completing his career with 170 games played and 422 at bats.  Phil recently joined Dave O to talk about coming up through the Royals system, jumping straight from AA to the Big Leagues, his times in Japan and most interestingly, a very bold and honest self-assessment of the label “Four A Player.” (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Bob Tufts

Bob Tufts pitched for the Royals during the 1982 and 1983 seasons, compiling a mark of 2-0 in 16 appearances. A 6-5 lefty, Tufts was originally drafted by the Giants in 1977 and made it up to San Francisco before being acquired by the Royals in the trade that also brought Vida Blue to KC. Tufts recently joined Dave O to discuss his journey from Princeton to the Big Leagues, having his name blackballed because of the Royals drug scandal, the courageous (and thus far victorious) battle with multiple myeloma, his post-baseball career working on Wall Street and as a professor at NYU and much, much more. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Jose Rosado

Jose Rosado pitched for the Royals from 1996-2000 after being drafted by KC in the 12th round of the 1994 June Amateur Draft. A 6-0 southpaw, Rosado appeared in two MLB All-Star games while with Kansas City (1997 & 1999) and finished with lifetime marks of 37-45/4.27 ERA. Unfortunately rotator cuff issues cut Jose’s career short, but he’s continued in professional baseball as a pitching coach in the Yankees system. Rosado recently joined Dave O to talk about the complete surprise of Kansas City drafting him, the most hilarious Big League debut story you’ll ever hear, thoughts on being potentially overworked by Bob Boone & Tony Muser and lots more. A must listen to interview from a guy who will always bleed Royal blue. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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Gary Martz

Gary Martz played in one game for Kansas City during the 1975 season, receiving one at bat and fielding one put out. While his times in KC were brief, Gary spent three full seasons at Omaha (1975-1977) where he hit a combined 52 home runs with 189 RBI. A 6-4 first baseman and outfielder, Martz was originally drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the 5th round of the 1969 June Amateur Draft. He recently joined Dave O to talk about why the Pilots folded, coming over to KC, his memories of playing in that one Big League game and much more! (Photo Courtesy Former Omaha Royals)

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Steve Renko

Steve Renko, a Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee, pitched for the Royals during the 1983 season at the twilight of a 15 year major league career. A 6-5 righty, Renko finished his big league career with a mark of 134-146 and a 3.99 ERA in stints with the Expos, Cubs, White Sox, Athletics, Red Sox, Angels and Royals. Prior to his MLB career, Renko was a three-sport athlete at the University of Kansas, playing quarterback in the same backfield as Gale Sayers and also starring on the hardwood. Renko recently joined Dave O to talk about his KU days, as well as awesome stories of Charlie Finley, the 1983 Royals drug scandal, a near tragic but now hilarious fishing trip with George Brett and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)

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