Bob Johnson pitched for the Royals during the 1970 season and finished with a 3.07 ERA in 214 innings. By striking out 206 batters that year, he became the first Royals pitcher to “K” more than 200 in a season. While certainly effective for KC, Johnson’s mark was made even more by being involved in the two trades that brought Amos Otis and Freddie Patek to the Royals. Following his times in Kansas City, Johnson won a World Series with the 1971 Pirates and pitched parts of seven seasons at the Big League level with the Mets, Royals, Pirates, Indians and Braves. The 6-4 righty recently joined Dave O to talk about nearly losing a leg after a tragic motorcycle accident, how Whitey Herzog kept him from retiring, how he LOVED his times in Kansas City (and didn’t want to go), pitching in the World Series and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Alec Mills was drafted by the Royals in the 22nd round of the 2012 June Amateur Draft out of the University of Tennessee-Martin, where he finished 5th in career appearances and strikeouts. A 6-4 righty and 23-year old starting pitcher, Mills will begin 2015 in Wilmington after finishing with a combined 2.35 ERA last season between Idaho Falls and Lexington. Alec recently joined Dave O to talk about how he never planned to even play college baseball, the exciting story of how he found out he’d been drafted, going through Tommy John Surgery and much more! (Photo Courtesy Mary Lay/Lexington Legends)
Jason Jacome pitched for the Royals from 1995-1997 after coming over in a trade with the New York Mets. A 6-1 southpaw, Jacome appeared in 71 games while with KC, including 16 starts, before finishing his Big League career with the Indians. The Tucson, Arizona native recently joined Dave O to talk about coming up with the Mets, how excited he was to be traded to the Royals, his extremely positive experience in KC, the thrill of pitching in Japan and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Andy Ferguson was selected by the Royals in the 18th round of the 2011 June Amateur Draft out of Arkansas State University, where he studied Mathematics! Speaking of numbers, the 6-1 righty put up big ones in 2014 at Northwest Arkansas, finishing with a 2.93 ERA in 147.2 innings, to go along with a K/BB ratio of 118/41. Ferguson will return to Springdale to begin the 2015 season and recently caught up with Dave O to talk about being selected by the Royals, what “clicked” for him last year, where the worst smelling locker room in the minor leagues is and lots more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Randy McGilberry pitched for Kansas City from 1977-1978 after being selected by the Royals in the 14th round of the 1975 draft. A 6-1 righty, McGilberry attended Louisiana Tech and would ultimately appear in 21 games with KC. He recently joined Dave O to talk about throwing a no-hitter in his first collegiate game, how the Royals taught him to add 5 MPH on his fastball within four days, the rather “interesting” diet he consumed while at AA Jacksonville, being best friends with Dan Quisenberry and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Angel Franco was signed by the Royals as a non-drafted free agent on September 1st of 2006 out of Bani, Dominican Republic. A 5-10 switch hitting infielder, the 24-year-old was recently awarded KC’s Carlos Fortuna Award, which signifies dedication in improvement of English, work ethic and conduct. Franco joined Dave O to talk about how the Royals discovered him in the DR, the challenges that he and other Dominicans face in coming to the States, how excited he was during the 2014 World Series and lots more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Whitey Herzog is in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and spent times in Kansas City both as a player (1958-1960 with the A’s) and manager (1975-1979 with the Royals). Herzog finished with a 410-304 Royals record and led the team to three consecutive postseasons from 1976-1978. Following his years in KC, the New Athens, Illinois native managed the Cardinals to a record of 822-728, including a World Series championship and three pennants. Whitey recently joined Dave O to talk about his life in baseball from the start, with a special emphasis on his years in Kansas City. Truly a “can’t miss interview” for any baseball fan. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Desi Relaford played six different positions for the Royals from 2003-2004 while appearing in 255 games. A switch-hitter from Jacksonville, Florida, Relaford came up as a shortstop, and spent parts of eleven seasons at the major league level with the Phillies, Padres, Mets, Mariners, Royals, Rockies and Rangers. Desi recently joined Dave O to talk about his favorite season in the Big Leagues, 2003, as well as how much he loved Kansas City, how he SWEARS he could have been a Big League pitcher, his work with holistic nutrition and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Rodney Scott was selected by the Royals in the 11th round of the 1972 draft and played with Kansas City in 1975 before being traded to Montreal for Bob Stinson. A switch-hitting infielder, Scott spent parts of eight seasons at the MLB level and in 1980, stole 64 bases with the Expos while also leading the league in triples (13). The Indianapolis native would go on to also play for the Athletics, Cubs and Yankees. Rodney recently joined Dave O to talk about how Kansas City found him, spending time at the Royals Academy, how he got the nickname “Cool Breeze,” becoming a regular second baseman with Montreal and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Jim Colborn pitched for the Royals from 1977-1978 and owns one of four no-hitters in club history (1977). A former All-Star in 1973, the right-hander spent parts of ten seasons at the major league level with the Cubs, Brewers, Royals and Mariners, compiling marks of 83-88 with a 3.80 ERA. Colborn has gone on to make a career in “the grand game,” becoming a coach, manager and scout over the last 25+ years, where he still works in 2015 with the Texas Rangers in the Pacific Rim. Colborn recently joined Dave O to discuss the journey that took him from Edinburgh University in Scotland to the Big Leagues with the Cubs, from becoming the first 20 game winner in Brewers history (1973) to 18 wins in the Royals rotation (1977), what it was like appearing in the movie “For Love of the Game” and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)