Royals Hall of Famer Steve Busby pitched for KC from 1972-1980 and threw the organization’s first no-hitter in 1973. In fact, Busby threw two no-hitters and won 20 games in a season prior to the age of 25. Busby, a 6’2″ right hander, was also a two-time All-Star (1974 & 1975) and even despite injury cutting his playing days short, is still considered one of the top starting pitchers in Royals history. Busby recently took time during his busy season as voice of the Texas Rangers TV telecasts to join Dave O and talk about an enormous amount of topics, from pitching in the College World Series to both no hitters, to losing a grand slam because of Paul Splittorff and retiring a lifetime Royal. Listen for those topics and much more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Aaron Guiel made his major league debut for the Royals in 2002 after spending parts of ten seasons at the minor league level. Guiel, who would end up playing in KC from 2002-2006, enjoyed his best season at the major league level in 2003, when the British Columbia native had a line of .346/.489/.835 with 15 HR and 52 RBI. Guiel recently joined Dave O to discuss what it was like spending ten years in the minors without a call up, how Chuck Knoblauch once went into the fountains during a game without anyone knowing, being a part of the magical 2003 team, playing as a teammate of Nori Aoki in Japan and much, much more. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Justin Trapp was selected by the Royals in the 34th round of the 2009 draft out of Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, South Carolina and turned down a chance to play both football and baseball at Coastal Carolina to sign with Kansas City. Trapp, a 5’10” second baseman, currently plays for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals after spending last off-season playing winter ball in Australia. He is considered one of the biggest “sleeper prospects” in the Royals system, and recently took time out from his busy season to join Dave O and talk about his time “down under,” what it’s like being around MLB guys like Mitch Maier and Vance Wilson, his thoughts on several of his teammates and lots more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Jerry Lyscio was the first ever player to sign a contract with the Kansas City Royals on April 25th, 1968. The Brainerd, Minnesota native wasted no time in showing why, either, as he won his first three starts at Dubuque (A) and was named Midwest Player of the Month in May of 1968. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury would eventually cut Lyscio’s career short while at Elmira (AA) but the 6-1, 190 pound righty recently sat down with Dave O, in person, to tell completely amazing baseball stories, including how he was able to complete 57% of the professional games he started (66 of 115) and how he was ALSO the first Houston Astro. The first ever Astro AND Royal – how cool is that?!? (Photo Courtesy Jerry Lyscio)
Joe Lahoud played for the Royals from 1977-1978 and overall, spent parts of eleven seasons at the major league level. A left handed hitting outfielder, Lahoud once hit three home runs in the same game for the Boston Red Sox in 1969 and received three plate appearances for the Royals during the 1977 ALCS. Lahoud recently joined Clubhouse Conversation and discussed how completely heartbreaking the ’77 ALCS was, his favorite memories of Kansas City, how difficult it was walking away from baseball and much, much more. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Alex Gordon has won three straight Gold Gloves and barring voters being heavy into drugs, will make it four in a row later this year. Gordon, who was selected to his first All-Star Game last season, is signed with Kansas City through 2015 with a player option for 2016. He spoke with Dave O on his way to the ballpark prior to Wednesday’s series finale with Colorado and opened up on a variety of topics, including hecklers, life on the road and family. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Jim Rooker pitched for Kansas City from 1969-1972 after being selected by the Royals in the 3rd round of the expansion draft from the New York Yankees. Rooker, a lefty, won 103 games at the major league level, pitched in the World Series and later, enjoyed a broadcasting career that saw him raise over $80,000 for charity after he once made a bold promise on the air and “lost” the guarantee. In a MUST LISTEN TO INTERVIEW for ALL Royals fans, nearly 90 minutes in length, Rooker recently joined Dave O by phone to discuss being a part of the expansion Royals, how he became such a great hitting pitcher, his memories of many deceased former teammates, pitching in the World Series, writing children’s books and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Matt Fields is quite the story – from 44th round draftee by the Tampa Bay Rays, to walking away from baseball in favor of loading luggage into airplanes, to returning to the Indy Leagues, to breaking the Northwest Arkansas Naturals home run record. Fields is currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers and recently joined Dave O to discuss the ‘Hollywood like’ journey that has led him to the highest level of the minor leagues. (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Rick Huisman pitched for the Royals from 1995-1996 after being traded by the Houston Astros to KC in exchange for Pat Borders. Huisman was a hard thrower known as a strikeout pitcher, as evidenced by his 9.5 K/9 in the minor leagues and 8.1 K/9 in MLB. Rick recently spoke with Dave O about making his debut in the same inning as Mike Sweeney (as battery mates), helping to set Sweeney up with his wife Shara and the lasting impression that his time in Kansas City had on his life, most notably on how it opened up his eyes to a career in the nonprofit sector of helping the youth. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Kyle Zimmer is regarded by most as the Royals Top Prospect, and was Kansas City’s #1 pick in the 2012 draft (5th overall) out of the University of San Francisco. Zimmer is currently training for the 2014 season in Arizona, so that he will have enough innings to pitch through September and (knock on wood), into the post-season. Kyle recently joined Dave O to talk about the timetable for his return, where his innings will be maxed at, what draft day was like and much, much more. (Photo Courtesy Mark Harrell/Springfield Cardinals)