KANSAS CITY, Mo. - George Brett doesn't really remember much about the last time there was an All-Star Game in Kansas City, at then Royals Stadium, in 1973. He was just a rookie back then.
But Brett's name and the All-Star Game soon became synonymous: He made the team 13 times during his career.
If there was one that stood out, it likely was the first one.
"That first one was in Philadelphia,” Brett told FOXSportsKansasCity.com, "and that was pretty neat. It was 1976 and our country was celebrating its 200-year anniversary. It was such a big deal. There was so much going on, so many celebrations. Philly was just buzzing.
"And I was really nervous before the game.”
Brett hit third in the batting order between Rod Carew and Thurman Munson. Brett didn't get a hit, though he did draw a walk. The National League won easily, 7-1.
"To be honest, I was just happy to be there,” Brett said. "It was also the whole notion of replacing Brooks Robinson on the team. He'd been the American League third baseman forever, like 15 or 16 straight years.
"And then I got voted in ahead of him. That was special. Brooks was a guy I admired so much. I wore No. 5 because of Brooks Robinson.
"Being picked then to the All-Star Game, over Brooks, made me think I had arrived. I felt I belonged.”
Brett went on to win the batting title that year, hitting .333, and it wasn't long before all of baseball knew he belonged.
At the next year's game at Yankee Stadium, Brett again went 0 for 2 with a walk.
But in 1978 in San Diego, Brett got his first hits as an All-Star, a single and a double. He also stole a base and hit a sacrifice fly -- several family members from southern California were on hand.
"That was pretty special, too,” he said.
Brett's next big memory came in the 1983 game at Comiskey Park. The American League rolled to a 13-3 win, fueled by Fred Lynn's grand slam in the third inning. Two hitters later, Brett hit a triple.
That year, American League manager Harvey Kuenn hit Lynn third in the order, where Brett normally hit.
"I gave Harvey some grief over that,” Brett said, laughing. "That should have been me hitting third. Maybe I would have been the one up with the bases loaded. Maybe I would have hit the grand slam – at least a triple.”
At the next year's game at Candlestick Park, Brett did homer, a blast that wound up being the American League's only run in a 3-1 loss.
"What was great about that was that it was San Francisco,” Brett said, "and nobody thought you could hit one out in San Francisco that night.”
Brett's final All-Star appearance came in 1988 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. He flied out as a pinch-hitter as the American League won, 2-1.
"It was always an honor to be on the All-Star team,” Brett said. "I don't care what anyone says, you hear players say they don't care if they make it -- for me, it was an honor to play in the game.”
This year, Brett has had an active role in promoting the All-Star Game: He is the Royals' legacy ambassador to the game. His job is to get the word out about Kansas City.
"I'm really not just saying this,” he said, "but it's a helluva honor. I take a lot of pride in it, in showing off Kansas City.
"I can't wait for people from all around the country to show up and see our city. I want them to see the Plaza and see the fountains, check out the restaurants – all the things that you and I take for granted they may be seeing for the first time. And the stadium is as good as any in baseball.
"That says a lot.”
