This month we've seen a great deal of George Brett, but little or nothing of Frank White. Which is a real shame. Like Brett, White spent his entire career with the Royals. Like Brett, White was a key part of the Royals' last pennant-winning team. Unlike Brett, White actually grew up in Kansas City, and actually worked on a construction crew that build Kauffman (then Royals) Stadium.
But while Brett has remained associated with the Royals since his retirement, White and the Royals are estranged. But at least White's actually willing to enter the ballpark he helped build. From Jeff Passan's latest:
It was his third time visiting Kauffman Stadium in the past month, a softening from the stance outlined in his autobiography released less than two years ago: "You'll never see me in that stadium again." White smiled, posed for pictures, signed autographs, momentarily forgetting what kept him away and still keeps him at a distance.
--snip--
Last week, the Royals extended an olive branch to White. If ever there were a time to make amends, it was heading into Game 3 of the ALCS against Baltimore, the first ALCS the Royals would host since the 1985 team that featured White, a sure-handed second baseman, filling the cleanup spot. The director of the Royals Hall of Fame, Curt Nelson, reached out to White. Others in the hall were coming to town for the occasion, and they were going to be on the field together, and the team wanted to let bygones be bygones, to have White join the group.
He said no.
"It wasn't right for me," White said, and it prompted some in the organization to wonder: If that wasn't right for him, can anything be?
From White's other quotes, it sounds like he'd like to throw out a first pitch. This seems to me a small thing, but maybe in Frank's world it isn't. I know people pay good money to throw ceremonial pitches, and I'm sure being the center of attention, for however fleeting the moment, must feel good.
But if that's all it takes, it should obviously happen. And soon, because of course there aren't any guarantees after Games 1 and 2. If Frank also wants a sinecure, I can't imagine why that can't happen, too. What's $50,000 or more a year to someone like David Glass? He probably spent that much on his Christmas tree last winter.
I hope this is just about hurt feelings. I hope the Glasses are big enough to apologize, whether they believe it's merited or not. And I hope Frank is big enough to shake whichever hands are offered.
In the big scheme of things, this really isn't so important. For all the talk about history and legacies and all that, a hefty percentage of fans cheering for the Royals never saw Frank White play. But I loved Frank, and the couple of times I was lucky enough to meet him, he couldn't have been more gracious. I'll enjoy this World Series just a little bit more if I think he's enjoying it.
C'mon, millionaires. Make this happen
