Gordon's 8th Gold Glove matches KC record

KANSAS CITY -- This is exactly the way Royals left fielder Alex Gordon would want to leave the game -- with more gold for his mantel.

Gordon captured his eighth career American League Gold Glove Award from Rawlings on Tuesday night, tying Royals Hall of Famer Frank White for the most Gold Gloves by a player in franchise history. He then followed that up by winning a Rawlings Platinum Glove -- awarded to the AL's top overall defensive player -- on Friday evening. The award is determined through defensive metrics and fan voting.

“I can’t say enough about the fan support I have received,” Gordon said after winning the Platinum Glove. “It’s one of the reasons I decided to stay with this organization.”

Gordon became the only outfielder to win two Platinum Glove Awards. He also won it in 2014.

“It was never a goal of mine to win awards,” he said in a Zoom call with reporters Tuesday. “That is just is icing on the cake for all the work you put in.

“But Frank White was my first coach in Double-A in 2006, and it’s something I’ll cherish to share that honor with him.”

Gordon, who retired after this past season following a 14-year career (all with Kansas City), finished with 102 outfield assists, the most in MLB from 2010-20.

Gordon said winning another Gold Glove doesn’t mean he regrets retiring.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Gordon said. “It’s definitely a nice going-away present. I didn’t think I’d win it. I got a late call this year -- usually it’s a little earlier, so I didn’t think I’d won.

“It was great news. It was more of a surprise than in other years.”

Why was it a surprise?

“Maybe it was myself thinking that I didn’t play as well as I wanted to,” Gordon said, “or I didn’t play in as many games as I wanted to. Maybe that’s what it was. Besides in 2011, the other years I thought I would win it, but not this year.”

The 36-year-old Gordon committed only 18 errors in 12,032 2/3 career innings in the outfield.

This year’s Gold Glove Awards were based solely on defensive statistics, with no voting by peers or coaches. Gordon had zero errors and four outfield assists, and he was at plus-one in defensive runs saved.

“I didn’t know this was how they would grade this one,” Gordon said, “but it was all based on stats. And the stats didn’t lie, I guess.”

This was the fourth consecutive year that Gordon won a Gold Glove. He is the third position player to win the award in his final Major League season, according to Sportradar, joining outfielder Roberto Clemente and first baseman Wes Parker, who both won in 1972.

“I had one more spot left on my shelf in the trophy room for this,” Gordon said. “This will fit perfectly, and it’s time to call it quits.”

Royals second baseman Nicky Lopez, who led all American League second basemen with plus-six outs above average, was also a Gold Glove finalist. Cleveland’s Cesar Hernandez won the award.