Five Royals legends to be honored in hallowed NLBM’s Baseball Hall of Game

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is set to enshrine five Royals legends -- Hal McRae, John Mayberry, Amos Otis, Willie Wilson and Frank White -- into its Baseball Hall of Game on Saturday night at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City. It will be NLBM’s eighth induction class since 2014.

Those players were integral parts of the Royals during their heyday in the late 1970s and early ’80s. They were a team that won seven division titles (1976-78, ’80-81, ’84-85), two pennants (1980 and ’85) and one World Series title (’85).

According to NLBM president Bob Kendrick, the inductions are an opportunity to connect the legacy of the 1924 Kansas City Monarchs -- the first Champions in the Negro Leagues -- with some of Kansas City’s “great Black royalty” in the later part of the century.

“[The Monarchs] began the legacy of great Black and brown ballplayers in Kansas City,” Kendrick said. “As the Negro Leagues ultimately met its demise and Major League Baseball made its way into Kansas City, this core group of guys who played in the 1970s and ’80s, they presented -- in my eyes -- that legacy that began with the Monarchs.

“The ’70s and ’80s for the Royals were their heyday. We know about the great rivalry they had with the Yankees and they were able to break through in ’80 and beat the Yankees [in the American League Championship Series]. This was our opportunity to connect the legacy of the Monarchs with the legacy of some of Kansas City’s greatest Black baseball royalty, as I like to call them.”

According to bWAR, Otis (44.8) ranks third only behind George Brett and Kevin Appier in Royals history. During his 14 years in Kansas City, Otis was a five-time All-Star, won two Gold Gloves in center field and had a slash line of .280/.343/.425 with 341 stolen bases.

White grew up in Kansas City and attended the first Royals academy in Florida. It paid off handsomely. White is considered by many to be the best second baseman in Royals history, winning eight Gold Glove Awards. Although he is known for the glovework, White won the 1980 ALCS MVP, going 6-for-11 (.545) with a homer and and three RBIs.

“As an athlete, you are most proud of your first call up to the Major Leagues. That is the proudest day,” White said. “Not only are you excited, your family is excited and I was one of those guys who was playing in my hometown. I had a lot of people who were proud of me for making that accomplishment.”

One of the Royals' best trades was acquiring McRae from the Reds in 1972. He brought toughness to the team. McRae wouldn’t hesitate to knock down a second baseman just to avoid a double play. In the batter’s box, McRae drove in 1,097 runs during his 15 years in Kansas City, and had a slash line of .293/.356/.458.

Mayberry was the Royals’ first consistent power hitter. He was the first player in team history to drive in 100 RBIs, and twice had an on-base percentage of .400 or better while playing first base.

Wilson is arguably the best leadoff hitter in team history. A two-time All-Star during his 15 years in Kansas City, Wilson collected 1,968 hits, scored 1,060 runs and stole 509 bases. He had a season to remember in 1980, recording career highs in hits (230) and run scored (133), and he led the league in triples with 15.

“It’s a great honor to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Game,” Wilson said. “I’ve been watching over the last few years of other guys that have gone in. To be a part of it with the four other Royals that will go in, it puts a really good feeling inside of you.”

On that same night, NLBM will be handing out their José Méndez Beisbol Legend Award to former Major Leaguer Diego Seguí, who spent five of his 14 years with the Kansas City Athletics from 1962-65 and ’67. His best year was in 1970 when he won the American League ERA title for the Oakland Athletics. Like Seguí, Méndez came from Cuba. He managed the Monarchs to their first championship 100 years ago.

“Given that Diego pitched for the Kansas City A’s, he played for both teams in Seattle -- the Pilots and the Mariners -- and pitched in their first-ever home openers in 1969 and ’77,” Kendrick said. “We always designated him as a honorary Negro Leaguer. This is our opportunity to celebrate his career.”

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a 501c3, non-profit organization; annually renewing memberships to support the museum are available ranging from $25 to $1,000. Membership includes free admission for the year, a 10% discount on merchandise from the NLBM Extra Inning Store and advance information on special events. Members also receive a gift and additional benefits at each level of support.