SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals announced two new members to the team Hall of Fame on Thursday, and it’s been long overdue for both of them.

Former general managers John Schuerholz and the late Cedric Tallis will be inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame on June 28 at Kauffman Stadium. The pair will be recognized on the field prior to the Royals’ game against the Guardians.

They join Bo Jackson as this year’s Royals Hall of Fame class, elected through the veterans committee consisting of 16 voting members, comprised of Royals Hall of Fame members, club executives and media members. Candidates must be named on at least 75% of ballots cast to be selected.

The first general manager of the expansion Royals in 1968, Tallis was the vice president and business manager of the Angels when he showed Royals founders Ewing and Muriel Kauffman around the Angels' operations. Through that interaction, the Kauffmans became convinced Tallis would be the best person to lead their new franchise.

“It’s hard to put into words what this would have meant to him,” said Gale Tallis, Cedric’s daughter. “He absolutely adored the Royals. It was his team. He built it. He was involved very heavily in the stadium, and Kansas City was his town. He loved living here. So this would have meant so much to him and my mother [Barbara], who passed away in 2018.

“And, of course, for my brother and myself, it means a great deal to finally have his legacy honored in the Royals Hall of Fame. It's been a long time coming. And we’re thrilled that it is finally taking place.”

Tallis is known for the trades that shaped the Royals teams of the 1970s -- including bringing five future Royals Hall of Famers into the fold. Tallis acquired Amos Otis in ‘69, Cookie Rojas and Freddie Patek in ‘70, John Mayberry in ‘71 and Hal McRae in ‘72. Tallis put together the Royals’ scouting and player development departments, which were responsible for signing and developing Paul Splittorff, Steve Busby, George Brett, Dennis Leonard, Willie Wilson and Frank White. He supervised the founding of the Royals Baseball Academy, and he played a part in the Royals' move into Royals Stadium, now known as The K.

Tallis left the Royals in 1974 after Kauffman promoted Joe Burke to general manager and exposed frustrations between the owner and Tallis. The Royals went on to make the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 1976-78 and to the World Series, which they lost to the Phillies, in ‘80. The foundation that Tallis had built largely brought Kansas City to contention.

Tallis died on May 8, 1991, at the age of 76, but those around him never stopped fighting for his Royals Hall of Fame candidacy. Now, they’re thrilled to have him join the club.

“A lot of it was the city embraced the Royals to such a large degree and Ewing Kauffman’s legacy as well,” Gale said. “Building the new stadium and all the energy and excitement that was wrapped around this team after [former Kansas City A’s owner] Charlie Finley left, what it was going to become. It was very exciting with all the trades he was making that would eventually lead to a World Series run.”

Like Tallis, Schuerholz was instrumental in building championship teams for the Royals. His first title was administrative assistant when player development director Lou Gorman brought Schuerholz to Kansas City. He rose in the player development department before being named GM in 1981.

Schuerholz is known for rebuilding the club through its pitching with homegrown starters Mark Gubicza, Bret Saberhagen and Danny Jackson. Some shrewd moves paid off, like acquiring Bud Black, Jim Sundberg and Lonnie Smith.

The 1985 Royals, built by Schuerholz, brought Kansas City its first World Series title.

Schuerholz, who was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017, has ties to current Royals Hall of Famers, including Jackson, Kevin Appier and Jeff Montgomery. And he also has ties to past and current Royals front office members. When Schuerholz left for the Braves in ‘90, he worked with current general manager J.J. Picollo and former president of baseball operations Dayton Moore.

“We had good people in the organization,” Schuerholz said. “Cedric Tallis was the leader. We had great scouts. We had great people in the Minor League system. We had people throughout the organization that really knew what to do and what they were looking for at the Major League level. We sought out people we could use many years in a row and help us continue to keep the Royals at the forefront. It’s really been remarkable. I’m really thrilled and honored and happy.”