HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A great turnout for the Royal’s Caravan which was held Thursday at the Parker Student Union on the Hutchinson Community College campus. Royal’s fans were happy to be able to get a chance to get up close and personal with the fans.
Brandon Finnegan who amazed fans all over the region with his appearance in the post season and World Series after competing in the College World Series earlier told us what its’ like to now to greet those fans who supported them last year calling it “kind of a blessing.”
It was quite a year for the young pitcher who played for Texas Christian University and was then drafted by the Royals in the first round of last years draft, and made his debut last season with the club including pitching in the post season where he wowed the crowd. But, he also pitched in the World Series and says it was a “wild ride” last year and says he still hasn’t come down from the high of last season.
Outfielder Lane Adams and two of the announcers for Fox Sports Kansas City were also at the event. That included Joel Goldberg and former Royals pitcher Jeff Montgomery.
Montgomery is well known for his stint in major league baseball through 13 seasons from 1987–1999, mainly for Kansas City. He says “it’s nice to get a jump start on baseball and talk to the various radio affiliates and fans about Royals baseball.” He says its a little different the way they do it now compared to when he started. He says they used go out five or six days in a row, and now they break it up some. He says, “it’s more of a sprint now then a marathon.”
He says he hasn’t seen this kind of excitement for Royals baseball for sometime now and there success last year is no doubt a factor and what the management of the team have done. He compares the excitement to the mid 80’s, especially 1985 when the team won over the St. Louis Cardinals in what was dubbed the “I-70 series,” or “Show-me series.” They won over the cardinals in that series four games to three.
They are hoping for a good year again and Finnegan told us they plan to go all the way. Lets hope he’s right.
Of course you can hear the games through the season on Eagle radio station, KWBW AM 1450 and FM 98.5, in Hutchinson.
Here is an audio piece with Finnegan about greeting the fans
And here is an audio piece with former Royals pitcher and Sports broadcaster for the royals about the excitement of the fans after last season.