May we never forget...

I think its important to remember the crappy teams now and again just to keep yourself sane. Alot of people may or may not know this, but the Oakland Athletics used to be the Kansas City Athletics. From 1955 to 1967, the Athletics called Municipal Stadium home, just off of 22nd and Brooklyn, and just down the street from Arthur Bryants Barbeque.

The old KC A's never finised higher than 6th place the 13 years they were in town. They were considered the de-facto minor league affiliate to the mighty New York Yankees. If the A's developed a star player, you'd better believe that they'd be playing in New York by the time they started producing. The list goes on and on. From Roger Maris, Bob Cerv, to Billy Martin...and God knows there are countless others.

Sure they had their share of dumb luck. Who would've thought Maris would go on to break the Babe's record in 1961? After all, he never hit more than 19 HR in Kansas City and never played more than 122 games. But the A's should've known they were getting an aging Hank Bauer and Don Larson in return.

Oh the KC A's did have their share of moments. They hosted the 1955 All-star game. Signed a 63 year old Satchel Paige to sit in a rocking chair in the bullpen for a few games. And who can forget the orange baseballs and goats roaming around beyond the Right Field Bleachers?

But there is something to consider here. Even as the A's continued losing season after season, they did something that we all should be thankful for...They made the city of Kansas City a major league town. We were on the map! Heck, in the late 1950's we were the farthest road trip west! We were on the edge of civilization, at least until the California teams started up.

What's important to note, is not how terrible and awful the A's were, but what they meant to the city. The team served its need as a foundation for a fan basis that would become dutifully served during the great Royal years of the 70's and 80's.

We stand here today in May of 2009 to find the Kansas City Royals right smack dab in the middle of a pennant race. For the first time in 20 years, the city has something to be excited about. And thats because this summer, finally meaningful baseball will be played. While there still are holes in the current Royals roster, nevertheless the Royals are relevant again.

I was in the Royals team shop the other day and noticed that they were selling old Kansas City A's gear. So I decided to pick up a hat worn by the '55 Athletics, which was the first year they were in town. I guess you could say its my way of paying homage to the terrible years, that many baseball fans felt around the city during that time period.

I will wear the hat proudly, for the thousands who cursed the old A's front office for terrible trades and botched play on the field. I will wear it for the poor and beaten down. Livin' in the hopeless hungry side of town. I wear if for the prisoner who has long paid for his time, but because he's a victim of the time. I'll wear it for those who've never read, or listened to the words that Jesus said. I'll wear it for the thousands who have died, believing that the lord was on their side. I will wear it for another hundred thousand who have died, believing that we all were on their side. I'll wear that hat to honor a young Roger Maris who blasted 18 HR in 1959. I'll wear it for Bill Grigsby who had to suffer through 13 years of calling terrible baseball on the radio*-- and who's now having to pay for it by peddling meals at Jazz restaurant.

*There's a great story Grigs has told about broadcasting the A's while he was at a gas station one day, that's worth telling here. See during that time, the A's never drew very well and they were constantly doing publicity stunts to get people in the stands. So one day, he was out and about getting some gas during one of their wretched seasons, and a guy comes up to him and says, "Hey Grigs...what time's the game tonight?" And ol' Grigs replies, "Well Sir... what time can you get there?"

So as I honor our forgotten team for the terrible times they endured, let us all remember where we were as a city before they came to town. Hell, they didn't even let blacks use the drinking fountain.