Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy
Encyclopedia
The Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy was a part of the player development system of the Kansas City Royals
in the early-1970. An innovation conceived by Ewing Kauffman
, the franchise's original owner, the goal was to develop quality athletes into major-league
-caliber ballplayers for the organization. The concept was discontinued in May, 1974.
. The facilities consisted of two buildings and five baseball diamonds, each built to the exact specifications of the one at Royals Stadium
which opened in April 1973. That meant all the fields had AstroTurf
playing surfaces, sliding pits around the bases instead of a full dirt infield, uniform 12-foot (3.66 m) outfield walls and measurements of 330 ft (100.58 m) down the foul lines, 385 ft (117.35 m) in the power alleys, 410 ft (124.97 m) to straightaway center field and 60 ft (18.29 m) from home plate to the backstop.
The facilities are now part of Twin Lakes Park, which was purchased by Sarasota County
in 1986. It was renamed the Buck O'Neil
Baseball Complex on March 8, 1995. Various major league ballclubs have used it in the decades following the academy's closure. The latest is the Baltimore Orioles
, beginning with the start of spring training
in 1990
, and continuing since 1991
as the site of its minor league camp.
. They were Bill Fischer
, Joe Gordon, Tommy Henrich
, Steve Korcheck
, Jim Lemon
, Johnny Neun
and Chuck Stobbs
. Gordon had been the major league Royals' manager
in 1969
, the franchise's inaugural season. Korcheck was the academy's coordinator of instruction. Among the other members of the faculty, two were from the sport of track and field
– Wes Santee
and onetime University of Kansas
coach Bill Easton. Mickey Cobb, the academy's athletic trainer
, served in a similar capacity with the parent club in Kansas City from 1977
through 1990
.
, who was already employed in the Royals' scouting department, was appointed as its director. In February 1970, Thrift asked high school
coaches from around the United States
to recommend boys who were both fine athletes regardless of sport and interested in attending the academy. By June and July of that same year, 7,682 young athletes between the ages of 16 and 21 attended tryout camps which were arranged in 41 states. Of the 42 who were accepted for the first class, none were scouted by any of the major league ballclubs and eight had never played the sport at the high-school level.
Attendance at the academy included an educational requirement in which each individual had to fulfill 12 credit hours at Manatee Junior College. The players took classes in the morning. Kauffman recommended that the courses taken involved business
and public relations
out of concern for the players' financial well-being in the future. Expenses for books and room and board
was paid by the Royals.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in the early-1970. An innovation conceived by Ewing Kauffman
Ewing Kauffman
Ewing Marion Kauffman was an American pharmaceutical magnate, philanthropist, and Major League Baseball owner....
, the franchise's original owner, the goal was to develop quality athletes into major-league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
-caliber ballplayers for the organization. The concept was discontinued in May, 1974.
Facilities
Constructed at a cost of about US $1.5 million, the academy was located on 121 acres (49 ha) of land just southeast of Sarasota, FloridaSarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. The facilities consisted of two buildings and five baseball diamonds, each built to the exact specifications of the one at Royals Stadium
Kauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
which opened in April 1973. That meant all the fields had AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
playing surfaces, sliding pits around the bases instead of a full dirt infield, uniform 12-foot (3.66 m) outfield walls and measurements of 330 ft (100.58 m) down the foul lines, 385 ft (117.35 m) in the power alleys, 410 ft (124.97 m) to straightaway center field and 60 ft (18.29 m) from home plate to the backstop.
The facilities are now part of Twin Lakes Park, which was purchased by Sarasota County
Sarasota County, Florida
Sarasota County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 372,057. Its county seat is Sarasota, Florida....
in 1986. It was renamed the Buck O'Neil
Buck O'Neil
John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil was a first baseman and manager in the Negro American League, mostly with the Kansas City Monarchs. After his playing days, he worked as a scout, and became the first African American coach in Major League Baseball...
Baseball Complex on March 8, 1995. Various major league ballclubs have used it in the decades following the academy's closure. The latest is the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, beginning with the start of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1990
1990 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 5th in the American League East with a record of 76 wins and 85 losses.-Offseason:* October 3, 1989: Mark Huismann was released by the Orioles....
, and continuing since 1991
1991 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 6th in the American League East with a record of 67 wins and 95 losses. Cal Ripken. Jr. would be the first shortstop in the history of the American League to win two MVP awards in a career. This was...
as the site of its minor league camp.
Faculty
All seven of the academy's instructors had playing experience in Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. They were Bill Fischer
Bill Fischer (baseball)
William Charles Fischer is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher for five American League teams in his nine-year career . He later was a longtime pitching coach for three MLB clubs...
, Joe Gordon, Tommy Henrich
Tommy Henrich
Thomas David "Tommy" Henrich , nicknamed "The Clutch" and "Old Reliable", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire baseball career for the New York Yankees . He led the American League in triples twice and in runs scored once, also hitting 20 or more home runs four times...
, Steve Korcheck
Steve Korcheck
Stephen Joseph Korcheck is a retired American professional baseball player. A catcher, he appeared in 58 games over four seasons for the Washington Senators of Major League Baseball...
, Jim Lemon
Jim Lemon
James Robert Lemon was an American right and left fielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A powerful, right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder, Lemon teamed with first baseman Roy Sievers to form the most formidable home run-hitting tandem in the 60-year history of the...
, Johnny Neun
Johnny Neun
John Henry Neun was an American first baseman for the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Braves from 1925 to 1931.-Career:...
and Chuck Stobbs
Chuck Stobbs
Charles Klein Stobbs was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins and St...
. Gordon had been the major league Royals' manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in 1969
1969 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was the Royals' inaugural season. The team finished fourth in the newly established American League West with a record of 69 wins and 93 losses.- A franchise is born :...
, the franchise's inaugural season. Korcheck was the academy's coordinator of instruction. Among the other members of the faculty, two were from the sport of track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
– Wes Santee
Wes Santee
David Wesley Santee was an American middle distance runner and athlete who competed mainly in the 1,500 meters and mile events....
and onetime University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
coach Bill Easton. Mickey Cobb, the academy's athletic trainer
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
, served in a similar capacity with the parent club in Kansas City from 1977
1977 Kansas City Royals season
The 1977 Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing first in the American League West with a record of 102 wins and 60 losses...
through 1990
1990 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 6th in the American League West with a record of 75 wins and 86 losses.-Offseason:* December 5, 1989: Richard Dotson was signed as a free agent by the Royals....
.
Operations
The project began on September 11, 1969 when Kauffman officially announced plans to start the academy. Syd ThriftSyd Thrift
Sydnor W. Thrift Jr. was an American scout and executive in Major League Baseball who served as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1985 to 1988, and the de facto general manager of the Baltimore Orioles from 1999 to 2002...
, who was already employed in the Royals' scouting department, was appointed as its director. In February 1970, Thrift asked high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
coaches from around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to recommend boys who were both fine athletes regardless of sport and interested in attending the academy. By June and July of that same year, 7,682 young athletes between the ages of 16 and 21 attended tryout camps which were arranged in 41 states. Of the 42 who were accepted for the first class, none were scouted by any of the major league ballclubs and eight had never played the sport at the high-school level.
Attendance at the academy included an educational requirement in which each individual had to fulfill 12 credit hours at Manatee Junior College. The players took classes in the morning. Kauffman recommended that the courses taken involved business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
out of concern for the players' financial well-being in the future. Expenses for books and room and board
Room and board
Room and board describes a situation where, in exchange for money, labor or other considerations, a person is provided with a place to live as well as meals on a comprehensive basis...
was paid by the Royals.