“Oh my God!”Illeana Hosmer, Eric Hosmer’s mom in the stands at Yankee Stadium, after her 21-year-old son hit his first MLB home run, FSRoyals
GH: Hopefully, this will become old hat for Hosmer and his clan. But on this night in the Bronx, it was a very special moment for Hos and his parents. I cannot even imagine how all this must feel for his mom and dad, who just three years ago were watching him play ball in high school.
“I think Hosmer will hit his first major-league home run at Yankee Stadium during this series.”
Kevin Kietzman, prior to the Royals/Yankees series this week, 810 AM
GH: Good thing KK didn’t predict Hosmer was heading to the Big 10.
Kevin Kietzman, prior to the Royals/Yankees series this week, 810 AM
GH: Good thing KK didn’t predict Hosmer was heading to the Big 10.
“He’s clearly demonstrated right off the bat that he’s clearly ready to play in the big leagues.”
Buster Olney, ESPN MLB analyst, on Hosmer, 810 AM
GH: I do not remember a Royals rookie who came up with even half the hype of Hosmer and has immediately looked so much like a veteran. He looks even better in the field than he does at the plate. This kid just might be the guy we have been waiting for all these years.
Buster Olney, ESPN MLB analyst, on Hosmer, 810 AM
GH: I do not remember a Royals rookie who came up with even half the hype of Hosmer and has immediately looked so much like a veteran. He looks even better in the field than he does at the plate. This kid just might be the guy we have been waiting for all these years.
“The Royals should offer Hosmer a long-term and lucrative contract right now. If Hosmer is even 90 percent of the player that scouts and executives with the Royals and throughout baseball believe, he’ll be worth the risk.”
Sam Mellinger, Kansas City Star
GH: I think it’s worth a shot but I don’t have much hope of Hosmer’s agent, Scott Boras, allowing him to sign a long-term contract now. This just might be the case where David Glass (or possibly, gulp, Dan Glass by then) has to dip into his billfold in five or six years and let the flies flutter.
Sam Mellinger, Kansas City Star
GH: I think it’s worth a shot but I don’t have much hope of Hosmer’s agent, Scott Boras, allowing him to sign a long-term contract now. This just might be the case where David Glass (or possibly, gulp, Dan Glass by then) has to dip into his billfold in five or six years and let the flies flutter.
“Put a red jersey on him like a quarterback. Don’t touch him!”
Steven St. John, fretting about Hosmer possibly getting hurt in one of the Royals raucous walk-off celebrations, 810 AM
Steven St. John, fretting about Hosmer possibly getting hurt in one of the Royals raucous walk-off celebrations, 810 AM
“The big thing that is really opening the eyes of a lot of other major league teams is the Royals bullpen. They’ve got a lot of great arms out there.”
Buster Olney, 810 AM
GH: The Royals probably have the worst starting staff in the bigs combined with one of the best bullpen corps. We are only in mid-May and these things have a habit of changing quickly. But there is a lot of hope building in KC about those young arms in the bullpen.
Buster Olney, 810 AM
GH: The Royals probably have the worst starting staff in the bigs combined with one of the best bullpen corps. We are only in mid-May and these things have a habit of changing quickly. But there is a lot of hope building in KC about those young arms in the bullpen.
“The least effective guy in the bullpen has been Joaquin Soria.”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: I still think it is too early to think Soria is no longer one of the game’s best closers. He deserves a chance to pitch behind all that young Royals’ talent waiting their call ups from the minors.
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: I still think it is too early to think Soria is no longer one of the game’s best closers. He deserves a chance to pitch behind all that young Royals’ talent waiting their call ups from the minors.
“Wouldn’t it suck to do a show here in Kansas City this morning and be a Yankees fan?”
Steven St. John, a direct zing to Bob Fescoe, who is a New Jersey native and ardent Yankees fan, 810 AM
Steven St. John, a direct zing to Bob Fescoe, who is a New Jersey native and ardent Yankees fan, 810 AM
Bob Fescoe, on the cape-wearing bespectacled Royals fans seen at Royals’ home games and on the road, 610 AM
GH: I interviewed Chris Coats in July 2009 ago for a feature article I never got around to publishing. His story is a helluva good story. He’s simply a young guy who loves the Royals and pretty much schedules his budget and life around being at every game he can. Read on.
“He’s got to have a sponsor, right?”
Josh Klingler, on Superfan Chris, 610 AM
GH: Chris pays for al of his own expenses. He only travels to a few away series each season and almost always drives his 2005 Honda Civic. He had 60K miles on it when I interview him in 2009. I’m guessing he’s topped the 100K make by now. Here are some notes from my interview with Chris…
Josh Klingler, on Superfan Chris, 610 AM
GH: Chris pays for al of his own expenses. He only travels to a few away series each season and almost always drives his 2005 Honda Civic. He had 60K miles on it when I interview him in 2009. I’m guessing he’s topped the 100K make by now. Here are some notes from my interview with Chris…
- Chris bought his first Royals’ season ticket as a junior at O’Hara High School. In July of 2009 he had a streak of attending 435 consecutive Royals’ home games. He saved his money while working at the Apple Market on 95th & James A. Reed. His first season ticket cost him $648 in 2003.
- Soren Petro is one of the reasons he cites for his decision to attend every Royals home game. “Soren always says that if you have Major League Baseball in town, you should be at the ball park,” says Chris. Chris said he agrees.
- He started his current streak as a senior at O’Hara High School. His streak would be longer but he had it snapped when his high school graduation conflicted with a Royals’ afternoon game. He considered skipping his graduation but thought his parents and family might not be too fond of that move.
- One of Chris’ friends he met at The K, Brian Acklin, has not missed a Royals home game since 1985. How many bad ball games has this guy had to sit through? Maybe the next statue the Royals erect should be of Acklin.
- By day Chris is a mailman in the rougher part of the inner city near 45th & Benton and Swope Parkway. I walked his route with him one day in July 2009 and he is very well-liked by the residents of his neighborhoods. He just looks like a skinny letter carrier in his work uniform. I’m pretty sure almost no one knows his cape-clad alternate identity by night.
- He always wanted to be a mailman. “I like to walk and be outside,” said Chris. “As a kid I walked around with Sam the mailman near Bannister Mall. I started walking with him and he kinda showed me the ropes.” He took the mailman test as a junior in high school and skipped college to become a mailman.
- His dad was a Chiefs and Royals fan and always took Chris to Royals Stadium on Sunday for family day. Chris loved to run the bases after the game. His favorite players? David Howard, Hipolito Pichardo, Gary Gaetti, Jay Bell, Bip Roberts, Flash Gordon, Bob Hamelin and Chico Lind. Hard to believe that he became a legendary fan after that upbringing.
- While Chris is best known now as Superfan or Superfan Chris, his first nickname at the Royals’ games was Monkey Boy. He started bringing a rally monkey doll to games in 2003 when that was a hot item at Angels’ games. The monkey disappeared when he donned a Royals’ flag (that was a giveaway item at a game a few years back) as a cape and Superfan Chris was born. He also wears every ticket stub to every game he has attended around his neck. A definite chick magnet.
- “Lots of girls want to get their picture taken with me at Royals games,” said Chris. Any pretty ones? “All the time!”
- In 2009 he drove from Kansas City to Houston and then to Pittsburgh to attend Royals series in these National League cities. 56 hours on the road and over 3,000 miles. He drove straight through from Houston to Pittsburgh – 22 hours. Just stopped for gas, food and to wash up. He drank 5-Hour Energy drink to keep him going and ate only from the McDonald’s Dollar Menu along the way.
- Chris doesn’t drink except for the rare beer. He never buys concessions at The K and always parks outside the Truman Sports Complex to save the parking fee. He owns his own home in Raytown and budgets his money accordingly. I would suggest the Royals give this guy his own parking space.
Greghall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
Weird guy…
I think it is O’Hara, Greg. Thanks for the hard work.
Thanks for the correction, Bill. I don’t want people thinking Chris graduated from an airport.
Let’s see, how do I put this gently…..
“LOSER.”
Well…
What do you spend your money on Guy?
sounds like a pretty nice kid.
.
Schmozmer
All due respect but the homer was a meatball pitch that Joe Posnanski could have crushed. AJ Burnett f#cked up.
Were it not for GREAT base running by Melky into second he would have hit into a double play instead of a fielders choice.
The night before 41 YEAR OLD Mariano Rivera SMOKED him like a spliff at Sunsplash.
I’ve seen nothing yet to convince me that he’s even in the same city, much less zip code as George Brett. I do agree that he is a great first baseman.
I’m a HUGE Yankee’s fan and the game last night SUCKED donkey dicks.It made me feel like a sad, pathetic, unemployed, tatooed homo waiting for Rockfest to start so I can get my ass signed by Zack Wylde
They left a fucking whole platoon on base and missed more opportunities than a celibate priest at the White Party.
MEGA PROPS to SUPERFAN. He’s living his dream, which is something most people never get to do. God Bless ya’ Chris.
Glass Houses
Superfan definitely isn
Superfan Chris
Superfan Chris needs to be in charge of Federal government budgeting and spending.
I hate most everything and everybody but Superfan Chris gets a pass. Bip Roberts? Bob Hamelin? Holy shit…
“get my ass signed by Zack Wylde”
Heh, heh…
CMac
“…hates everything and everybody.”
Heh, heh…
Sounds like my dad back in the day.
GH: Agree on Chris living his dream. Many people float through life wondering what the hell they’re here to do or just punching clock to get to Friday night. Chris’ life ain’t for me but damn if he isn’t squeezing his 75 years on the crust to get every ounce of enjoyment out of it.
GH: I was VERY impressed with how Chris had saved his coins since HS to first buy his first season tix and then his own home at an early age. If more Americans were like Chris (a clone of my parents’ generation), we wouldn’t need a bloated government handing out freebies.
GH: I love this comment!
DONT STOP BELIEVING…
after the first series of the year…i said there was something different about this team.
Heading into the end of may with a winning record…who would have thought that…
NOONE BUT HARLEY..
ad guess what…i picked the winning horse at the derby party at power and light
…can you imagine harley picking winner all this year…some of my great pics
JAYHAWKS LOSE IN ELITE EIGHT…what happened…they lose in elite eight.
ROYALS ON A WINNING NOTE…see the record…
SO WHEN YOU GUYS NEED TO KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN
SEND ME A NOTE…BECAUSE HARLEY IS RIGHT ON..AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Knew Chris in grade school
We shared an extra-cirricular creativity class during elementary and middle school. It was during regular school and was once a week, for most of the day. One semester, in maybe 7th or 8th grade, we took a History of Baseball class, where we learned a game taught to us by the great Mr. Farmer called “Dice Baseball”. I’ll omit the rules of the game (I remember it being pretty fun), but here’s this: We held a draft to select players (Farmer let us choose any players — past or present). The players were essentially irrelevant, or than to allow us keep stats for our made-up “season”. Naturally, Chris chose all Royals … If I remember right, his first overall pick was Johnny Damon.
Oh, and if you couldn’t have already predicted… Chris won our made-up World Series.
He’s a good dude, I still keep up with him on Facebook.