Another good article
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- It was a time to pay homage to the past and to rally hope for the future on Wednesday for the Royals.
Practice fields at the facility were named for Dick Howser, who managed the 1985 world champions, and for two of his players, George Brett and Frank White. The observation tower overlooking four other fields was named for scout Art Stewart.
"We've begun a very exciting new era in Royals history, as everybody knows, but today it is very appropriate for this organization to recognize four very special people who have been instrumental in creating and establishing the great tradition we have in Kansas City," general manager Dayton Moore said.
Uniformed players gathered at Field No. 7 before the morning workout for the dedication ceremonies.
"Even though the last few years haven't been the brightest, just as George and I were 22, 23 years old starting a new regime in Kansas City, you guys have an opportunity to do that today," White told the players.
"We want this club to get back to where it once was. We want you guys to develop your own tradition. We want people to stop talking about 1985. We want them to starting talking about 2008 and 2009 and 2010 because you can only go back for so long and talk about how things used to be. ... We just hope it's time to start a new cycle. It's your time to start a new tradition in Kansas City."
White and Brett, serving as camp instructors, accepted their honors. John Wathan, who also played for the '85 World Series champions, accepted for the late Howser's family. Moore accepted for Stewart, who was home in KC after the death Tuesday of his wife, Donna.
Wathan remembered how Howser brought the Royals from the brink of defeat twice in the postseason.
"We were down to Toronto three games to one and down to St. Louis three games to one and won that world championship," Wathan said. "When we were down, as always, he would always find a way to pump up our spirits by saying, 'Guys, find a way to get it done.' "
Brett, a Hall of Famer, seemed to surprise some of the young players with a brief summary of his early career.
"I've been in this organization since 1971. I was drafted out of high school a second-round Draft pick," he said. "My career didn't get off to a very good start. I hit .290 my first year in Rookie League in Billings, .270 in San Jose in the California League and .282 in Omaha and somehow I got to the big leagues. And that's when I learned how to play baseball."
A moment of silence was observed because the dedication came in the wake of two events that caused sadness in the camp. Travel director Jeff Davenport's father died last week and services were held Wednesday in Greenville, Ohio. Stewart's wife of 47 years died on Tuesday.
Moore noted that all of the players, present and past, at the ceremony began their careers because of the vision of a scout.
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"Art Stewart has had that vision for so many players throughout his career and has had that great vision and that great pride to be a Kansas City Royal. I can't think of anybody more deserving to be inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame this summer and I can't think of anybody more deserving to have a tower named after him, a place in history here in Surprise," Moore said.
"He's a special friend to anybody who's ever been associated with the Royals and one of the great ambassadors in all of baseball."
