The Royals pitchers and batters are sending us mixed (but improving) signals. Bob Kendrick is ubiquitous. James Clyburn rocks. Hilton Smith is remembered. And we’re still Wild about Harry.
The Royals – April Showers: For a brief shining moment in the early evening on April 11, the Royals held a Wild Card slot for the postseason.
The Royals had played 15 games and had a losing record (7-8), but so many other teams had similar records that the Royals slipped into a playoff slot. For about four hours. The Royals had just won a day game. The Orioles and Rays played that night, and both won to “86” the Royals from the Wild Card slot (using a traditional definition of 86). The Royals then lost eight straight games.
The Royals finished March/April with a record of 12-19 (.387). To put this in perspective, check out this info from Hot Stove chart guru Jeff Nelson:
When the Royals have a losing March/April (the red years in the chart), they finish with a losing season. Most of the winning March/Aprils (green) led to winning seasons.
But there may be an opening this year. Many other American League teams have also floundered early, keeping the Royals within striking distance. So maybe…
The Royals – Blooming in May?: The Royals have begun May with five straight wins. They are 8-2 for their last 10. And this morning, one of the hottest teams in baseball is back in that third Wild Card slot.
They are a half game out of first place in the AL Central (Detroit and Clevland are 18-19). Only 3 of the 15 teams in the AL have a winning record. The Royals are among nine teams separated by only one game. It’s an unusual pennant race so far.
So, there is hope, and perhaps the answer to the question below is “The Royals.”
For those who don’t yet have a TV home for the Royals, there is special streaming offer for the balance of the season. Sale ends MAY 10. About 43 cents a game. Order here.
The Ubiquitous Bob Kendrick: I’m sure most Hot Stove readers are familiar with Bob Kendrick, the well-dressed raconteur who serves as president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Bob is always in demand as a speaker and storyteller, and recent weeks have been no exception.
On April 15 each year, Bob is busy with interviews and appearances for Jackie Robinson Day when all MLB players wear #42. His primary stop this year was Dodger Stadium where he told his stories to Dodger and Mets players gathered at the Jackie Robinson statue.
In his talk, Bob made a compelling case that the Civil Rights Movement began in Kansas City in 1945 when the Monarchs signed Jackie Robinson to his first professional contract. His play in Kansas City led Branch Rickey to sign Robinson for the Brooklyn Dodgers and integrate MLB in 1947, years before Brown v. Board and the fine work of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and other heroes.
For the best three minutes of your day, please watch this video of an excerpt from Bob’s talk.
Bob also joined the ESPN broadcast of the game.
The other LA team, the Angels, were in Kansas City on April 24, and Bob joined the Angels broadcasters in the booth (former Royal Mark Gubicza and Patrick O’Neal). Video here.
Closer to home, I saw Bob at several recent events in Kansas City.
Royals Stadium Announcement (April 22): Bob was the moderator at the big announcement for the future Royals stadium at Crown Center.
Wild About Harry Dinner (April 23): The next night, I saw Bob at the Wild About Harry dinner, the annual fundraiser for the Truman Library. We were treated to two baseball owners for the price of one: Event co-chair John Sherman of the Royals and honoree/keynote speaker David Rubenstein of the Orioles.
Hot Stove Managing Editor Rita enjoyed the show in her chapeau.
James Clyburn Book Event (April 24): Serial organizer Adam Sachs recruited Rita and me to be part of a group he called “Friends of Representative James E. Clyburn” to sponsor a Rainy Day Books event for the Congressman’s new book, The First Eight.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum hosted the event at the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center (Paseo YMCA). After we had lunch catered by Gates BBQ, Bob welcomed Congressman Clyburn and his interviewer, David Von Drehle (below). KC Congressman Emanuel Cleaver was on hand to introduce Congressman Clyburn.
Clyburn spoke eloquently about the eight Black South Carolina men who were elected to the House of Representatives soon after the Civil War. Then Jim Crow stepped in, and it was almost a century before the ninth Black representative of South Carolina, Clyburn himself, was elected in 1992. The 85-year-old Clyburn and interviewer David Von Drehle treated us to a fascinating discussion of civil rights and politics, ranging from the Civil War to today.
There was a sense of déjà vu in the interview. Nine years ago (April of 2017), at the Wild About Harry dinner, David Von Drehle interviewed the honorees, Congressmen Jame Clyburn and John Lewis (RIP).
On that night in 2017, Rita and I had our photo taken with Lewis and Clyburn. That is the photo Representative Clyburn is holding for our photo with him this year.
The 2017 Wild About Harry dinner also had some serendipity for Hot Stove. By the luck of the draw, we were seated at a table with co-chairs for the event, John and Marny Sherman. The special guest at the table was civil rights hero John Lewis (with John and Marny below). This was the first time I met Sherman, but I knew he was a part owner of the Cleveland Indians (changed to Guardians in 2022). So, I bent his ear about baseball, especially the 1948 World Champion Cleveland team owned by Bill Veeck and starring Satchel Paige, Larry Doby and Bob Feller.
Sherman signed up for Hot Stove that night. Over two years later, in November of 2019, John and his local partners bought the Kansas City Royals. As I said, serendipity.
Hilton Smith Monument Dedication (May 1): The title of Hot Stove #275 was “Hilton, Satchel and Bullet – Citizens of Kansas City.” Hall of Famers Hilton Smith, Satchel Paige and Bullet Rogan were all right-handed pitchers for the Kansas City Monarchs. After their playing days, they lived in Kansas City until their deaths. Satchel has an impressive monument at Forest Hill, and through a Go Fund Me effort organized by Kevin Kenney in 2023, a new monument was erected at Blue Ridge Memorial for Bullet Rogan.
Last year, Kevin began a new Go Fund Me for Hilton Smith, and I joined him in the fundraising effort. Last week, the new monument was dedicated at Mount Moriah. After opening remarks by Kevin and me, Bob Kendrick told stories about Hilton Smith, many of them observations from Buck O’Neil who was Hilton’s roommate on the road. Below, Kevin and Bob with Hilton’s son DeMorris cutting the ribbon.
Vahe Gregorian wrote a wonderful piece in the Kansas City Star on Hilton Smith and the monument dedication (click here).
Coming Soon at Rainy Day Books (May 21): On the “Poscast,” co-hosts Joe Posnanski and Michael Schur announced that Bob will join them when they appear in Kansas City to promote their new book, Big Fan: Two Friends, 82,490 Miles, and the Wild Wonderful Sports We Love. Jason Kander will also be part of this Rainy Day Books program at Unity Temple on May 21. Tickets here.
Triple Treat at Truman Library: Rita and I ventured out to Independence last week to see three current exhibits at the Truman Library.
Opening the Vault: The Story of Us: In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the National Archives is loaning original historic documents to presidential libraries. The 21 on display at the Truman Library include the Louisiana Purchase, Truman’s Executive Order 9981 (integrating the armed forces), a markup of the Bill of Rights and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (full list and info here and trailer video here by David Von Drehle). Closing May 24.
In the forward to the companion booklet for the exhibit, the semi-ubiquitous David Von Drehle says, “The documents tell the story of us – and the story feels alive in their presence…Don’t miss this chance to look inside the innermost vaults of the National vaults of the National Archives. See what history looked like before it became history.”
Rita and I can confirm that it is an inspiring patriotic moment to be in the presence of documents that have crossed the desks of the founding fathers and presidents. Rita also noted the great penmanship.
Portrait of JFK: In 1965, painter Elaine de Kooning presented her portrait of John F. Kennedy to the Truman Library. Click here for a video clip of the unveiling of the photo with comments from the artist, President Truman and Congressman Dick Bolling (8 minutes). The painting is rarely displayed, but it is now on display concurrently with the Opening the Vault exhibit (so also ending on May 24).
For details about the painting and the artist, see Steve Paul’s article in KC Studio (click here).
United We Play: Kicking It with the Trumans”: As KC welcomes the World Cup, the library showcases the power of sports to inspire and unite us. This is an extensive exhibit of memorabilia ranging from artifacts and photos of Kansas City sports teams to Truman’s opening day pitches to Bess Truman’s ice skates. The exhibit runs through the end of this year.
Lonnie’s Jukebox – “86” Edition: The number *86” has recently been in the news. But I’m going to ignore the new political use and go to something more meaningful. The Eagles Live album released in 1980…
![Amazon.com: Eagles Live [1980 double LP]: CDs y Vinilo](https://lonniesjukebox.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/amazon-com-eagles-live-1980-double-lp-cds-y-vi.jpeg)
The album combined live recordings from 1976 and 1980. When it was time to do the mixing and overdubs of the recordings, there was acrimony among the band members. During post-production, Don Henley was in Miami and Glenn Frey was in LA. Tapes had to be sent back and forth until the album was completed. Producer Bill Szymczyk said they were fixing three-part harmonies via Federal Express.
The number 86 on the front and back cover of the two-record album was a sign of the end of the Eagles (in the traditional use of the term 86). And they did indeed breakup in 1980.
The setlist below comes from live shows by the Eagles over the years (not from the album, which are mixed and overdubbed).
Rita and I first saw a live Eagles show in 1976 at Kemper Arena. My teenage children Brian and Stacey went with us. I looked up the setlist, and “Hotel California” was the first song of the night.
The band reunited in 1994 and played together until 2016 (Rita and I saw them at Sprint Center in 2009). When Glenn Frey died in 2016, Don Henley said he did not think the band would perform again. But the band did not 86 and kept on touring. Another potential 86 moment came in 2023 when original member Randy Meisner died. But the band kept playing, and in September of 2024, began a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Big success! They have returned periodically to the Sphere, most recently last month. They are doing stadium shows this month as a continuation of “The Long Goodbye” tour and returning to the Sphere in September and November. Henley said 2026 will likely be the end (the real 86?).
In July, in the form of a tribute band, the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac will be appearing at the Music Theater Heritage at Crown Center. Tickets here.
Walk-Off Story – Kentucky Derby: I always know the date of the Kentucky Derby. The first Saturday in May. Back in younger days (late-1960s into the mid-1970s), I was a co-organizer of some major Derby Day parties (including one raided by the KC vice squad the year Secretariat won). The mint julep parties are long gone, but I still take in the race each year. And the 2026 race was something. Louisville native and Derby aficionado Jim Fitzpatrick (RIP) would have loved it.
There were 18 horses in the field, and at the turn before the stretch, Golden Tempo was in last place (screengrab below). In a remarkable run down the stretch, Golden Tempo won the race. Check out this overhead video showing the move from last to first.
Cool Trivia: The trainer for Golden Tempo is Cherie DeVaux, the first woman trainer to win a Kentucky Derby. The jockeys for Golden Tempo and second place Renegade are brothers, Jose and Irad Ortiz.
Walk-Off Photo – Loose Park Goslings: The first brood of goslings for 2026 has arrived at Loose Park.
