Covid. A spoiler for all seasons.

2020 – The first year of Royals ownership by John Sherman and his partners. The pandemic reduced the season to 60 games with no fans in the stands.

2021 – The season started under the cloud of Covid, but with hope because of the vaccines. Fans were masked at the earlier games and seating was spread out. We were there. Continue reading →

Looking back 75 years ago to 1947… Continue reading →

Hot Stove managing editor Rita Leifhelm grew up in St. James Parish and attended St. James Grade School at 40^th and Tracy from 1955 to 1964. What does this have to do with baseball? Check it out. Continue reading →

Some brief baseball messages for your Memorial Day weekend. Continue reading →

Roger Angell died last Friday. He was 101 years old. Continue reading →

Last month, I saw this headline on an internet post: Strike Three. Baseball is Dead. The headline was hyperbole, but the author offered a laundry list of reasons he thought baseball was dying. And he is not the only sportswriter lamenting the current state of baseball. Continue reading →

Last month, Art Rupe died at the age of 104. This past weekend in the (Damn) Yankees series, the Royals unveiled their new Nike City Connect uniforms. How these two facts are connected will be revealed in Lonnie’s Jukebox. Continue reading →

After the lockout scare… Continue reading →

Baseball is back! Time to talk about spring training and opening day. But first a personal note. Continue reading →