You will enjoy this if you know who Rex Hudler is. He’s a Kansas City Royals broadcaster known for his unbridled enthusiasm. He’s crazy about the Royals, baseball, life, and broadcasting.
In 1978 Hudler was chosen in the first round of the baseball draft by the New York Yankees. His career included a stint in Japan as well as ten years in the big leagues. Only less talent kept Rex from being as famous as Pete Rose for hustle.
My oldest son gave me the book “Baseball Codes” the unwritten rules of baseball for Christmas and it tells this story.
It’s about Hudler’s exit from professional baseball as a minor leaguer in Buffalo, New York in 1998. He told his skipper he was retiring, but wanted to play one more game and also address the team comprised mostly of kids nearly half his age.
He spoke about the fulfillment baseball had given him, playing hard, being aggressive, fostering noble work habits, but mostly about respect for the game.
He started his final game at second base the position he played when he first made it to the SHOW. In his third turn to bat, a pitch hit Hud in the neck, just below the helmet.
“Hudler pitched forward in the batters box landing on his knees. It was the first time in two decades of pro baseball he’d been hit above the shoulders. But, there he was, less than an hour from retirement, in the dirt. A large knot swelled behind his ear as his manager gently nudged him towards the dugout, out of the game and away from baseball.
Hudler needed a moment to collect his senses, to even look up and address the last manager he would ever have, but once he could, all he said, quietly was “Step aside.
Rex struggled to his feet and took off in a dead sprint to first base.
The fans were baffled. To Hudler though, it was simple. He had to play it out.
He left the game before his next turn at bat, his enthusiasm and respect firmly intact.
He couldn’t have been happier.
It is indeed a great game! Go Royals!
I’m Steve Sauder
