Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 26, 1993 TAG: 9309260081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: KANSAS CITY, MO. LENGTH: Medium
From 3,000 hits to pine tar, Brett left an indelible mark on the game.
He joins Nolan Ryan in retiring this year and relinquishing what sometimes seems a troubled game to a new generation of players. The two quite likely will form the nucleus of the Hall of Fame Class of 1998.
Ryan has said he is bothered by the new generation, but young players will be Brett's focus as he becomes a team vice president.
"I'm 40, but I'm a young 40," he said.
Brett's numbers can be recited ad infinitum, but his legacy most likely will be his work ethic. There never was a grounder to second that Brett didn't feel should be charged hard out of the box and run full speed to first.
After 20 seasons, though, the desire waned.
"I wasn't getting that excited when I did something good," he said. "I wasn't getting that down when I did something bad. I wasn't that happy when we won. I didn't feel as bad when we lost.
"There's something about riding a roller coaster. If you ride a roller coaster 162 times, you are ready for something different. Don't you want to go on another roller coaster?
"I think the game beat me down. It beats everybody down. It beat Nolan down. It took 26 years for Nolan. It took 20 for me."
Brett said he decided to retire Monday after meeting with his brother, Bobby, and his agent, Dennis Gilbert.
"It wasn't that difficult," Brett said, although his misty eyes and choked voice belied his words. "Bobby asked me how much money they would have to pay me to come back. I said, `They don't have enough money.'
"The game became a job. It wasn't a game anymore. And baseball shouldn't be treated that way."
Travel was the worst for Brett. He announced his retirement flanked on one side by his wife of two years, Leslie, and his 6-month-old son, named Jackson after his late father. "More time at home," he said when asked what he most looked forward to.
Best moment? Hugging Bret Saberhagen after the seventh game of the 1985 World Series.
Worst moment? Today.
On the other side of Brett were Muriel Kauffman, wife of the late founder of the Royals, and general manager Herk Robinson.
Ewing Kauffman and Brett feuded many times as they built the Royals into one of the most successful expansion franchises ever. This winter, Kauffman, who died Aug. 1, suggested Brett should retire because he had reached the pinnacle with his 3,000th hit. Brett was insulted by the remark, and Kauffman later took the unprecedented step for an owner of calling a news conference to issue a public apology to a player.
Brett moves into the front office with what Robinson insisted will be a meaningful role as vice president of baseball operations. Brett will be charged with evaluating young players within the organization and with conveying "the spirit with which he played the game" to those young players, Robinson said.
by CNB