Inductees

The story goes that he was all set to decline the offer to become the next general manager of the Kansas City Royals, say thank you and go about his career. In fact, friends across professional baseball had urged him to say no.

In the spring of 2006, Dayton Moore sat across from David Glass, who years before had led Walmart’s rise as a retail giant and was in his sixth year of owning the Royals. The club had fallen on hard times and sought a new direction – and general manager.

“Mr. Glass began sharing his heart with me; he was embarrassed and admitted his current failures as the owner of the Royals. He believed that our fans deserved better and he was passionate about building a model organization,” Moore said. “I felt myself rooting for David Glass.”

What a sales pitch. He soon agreed to become the Royals GM, and then led one of the most impressive turnarounds in the game’s history. Which is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Moore with the Class of 2021.

After cutting his professional teeth with the Atlanta Braves during their domination of the National League East, the 2021 season marks Moore’s 15^th full year as Royals GM. Under his leadership, the franchise was constructed from within, using the skills he developed in scouting and player development in Atlanta. It ultimately resulted in consecutive American League pennants in 2014 and 2015, capped by the World Series championship in 2015, the franchise’s first in 30 years.

In his tenure, the Royals have earned 18 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, 29 All-Star Game selections, five Silver Sluggers and a Cy Young Award winner.

And to think he nearly turned down Glass’ offer.

Moore joined the Braves’ scouting department in 1994 and held several prominent roles through 2006. Their run of 14 consecutive playoff berths eventually led to opportunities with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. Others saw him as the next Braves GM.  But the Royals, who some in the industry warned was a professional graveyard, were his boyhood team.

“The more I thought about it,” Moore said of the Royals job, “the more I wanted the challenge.”

“I’ve been extremely blessed to have several great mentors who have helped shape and mold me as a baseball person,” he added, noting Hall of Famers John Schuerholz (GM), Bobby Cox (manager), Paul Snyder (legendary Braves executive and scout) and Donnie Williams (scout), plus longtime scouting director Roy Clark.

Which explains the culture change across the Royals organization. Glass was motivated to support and follow Moore’s plan by investing heavily in scouting and player development.

The 2010 season became a key marker. In May, Moore hired Ned Yost (MSHOF 2020) as manager. In September, the Royals’ Double-A club won the Texas League thanks to first-round picks Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer. In December, Moore traded Cy Young winner Zack Greinke to Milwaukee for shortstop Alcides Escobar and center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

A year later, future Gold Glove catcher and Venezuelan Salvador Perez arrived in Kansas City. That was notable because, between 1996 and 2006, the Royals were last in baseball expenditures in Latin America.

Yost, Moustakas, Hosmer, Escobar, Cain and Perez, along with several of Moore’s trade acquisitions, paved the way to pennants.

 “I’m thankful for the great support of the Glass family, especially through those difficult times early on in our process, and it remains a wonderful blessing to be working with so many talented people who make up the Royals organization,” Moore said.

Above all, he’s had the overwhelming support of wife Marianne and their children, Ashley, Avery and Robert.

Moore’s impact reaches across Kansas City as he is fiercely dedicated to programs which incorporate youth.

Those include the “C” You in the Major Leagues Foundation, which provides hope and support to families by using youth baseball to develop character-driven leaders.

Moore also led the charge for the $21 million Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy, which affords youth the opportunity to play baseball and softball, but also learn valuable life skills. Recently, he founded Unite KC, a faith-based strategy committed to racial healing and reconciliation.

Overall, Royals fans believe again, thanks to 2015 especially.

“It was the Glass family’s desire for us to build a model organization, and I feel like we are honoring that vision today,” Moore said. “I am extremely enthusiastic and excited to be partnering with new owner John Sherman, who shares the exact same vision for this incredible franchise.”