Royals Time Machine: All-Time Defensive Team

PITCHER: BRET SABERHAGEN

Yeah, I know. A pitcher isn’t really a defensive player. But, they wear gloves. Sometimes they really can make great plays.

Most importantly, the Gold Glove committee gives them awards for defense. Who am I to argue with authority?

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Thus, I’m again going with the hardware. Only one Kansas City Royals pitcher has ever won a Gold Glove as a member of the team. Hence, Bret Saberhagen gets the nod.

The KC Royals have had a number of athletic pitchers who could field their position. Tom Gordon, Mark Gubicza, and Zack Greinke spring to mind. Greinke has won two consecutive Gold Glove in the National League for the Dodgers, but that doesn’t really count for a Kansas City Royals all-time defensive team.

Even if his uniform sports the same shade of blue.

Seriously, though, Zack is quite the fielder and was a shortstop in high school. He very much could field his position as a member of the KC Royals and I almost put him on the team just because he’s exactly the kind of oddball that makes baseball history fun.

However, Bret Saberhagen also was a shortstop in high school and his rapping Ford truck commercial from 1986 is just as zany as anything Zack Greinke brings to the table. Thus, hardware speaks.

I mean, really, Saberhagen HAS to be on this KC Royals all-time defensive team just so I can image the other guys razzing him about that ad. That thing is truly embarrassing.

Next: Conclusion