Out of the Park: Gratitude
Gratitude is meaningful 365 days every year. Even though it's something I try to always practice, I find myself being especially mindful during the month of November. It has been a theme this month on the podcast as well as the topic of this newsletter…and for good reason, too.
From a baseball standpoint, I’m grateful for the incredible season. The Royals have locked down one of the brightest young stars in the game and to see the team return to the playoffs gave Kansas City fans hope and a sense of pride. It’s been incredible to hear people of all ages sharing their genuine excitement over Bobby Witt Jr.
His breakout season led to a second place finish for MVP while winning Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards. The future is bright for him and this team, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to cover them both.
Then there’s Salvador Perez, the truly special 34-year-old slugger who seems to have found the fountain of youth. I’ve covered Salvy longer than any other athlete in my career. For fourteen years, I have watched him put smiles on people’s faces with his play, personality and philanthropy.
He was recognized for these traits last weekend at the prestigious Musial Awards in St. Louis, which I’m grateful to have been invited to attend.
Salvy was being honored for his impromptu appearance at a backyard wiffle ball game last summer abd the Oscars-style event put him on stage alongside the kids he played with.
I’m so grateful St. Louis was able to see what everyone in Kansas City has already known for years. The rest of the country will get to see it too, when CBS runs a one-hour special on The Musials at the end of December.
Between Perez, Witt, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (plus Taylor Swift, of course), Kansas City is living a golden era of sports. Earlier this month, I participated as a guest celebrity alongside Kelce at an event to benefit Operation Breakthrough. The heart and genuine interest he showed as the host made me realize how unique it is to see so many stars really care.
As November comes to a close, I’m grateful to have played even a small part in some good that is so much bigger than any one person. From my family to yours, we wish each of you a Thanksgiving that is abundant with gratitude…inside and Out of the Park.
Stadium standout
The Kansas City Current is no stranger to this newsletter. Its stadium was the first in the world built exclusively for a women’s pro sports team, a deserving fact in itself during my city’s golden era of sports.
My wife Susan and I went to our fourth game of the season this month, and I’m grateful to have witnessed the groundbreaking soccer team win its first-ever playoff game. They may have been knocked out of the next round while on the road, but it still made for a magical - and historic - season.
The league actually hosted its championship at CPKS Stadium, even without the Current making it to the finals. It was a true feather in the cap for a venue I hope everyone reading this will consider visiting next season. The soccer, sightlines and food are all spectacular. As my kids would say, it’s a total vibe, and I’m grateful to them for blazing a trail for women’s sports across the country.
Local flavor
Kansas City has an astounding number of BBQ spots. Even after living here for nearly 20 years, I don’t think I’ve managed to sample more than a fraction of them…nor will I ever. There are just too many. One thing I am now able to claim fame to is visiting my first-ever American Royal earlier this month.
It’s a legendary competition and unique tradition that has been celebrated for 125 years. In recent years it has been held in September, meaning my ability to attend the Friday night event always conflicted with baseball.
This year it moved to November, which allowed me to finally experience the festivities, food and people watching it has become known for. Add in the palpable excitement over the Kansas City sports scene and it was a mouthwatering night.
The upcoming Season 10 of Rounding the Bases will feature an episode dedicated to the past and present history of the American Royal, so stay tuned for it. And of course, I will always be grateful for great BBQ.
Dugout dialogue
During the off-season I rarely have baseball interviews to share. This month, I’ll instead focus on giving Salvador Perez his flowers.
Winning a Musial Award is a tremendous honor in itself. Adding a Clemente Award to his list of accomplishments puts Salvy in a class of his own.
This interview is not my own, but I echo every one of the comments made about Perez. He’s a humanitarian, a superstar and a well-deserving recipient of MLB’s most significant honor. Check it out below.
Chief of Staff KC’s Casey Wright had some great insights on gratitude in the workplace. Watch the video below to hear what he had to say.
speaking engagements
I am grateful for an active month of speaking. Between working with businesses and emceeing events, November has been a busy one. By far the highest honor was hosting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s annual Hall of Game gala alongside their president, Bob Kendrick.
The soiree celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the Kansas City Monarchs winning the first-ever Negro League’s World Series in 1924. The same evening, the Museum inducted Royals legends John Mayberry, Hal McRae, Amos Otis, Frank White and Willie Wilson into the Hall of Game.
It was a spectacular celebration of black excellence in baseball and I’m grateful for my relationship with the NLBM. Whether you are local to Kansas City or not, paying the Museum a visit belongs at the top of every must-do list.
I also had the privilege of delivering my Winning Trust keynote to a group in Dallas. More than 30 human resource professionals from APL Logistics traveled from across North America to join the session, which was equal parts fun and inspiring.
Looking ahead to December, I’m excited for two local events. On December 3, I will keynote a group of professionals from ARCO. The following week, I’m excited to take the stage for an evening event for Ultratech.
If you have a game changing event coming up, it’s time we play ball. To inquire about my keynote series, event moderation or custom video content, just click the link below. A member of my team will get back to you right away.
Rounding the bases rewind
Looking back on my November guests, most of them were actually pairs. Together, they use force in numbers to help individuals. My podcast of the month was with a man who joined solo, and is single-handedly inspiring thousands at a time.
It was with an award-winning Gospel artist who has been enthralling sports fans across the nation for 25 years and counting. His name is Generald Wilson, the retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class whose powerhouse vocals have made him the most sought after anthem singer in the country. But his real gift is something bigger than a song. It’s the way he unites the masses, making us all grateful to be Americans.
He offered perspective as powerful as his high-octane renditions of patriotic classics like the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America. Be sure to listen here.
And with gratitude, another huge thank you to every guest who joined me this month:
Our schedule is already booked into the spring, but we are always looking for interesting guests with standout stories. Would you or someone you know make a great guest on Rounding the Bases?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email my Executive Producer Ashleigh Sterr: ashleigh@joelgoldbergmedia.com.
Keeping the score
With the holidays upon us, I had the perfect guests to feature in this month’s edition of Keeping the Score. It’s based on a recent interview with Dr. Michelle Robin and Bayleigh Petty, a pair of holistic wellness professionals who capture the spirit - and practice - of gratitude every day.
Dr. Robin is Kansas City’s original pioneer of integrative medicine and the founder of Your Wellness Connection. Bayleigh Petty is the program manager of Small Changes, Big Shifts. Both are fueled by a passion for people, and helping them come fully alive.
Incredible circumstances brought this epic pair together. And now, they are on a mission to move others towards healthier, more connected, more grateful lives that stick for generations to come. Check it out below.
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