Following in the tradition set by Major League Baseball, the KC Blues retire the number 42 and place into the KC Blues' Hall of Fame, Jackie Robinson. Here Jackie is pictured in his Kansas City Monarchs uniform. Jackie played Shortstop in his only season with the KC Monarchs in 1945. elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Jackie Robinson's stats as a member of the KC Monarchs:

G - 47; AVG. - .387; HR - 5; RBI - 23; SB - 13

Jackie Robinson's career stats:

AVG. - .311; H - 1518; HR - 137; RBI - 734; SB - 196

George Brett is Mr. Kansas City Royal. The only player in baseball history to hit over .300 and have more than 3000 hits, 300 homeruns, 100 triples, 600 doubles, 1500 RBIs and 200 stolen bases. The only player in baseball history to win batting titles in three decades, 1976, 1980 and 1990. I was at Royals stadium on September 1, 1980. George hit a double, stood out at second base and tipped his helmet while the scoreboard read .401. I will never forget that moment. Elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

George Brett's career stats:

AVG. - .305; H - 3154, HR - 317; RBI - 1595; SB - 201

Satchel Paige was voted by the SABR as the greatest negro baseball player in the 20th century. Satchel's fastball was legendary, whether in the negro league or barnstorming against major league players. Satchel made his name pitching 10 years for the Kansas City Monarchs, leading the Monarchs to three championships. Satchel made the major leagues in 1948 with Cleveland. Satchel was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Satchel Paige's stats with the Kansas City Monarchs:

G - 98; W - 35; Ks - 359; Sho - 7; Sv - 1

Satchel Paige's career negro league stats:

G - 279; W - 123; Ks - 1177; Sho - 26; Sv - 8

Satchel Paige's career major league stats:

G - 179; W - 28; Ks - 290; Sho - 4; Sv - 32

Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks was signed by "Cool Papa" Bell off the Dallas sandlots in 1950 to play for the Kansas City Monarchs. After two years in the military (1951 and 1952), Ernie came back in 1953 to play for the Monarchs, where he was discovered by the Chicago Cubs and signed after the Monarch's 1953 Championship season. As they say "the rest is history." Ernie was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.

Ernie Bank's career major league stats:

Avg. - .274; H - 2583; HR - 512; RBI - 1636; SB - 50

Frank White came to the Kansas City Royals through the Royals baseball academy. Frank made it to the Royals in 1973 and played through the 1990 season. During his career, Frank won 8 gold glove awards and distinguished himself as one of the best second basemen in the American League in the 70's and the 80's. Hailing from Kansas City, I had the rare opportunity to watch Frank play his entire career. At second base, Frank made every play effortlessly. At bat, Frank developed from a punch and judy hitter to a batter who could always be counted on to get the clutch hit. The Royals won the World Series in 1985 with Frank White at second. Frank White should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The KC Blues honor Frank White by placing him in the KC Blues Hall of Fame.

Frank White's career stats:

Avg. - .255; HR - 160; RBI - 886; SB - 178; H - 2,006

Buck O'Neil made his way to Kansas City, joining the Monarchs in 1938, playing first base. Buck had a career batting average of .288 including four .300-plus seasons at the plate. In 1946 the talented first baseman led the league in hitting with a 353 average and followed that in 1947 with a career best .358 mark. He posted averages of .345 and .330 in 1940 and '49 respectively. In 1948, Buck became player/manager for the Monarchs and continued at the helm with the Monarchs through the end of the 1955 season. From 1948 through 1955, Buck managed some of the finest Kansas City Monarch clubs, leading them to five pennants and two Black World Series. Among his players were more than 20 future major leaguers. Buck became a Scout for the Chicago Cubs in 1956 and is credited for signing such players as Ernie Banks and Lou Brock. In 1962, Buck became the first black coach in Major League Baseball History. Buck worked as a Kansas City Royals scout since 1988 and was named "Midwest Scout of the Year" in 1998.

Buck O'Neil's Career Managerial Stats:

G - 403; W- 239; L - 164; Pct. - .667

Known as "Mr. October" for his post season heroics, Reggie Jackson played major league baseball for 21 years, beginning in 1967 with the Kansas City A's. Reggie played for five teams during his career and amassed more than 500 home runs, but some of his greatest home runs came during the World Series, including hitting three World Series Home Runs in one game and four in consecutive World Series at bats. Reggie was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Reggie Jackson's stats with the KC A's:

Games - 35; Avg. - .178; HR - 1; RBI - 6; SB - 1

Reggie Jackson's career stats:

Avg. - .262; H - 2584; HR - 563; RBI - 1702; SB - 228

Charles "Kid" Nichols was one of baseball’s first successful power pitchers, firing his fastball on his way to 361 career wins, a total surpassed by just six pitchers in the history of the game. An immediate success after he was signed at the urging of Boston manager Frank Selee in 1890, Nichols won 20 or more games in his first ten seasons in the major leagues. His given name Charles soon gave way to “Kid” – the nickname tagged on him by his Boston teammates because of his youth and slight build (he was just 5’9” and 155 pounds in his rookie season). But his small frame belied his powerful arm. Nichols pitched more than 400 innings five times, and more than 300 in all but one season. His total of seven 30-win seasons is a record that will likely stand forever.

"Kid Nichols" played for the KC Cowboys in 1887 and 1888, and left the major leagues to come back home to own, manage and play for the KC Blue Sox in 1902 and 1903. After retiring from major league baseball in 1906, Nichols resided in Kansas City. Nichols was elected to the Major League Hall of Fame in 1949.

Kid Nichols' nanagerial record with the KC Blue Sox:

Wins - 147; Losses - 115; 1st place finish in 1902.

Kid Nichols' career stats:

Wins - 361; ERA - 2.95; Ks - 1,868; ShO - 48; Sv - 17

Jim "Catfish" Hunter started his major league career playing for the Kansas City A'S from 1965-1967. The bigger the game, the better he pitched. With his pinpoint control, Jim epitomized smart pitching at its finest. He pitched a perfect game in 1968, won 21 or more games five times in a row, and claimed the American League Cy Young Award in 1974. Arm trouble ended his career at age 33, but he still won 224 games and five World Series rings. The likable pitching ace died in 1999 at age 53 - a victim of ALS, the same disease that cut short the life of Lou Gehrig. Jim's nickname "Catfish" was fabricated by A's owner Charlie Finley, who invented a story for the media about Hunter catching fish in the backwoods creeks of North Carolina. Jim was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1987.

Jim's stats with the KC A's:

Wins - 30; Losses - 36; ERA - 3.76; Ks - 385.

Jim's career stats:

Wins - 224; Losses - 166; ERA - 3.26; Ks - 2,012

"Sliding" Billy Hamilton played with the KC Cowboys in 1888 and 1889. Billy set the original single season stolen base mark when he stole 111 bases in 1889. Although best remembered as a base thief, "Sliding" Billy Hamilton also excelled at bat and in the outfield. His 937 career stolen bases and single-season total of 115 in 1891 stood as National League records for almost 80 years. Hamilton remains one of only three players whose runs scored (1,691) exceeded his games played (1,578). He hit better than .300 in 12 successive seasons en route to a career mark of .344. Rollie was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1961.

"Sliding" Billy Hamilton's stats with the KC Cowboys:

Avg - .294; R - 163; H - 195; HR - 3; RBI - 88; SB - 130

"Sliding" Billy Hamilton's career stats:

Avg - .344; R - 1,691; H - 2,158; HR - 40; RBI - 736; SB - 912

"Country' Enos Slaughter was renowned for a smooth, flat swing that made him a reliable "contact" hitter. Enos played for the KC A's for parts of 1956 and 1957 before being traded to the New York Yankees. Slaughter had 2,383 hits in his career, including 169 home runs, and 1,304 RBIs in 2,380 games. Slaughter played 22 seasons with the Cardinals, Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, and Milwaukee Braves. During that period, he was a 10-time All-Star and played in five World Series. His 1,751 games played ranks third in Cardinals history behind Lou Brock and Stan Musial. In 1946 he led the National League with 130 RBI and led the Cardinals to a World Series win over the Boston Red Sox. In the seventh game of that series, Slaughter made a famous "Mad Dash" for home from first base on Harry Walker's double in the eighth inning of game seven with two outs and the game tied 3-3. This play was named #10 on the Sporting News list of Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments in 2001. Enos was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. .

Enos Slaughter's stats with the KC A's:

Avg - .302; R - 86; H - 148; HR - 7; RBI - 57; SB - 3

Enos Slaughter's career stats:

Avg - .300; R - 1,247; H - 2,383; HR - 169; RBI - 1,304; SB - 71