A soft spot for Royal blue

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Creston’s own Gary Bucklin, an avid supporter of the St. Louis Cardinals, has never in all of his years been to a Major League Baseball Spring Training site until just recently.

So imagine the thrill he endured when his very first trip to spring training was to go see his son Brian Bucklin, a Creston High School graduate, former Iowa Hawkeye baseball player and state championship-winning baseball coach at St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas, don a Royals uniform as a special guest instructor for the in Surprise, Arizona.

“The opportunity to see my son in a major league uniform was the motivation behind it so I can check off a couple things on my bucket list,” Gary Bucklin said.

While there, Gary, who made the trip with his wife, Beth, and granddaughter Ruby, paid witness to what he believes is quite the classy organization. According to Gary, no one person at spring training acted better than anyone else and everyone was open to giving away their time to speak with his son.

Brian met and spoke with the likes of Royals legend George Brett, former big leaguer Rafael Belliard and numerous others among the 33 instructors at the camp, who ranged from coaches to former major league athletes.

“They introduced him (Brian) and they all came over and shook his hand and made him feel right at home and there was no egos in the room and he was able to communicate with anybody that he wanted to to ask questions,” Gary Bucklin said.

Seeing Brian’s number 87 uniform hanging in a locker brought on a sensational feeling he won’t soon forget.

“Eighty seven was my favorite number for a week there,” the elder Bucklin said.

Brian Bucklin worked entirely with the minor leaguers, but had all the access he needed to teach, learn from and enjoy the company of talented young professionals and grizzled veterans of coaching.

He even met up with Cal Eldred, a former Iowa Hawkeye pitcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. Eldred was coached by Broghamer when he played in high school, while Brian Bucklin was coached by Broghamer while he was a Hawkeye. Eldred is now an advisor to Royals general manager Dayton Moore.

While there, the younger Bucklin soaked up loads of knowledge. He listened to players and coaches at the batting cages, hoping to pick up helpful information to bring back to his team. He hit infield practice with a fungo bat. A total of 178 players were there, getting repetitions in on four fields. Brian arrived at the facilities each morning at 8 a.m. for coaches meetings.

When not at the field, Brian was put up at a resort with all expenses paid.

Gary said that Brian, since returning back to Lenaxa, has implemented some of the drills and training tips that he picked up while at spring training.

All of the favorable treatment is sure to leave a soft spot in the heart of Brian Bucklin, who Gary says is still a Cardinals fan.

“He probably will always be in part of his heart a Cardinal fan, but he’s getting pretty well indoctrinated into the Royals fandom,” Gary Bucklin said.

Gary Bucklin’s St. Louis Cardinals fandom won’t be in doubt any time soon, but even Cardinals fans cannot blame him for also having a soft spot for the Royal blue.