KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Micah Cotten and his father Joe Cotten are living a baseball dream.
Micah was 8 years old the last time the Kansas City Royals were playing in the World Series.
“I remember watching the World Series in the living room with my dad,” said Micah, a Hoisington native. “That’s something I’ll always remember.”
Joe treasures the memories of players such as Kansas City legends George Brett and Frank White.
“It was a special team that we looked at as heroes even though we were a long ways away,” Joe said.
Joe’s father bought a 1985 Royals baseball cap that he never remembered seeing until he pulled it out recently.
It was many years ago when Joe’s father did the same thing for his son.
Joe and his father started attending Kansas City A’s baseball games in Municipal Stadium before the Royals were launched. Joe’s father worked in the oil industry, just like Micah.
“We’ve always been a baseball family and Royals fans,” Joe said. “My father would take me to ballgames. I remember seeing players like Reggie Jackson playing.”
Joe was attending a Bill Self basketball clinic in Lawrence this past weekend when his phone rang.
“My best moment was when I got a chance to ask my dad what he was doing Tuesday night,” Micah said. “I asked him whether he might want to go to the World Series.”
Joe had to quickly re-arrange his schedule, which included boys basketball practice starting.
“I was really surprised. But I was thinking this was something we had to make happen because it was once in a lifetime experience,” Joe said. “The tables were turned on me. It made me awfully proud that a son wanted to spend time with his father. It was a pretty humbling moment for me.”
Even though the Royals lost Game 1 to the San Francisco Giants, the Cottens were left with fond memories.
“Baseball is special because you can talk about the game and the strategy through the whole game.,” Micah said. “It was high quality time. It was an electric atmosphere.
“The fans everywhere in Kansas City are definitely enjoying this post-season. Everyone is really excited. The Royals are a resilient team. They will battle you every step of the way.”
During a shopping trip, Joe bought his father a new 2014 baseball cap to go with his 1985 baseball cap.
During the trip, the Cottens met a longtime friend — former major league player Mitch Webster from Larned. Webster works as a scout for the Royals.
“Of course, we followed Mitch’s pro baseball career very closely,” Joe said. “He was one of the most underrated baseball players in baseball. We got to know each other when we attended First Southern Baptist Church in Great Bend. Mitch was always a quality baseball player and a better person. We were able to visit for 20 minutes”
Micah works as a petroleum landman based in Fort Worth, Texas, but he’s done work in Barton County and neighboring counties. He performs title searches for companies interested in learning about a particular property. A landman is an individual who performs various services for oil and gas exploration companies.
Micah's business success has allowed him the freedom to buy post-season playoff tickets. He attended a clinching American League Championship Series victory over the Orioles. His wife bought him tickets to two road playoff games in Baltimore.
He’ll treasure the memories from every game he’s seen. Two moments stick out — a Mike Moustakas catch of a pop fly by Adam Jones in game 3 and a Moustakas throw to clinch the American League Championship Series over the Orioles.
“I loved that catch by Moose because it shows a player who is willing to do whatever he needs to win a baseball game,’ Micah said. “The other play when Moose makes the final throw, it was an electric atmosphere. I’ve never ever seen anything like it.”
By game 2, Micah had accomplished another goal. He’s spending time with his brother Joey Cotten at the World Series.