The 1997 KC Royals were a blend of aging players nearing the ends of the Kansas City stages of their careers and youngsters showing signs of promise. The mix evoked thoughts of a return to happier times the club hadn’t enjoyed since its last full winning season in 1993 and a 64-51 performance in the strike-shortened ’94 campaign.
At 33 and in his next-to-last season with KC, catcher Mike Macfarlane busied himself helping up-and-coming backstop Mike Sweeney. Chili Davis, 37 and playing his only season with the Royals and Bip Roberts, 33, who started the season but wouldn’t finish it with KC, were available to tutor young Johnny Damon.