KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Rain delays and positioning in the final AL Central standings weren't even tangentially the focal point of Sunday's season finale for the Kansas City Royals. The day's purpose was to provide a final moment, a formal sendoff, for franchise cornerstone and regional folk hero.
Alex Gordon.
A 14-year major-league career that began with an ovation from the home crowd before his first plate appearance ended in front of no fans _ other than members of Gordon's family, who watched from a Kauffman Stadium suite _ and a lot of heartfelt hugs from teammates and coaches Sunday afternoon.
Here is the moment Royals' Alex Gordon left the field for the final time
The day included the playing of a video highlighting many of the great moments of Gordon's career.
"It really didn't hit me until this morning," Gordon told Fox Sports Kansas City's Joel Goldberg after the game. "I was just trying to grind out the season ... I knew it was coming. I wasn't trying to look ahead, but then this morning it got to me.
"Emotions definitely ran a little high ... the video of all my past teammates and coaches just got to me."
Gordon tipped his cap to the Royals' fans, even though they couldn't attend his final game, saying, "I'll never forget them, '14 and '15, the way we pulled together."
Adalberto Mondesi and Ryan McBroom hit solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and Mondesi added an RBI double in the eighth as the Royals closed their season with a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.
The Royals finished the pandemic-shortened season with a record of 26-34. For teams that qualified, the next stop is the playoffs.
The Royals announced on Saturday they'd moved the first pitch up from 2:05 p.m. to just after noon (12:05) to avoid the rain. But that forecast rainstorm still delayed the start of Sunday's game by 95 minutes; the first pitch was eventually thrown at 1:40 p.m.
Gordon batted leadoff and started in left field, where he has won seven Gold Glove Awards and where his jersey No. 4 was cut into the outfield grass over the weekend.
Gordon became the third position player to spend a career of 14 years or more entirely with the Royals, joining George Brett (21 seasons) and Frank White (18) with that distinction. Gordon's 1,752 career games, the fourth-most for one team among all active MLB players, ranks behind only Yadier Molina (Cardinals, 2,024), Joey Votto (Reds, 1,770) and Ryan Braun (Brewers, 1,765).
On Sunday, Gordon had one at-bat (a strikeout) and played one inning in the field before exiting. After the Royals took the field in the second inning and before the first at-bat of the inning, KC manager Mike Matheny popped out of the dugout and made a lineup change.
Francy Cordero entered the game in right field and Gordon's friend and closest neighbor in the clubhouse, Whit Merrifield, moved from right field to left and took Gordon's place as Gordon came out of the game.
Merrifield, who made the All-Star team for the first time last season, was one of the players Gordon mentioned during his Thursday news conference when he was asked who might take up his mantel of leadership alongside star catcher Salvador Perez.
Gordon and Merrifield shared an embrace. Gordon then went around and hugged several teammates and acknowledged each player on his way off the field. As Gordon exited the game, Aloe Blacc's song "The Man" boomed over the stadium's public-address system.
Gordon stopped and hugged the Tigers' batter, former Royal Jorge Bonifacio, and tipped his cap to the opposing dugout and patted his chest with his glove as a gesture of appreciation before stepping toward the home dugout. Players and staff lined up to individually congratulate and embrace him before he left the field.
Known for keeping to a strict dietary regimen, Gordon was asked by Goldberg if he'd enjoy a rare slice of pizza Sunday night in celebration of such a fine career.
"Maybe some hot chocolate after this game," Gordon said with a smile under the heavy, gray KC skies.
Royals rookie right-hander Brady Singer (4-5) held the Tigers to one run on three hits in seven innings. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter to earn the win in his 12th and final start of his rookie season.
