Darryl Motley

Darryl DeWayne Motley’s professional baseball career spanned four decades, including parts of six major-league seasons. However, he will always be best remembered for his heroics in Game Seven of the 1985 World Series, when the Kansas City Royals won their first championship.

Motley was born on January 21, 1960, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Louell and Brenda (née Bridges) Motley. In 1962, the family moved to Portland, Oregon. Louell, a truck driver, and Brenda raised Darryl and his four siblings, Debra, Demetria, Donnell, and Deronda. The devout Christians attended the Church of God in Christ.1

Motley recalled learning baseball with neighborhood friends at Portland’s Irving Park. “I first started playing on the streets. … From there, I started playing Little League, but really I learned how to play on the street.”2

Motley was especially close to his mother, Brenda, who talked to him daily before school, attended his games, and provided emotional support. After he played poorly in an all-star game, Brenda said, “Well, honey, you have to remember, there will always be days like this. You can’t always hit the home run or win the game, and you just have to go on to the next one and do the best you can.” Motley later recalled, “I think of that day often, and it helps me.”3

Building on his neighborhood experience, Motley soon found success in organized baseball. In 1972, his team defeated Phoenix, 17–6, to reach the Western Region finals of the Little League World Series; Motley hit a two-run homer and added two more RBIs with a single.4 Though Portland lost to Hawaii, 13-4, in the Regional finals, Motley hit another two-run homer.5

Motley’s father had starred in high-school basketball and earned football and basketball scholarships to Langston University.6 By the time Darryl entered Ulysses S. Grant High School, it was clear that he’d inherited Louell’s athletic abilities. He earned All-City honors in football, baseball, and basketball; set the Grant High weightlifting record in the clean-and-jerk; and became the first Black Grant High student to win the Multnomah Athletic Club Scholarship.7

One highlight of Motley’s high-school career came in the 1977 state basketball championship game against North Eugene High. At 5-foot-9, he held 6-foot-5 Danny Ainge, a future NBA All-Star, to only eight points in a losing effort. Motley said, “I just didn’t let him get the ball.” This demonstrated that Motley, beyond his physical gifts, was also diligent. “I wasn’t the best athlete that I saw along the way, but I was one of the harder working athletes. … I had some God-given ability, but I made it to the big leagues because I worked a little harder than the average guy. If you want it, that’s what you have to do to get it. … I was able to overcome my shortcomings.”8

In 1978, his senior year, Motley continued to excel in football, basketball, and baseball. Each team made a deep run in the state playoffs. He was named to the 1978 ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Second Team as an outfielder.9 The Portland Interscholastic Hall of Fame later inducted him.

Motley was spotted by Arizona State University and signed a letter of intent to play both baseball and football there. He later recalled that ASU, under coach Jim Brock, “had the best baseball program in the country at the time, and I really wanted to play baseball.” In response to this news, Portland Observer sports editor Ron Sykes wrote, “I had the honor… to work with the great, soft-spoken young man for one year. Darryl was a leader, but not the hollering, back-slapping type. … Irving Park is proud of this young man and all wish him success in his collegiate or pro career.”10

In June 1978, Kansas City chose Motley in the second round of the amateur draft (51st overall). Previously, the Royals had selected shortstop Buddy Biancalana in the first round (25th overall); the New York Yankees took first baseman Steve Balboni immediately after Motley (52nd overall). All three eventually played significant roles in the Royals’ 1985 World Series championship.

Despite intending to attend ASU, the lure of a $60,000 signing bonus and a quicker path to the majors led Motley to forgo college and begin his professional baseball career.11 The 18-year-old started with the GCL Royals in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He hit .488 in 10 games and finished the 1978 season with the Fort Myers Royals of the single-A Florida State League.

In 1979, he played the entire season at Fort Myers, where he was converted to third base. In 1980, after a strong start at Fort Myers (batting .303 and hitting safely in 24 of 32 games), he was promoted to the Jacksonville Suns of the Double-A Southern League. There, he continued to hit well (.319, averaging over a hit per game). However, a broken hand ended his season.12

His strong play won a promotion to the Omaha Royals of the Triple-A American Association for the 1981 season—a pivotal one for Motley. He returned to the outfield and had his best season yet. At age 21, well below the league average age, he led Omaha in home runs and slugging percentage, batting .288 with 18 homers, 64 RBIs, and a .488 slugging percentage.13

Around then, people started calling Motley “Toy Cannon II” in homage to another right-handed batter and thrower, Jim Wynn. This reflected his strong, stocky build (5-foot-9, 196 pounds) and right-handed power from left-center to right-center. “If I’m only half as good as he was, I’ll be around for a while,” Motley quipped.14

Meanwhile, a players’ strike interrupted the 1981 major-league season; a split schedule was adopted. The Royals finished 20–30 in the first half, 12 games behind Oakland. The team, frustrated with its performance and missing injured right fielder Clint Hurdle, called up Motley on August 9. Manager Jim Frey immediately made Motley his starting right fielder.15 In his debut on August 10 against Baltimore, he got his first big-league hit off Dennis Martinez.

Motley started the next 29 games. On August 25, he hit his first major-league homer against future Hall of Famer Jack Morris of Detroit. Motley also faced his old high-school basketball rival, Danny Ainge, who was then with the Toronto Blue Jays. Ainge issued a one-on-one challenge. “I told him no, I thought I’d just leave it where it was.”16

Playing in 42 of the 53 second-half games, Motley posted modest numbers (.232, two homers, and eight RBIs over 125 at-bats) while committing three errors. Frey still praised him: “He came to Kansas City in a tough, pressure situation. … We’re back in a pennant race, and right away he faced Jim Palmer, Scott McGregor, Mike Flanagan, Dennis Martinez, Bert Blyleven and Len Barker—and held his own. And, in Baltimore, he made two running catches against the wall that kept us in one-run games.”17

Even after Motley dropped a fly ball in the first game of a doubleheader against Cleveland and lost a ball in the sun in the second game, Frey defended him. “As far as I’m concerned… he’s shown up very well. … Every young player goes through learning stages—the greatest did. Actually, it’s thrilling to watch a young player like that develop.”18

The Royals (30–23) won the Western Division second-half title by one game. Motley did not play in the postseason, where Oakland swept the Royals. He later reflected, “Personally, I don’t think I did that bad a job. … I started the first 18 games I was here and got hits in 13 of them. I’ve heard of guys who did less and stayed in the big leagues.”19 Nevertheless, it would be almost another two years before Motley returned to the majors.

In December 1981, the Royals acquired right fielder Jerry Martin, and Motley had a poor spring training in 1982. Thus, he spent the entire season in Omaha.20 He hit .254 with only eight home runs, but on the plus side, he stole 16 bases in 20 attempts, tied for the club lead with 10 game-winning RBIs, and was the only player in the league to hit for the cycle.21 Overall, though, the Royals likely viewed Motley’s performance as disappointing.

To make matters worse, in March 1983, early in camp, a stress fracture in his lower left leg cost Motley several weeks.22 He once again did not make the big club. This time, the Royals loaned Motley to Evansville, the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate.23 The organization’s apparent loss of confidence had him questioning both his loyalty to the Royals and his future: “I felt like I was a Detroit Tiger. It was the only way I could feel. … When I read the paper, I would look at what Detroit was doing before I looked at Kansas City. I really felt skeptical about my career.”24

Despite the setback, Motley had an excellent 1983 and regained his confidence.25 Under manager Gordon MacKenzie, he played all three outfield positions in 130 games (then a career high). He batted .281 with 16 home runs and stole 19 bases. Motley thus earned promotion to the Royals on September 1. He played 19 games down the stretch, hitting safely in 13. Though he batted only .235, he had three homers and slugged .441.

On September 26, in Seattle, Motley experienced a career highlight by homering off Bryan Clark with his parents in attendance: “It was quite a thrill. That’s the first time my parents have seen me play in person since high school in 1978. When I rounded third, I saw my dad standing up cheering.”26

Motley was back on the Royals’ radar for 1984.27 However, he remained a long shot to make the team, ranking ninth on the outfielder depth chart on a roster expected to carry only six.28 Some factors worked in Motley’s favor. After the team’s poor 1983 season, expectations for 1984 were low, so management was more inclined to give younger players a chance. Also, four Royals, including star center fielder Willie Wilson, were suspended for the season’s first six weeks for cocaine-related offenses.29 Thus, Motley’s strong spring training got him into the Opening Day lineup at home. “I went to the ballpark early; I was the only one there… and it was quiet. I was just thinking, ‘Wow, man, I’m finally here.’ … And then… you come out later on that night and the stadium’s full of people and it’s a reality that you’re in the big leagues,” he recalled.30

Motley solidified his status in April, batting .333 while playing in 16 of 19 games, primarily platooning against left-handed pitchers. When rookie outfielder Butch Davis struggled, Motley started playing every day.31 “It’s just a thrill to be here,” he said. “My first goal was to make the ball club. Then I started thinking about playing time. Now, I want all the playing time I can get.”32

Motley continued his strong play in May—including his “biggest game in the majors” on May 25 at Boston’s Fenway Park, with five RBIs and three runs.33 He became Royals Player of the Month.34

The team was exceeding expectations, and manager Dick Howser cited Motley, saying, “Darryl is a game player. He makes things happen.”35 It became a career year for Motley: .284 with 15 homers and 70 RBIs. He played in a team-high 146 games and gained more confidence: “I feel more comfortable now than when I came up in ’81. I was the youngest guy here, and it was tough playing with the older guys. Now, there are a lot of young guys on the club going through the same thing I did in ’81.” Yet Motley did not let success go to his head. He said, “It’s a lot easier to get here than get here and stay. … There’s always somebody waiting in the wings to take your job.”36

The Royals won the Western Division with an 84–78 record. The powerhouse Tigers—who became World Series champions—swept the ALCS in three games; Motley batted only .167. Still, the outlook was bright for both him and the team in 1985.

Motley started in left field on Opening Day 1985. He had established himself as a major leaguer and was becoming popular. Featured in the Kansas City Times, he listed his favorite things: science fiction books, cold beer, basketball, racquetball, pool, steak, pork chops and vegetables, picnics, his fireplace in the winter, horseback riding, California beaches, beautiful women, the color black, the Ripley’s “Believe it or Not” television show, all Al Pacino films (especially Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon), and pioneering Black women Diahann Carroll and Wilma Rudolph.37 ESPN’s Chris Berman also nicknamed him “Darryl Motley Crew.”38

However, unlike the prior year, Motley had a poor April in 1985, batting only .188.39 The Royals were also underperforming. Therefore, they traded for Lonnie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals on May 17 and immediately named him the starting left fielder. Consequently, Motley was shifted to right, platooning with Pat Sheridan.40

Motley was taking his struggles home with him. He had recently purchased a home in nearby Leawood, Kansas, and was single. Seeking support, he asked his mother to move in with him. Motley said, “She has always been my best friend because she listens to me. … And then she’d have a comment that seemed to help.” Brenda cooked for him and paid his bills because, admittedly, he wasn’t good at it and sometimes forgot. She encouraged him, telling him to keep the faith and things would work out: “Always talk to God, during good times and bad times, and He’ll pull you through.” Motley admitted, “I don’t know if I would have made it through the season without her.”41

Though Motley finished the season batting only .222, he ranked fourth on the team with an MLB career-high 17 homers. The Royals edged the California Angels and repeated as Western Division champions. Motley later recalled, “We were a pretty good ways back (in the standings). … We battled hard, came back, and went into the playoffs against the Blue Jays. … We just hung in there and kept battling… and some good things started to happen. It was unbelievable how we came back and won, but we never gave up in the locker room.”42

Toronto had won 99 games in the regular season and was heavily favored. The Royals were down, 3–1, in the series but won the final three games and captured the AL pennant. The Jays’ predominantly right-handed pitching limited Motley’s action; he had one hit in three at-bats, plus a walk and a sacrifice fly (in Game Five).

In the World Series, the Royals faced the formidable Cardinals, who’d won 101 games. Motley, starting against lefty ace John Tudor, got the first hit of the series. “The umpire was like, ‘Do you want me to stop the game?’” Motley recalled. “I was like, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘Because you got the first base hit of the World Series, don’t you want the ball?’ By then they were throwing the next pitch, and I never got it.”43

The Royals lost the first two games at home, won Game Three on the road, but were shut out, 3–0, in Game Four as Motley went hitless in four at-bats against Tudor. One game from elimination, team leader George Brett was dejected, muttering, “I don’t know how I feel about this.”44 However, Motley stayed confident, saying, “Same script, right? You loved it in Toronto and you’ll love it in St. Louis.”45

Indeed, Kansas City won the next two games, benefiting from a blown call at first base by Don Denkinger in Game Six. This set up Game Seven at home against series nemesis Tudor. In the second inning, the finesse artist faced Motley after walking Balboni. On a 3–2 count, Motley hit a long foul drive to left field, just missing a home run. Frustrated, he cracked his bat on the ground. “I tried to ignore it,” Motley recalled, “I said, ‘I’m going to use it anyway,’ because it felt real good in my hand, it was balanced. It was the right weight and everything.”46 But then he heard teammate Hal McRae’s voice from years earlier: “Look… you never use a cracked bat.”47

Motley called for time, and the batboy brought out two choices. Selecting the black Adirondack, Motley hit a towering homer on the next pitch, giving the Royals a 2–0 lead. He later recalled, “I was trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark. … My agent told me before the game that if I did something special, I’d remember it the rest of my life. That was a special moment for me.”48

The Royals built an 11–0 lead, virtually assuring their World Series win. The players agreed that whoever caught the final out would receive $100 from each teammate.49 Motley recalled, “In the locker room or the dugout… we put a wager on it, everybody had to put up a little something.”50 This set up playful competition between right fielder Motley and center fielder Wilson. With two outs in the ninth, Andy Van Slyke flied to right-center. Motley said, “I got there first, but I could hear Willie coming. … He was too late.”51 Motley made the play, sparking celebration, though he joked, “I never got the money.”52

Locker room festivities ensued, including wives and girlfriends. However, Motley “wasn’t having a good time. It wasn’t quite right. Something was missing, my mom.” He and others searched Royals Stadium for Brenda; a security guard eventually found her and surprised Motley when he returned to the locker room. “Now it was a celebration,” Motley recalled.53

A Baseball Hall of Fame representative approached Motley. The Hall wanted his bat for its museum. Motley could have just loaned the bat but told the employee to take it and “leave it there forever.”54 However, he kept the ball he caught for the final out. He put it in a safety deposit box after his daughter, Shamaria, drew on it one day.55

Motley recalled getting lost at the chaotic celebration parade the next day: “They weren’t really ready for the parade. It wasn’t blocked off or anything. … My car and Onix Concepción’s car got separated. … The parade was gone. It was just two cars, and we were going through town… but we were lost.”56 Still, they made it on time to the stage where the rally was held.

Despite 1985’s fairy-tale ending, Motley knew he’d have to fight to keep his job in 1986. Rumors swirled that offseason about him being traded to San Francisco for Chili Davis. Motley said, “There was a time in spring training where I thought for sure it’d happen. … I was getting headaches, I thought about it so much. It seemed like every time ESPN was on, they talked about Chili Davis coming to Kansas City. … I just so much wanted to play in Kansas City because we won the championship. I wanted to help defend the title. I wanted to be there for the ring ceremony. I just wanted to be part of this team.”57

Motley played in Venezuela that winter to improve, had a strong spring training, and was named the starting right fielder in 1986. He started well and appeared on the All-Star Game ballot, but a career-worst slump in May led to a demotion to Omaha in June. Recalled in July, he continued to struggle and received limited playing time. The Royals also struggled, finishing 10 games under .500.

The toughest part of 1986 was manager Howser’s brain cancer diagnosis, forcing him to miss the season’s second half. Motley respected the skipper; he recalled a conversation when Howser visited the clubhouse later that season. Howser, aware of Motley’s struggles and trade rumors, asked how he was doing. Motley replied, “I’m alright, Dick, I’m still here.” Howser ruefully joked, “Yeah, me too, Mot.”58

On September 23, Motley was traded to Atlanta for minor-league pitcher Steve Shields. A relieved Motley called it “a load off of my mind. I’m just tired of hearing all the rumors. … It’s part of the business, so I accept it.”59 He was disappointed, though, because the Braves “were in last place, and I had been with the Royals. … I thought (the Braves) were terrible.”60 Motley played five games with Atlanta to finish the season.

Things went from bad to worse in 1987. First, Motley lost his arbitration case, taking a pay cut.61 In March, he missed the last spot on the roster and was waived.62 After clearing waivers, he went to Triple-A Richmond. Recalled on May 6, he played six games before being sent back down on May 20.63

Tragically, on June 17, Dick Howser died. Shortly before, Howser wrote an encouraging letter to Motley: “Darryl, in life sometimes things have to change. Look at me. … I hope that you’re able to straighten this whole thing out and get yourself back to the big leagues.”64

However, Motley never played in the majors again. He posted solid numbers at Richmond but wasn’t offered a contract in the offseason.

Motley’s professional career entered its next phase in 1988. He played in the Mexican League that year before finishing the season with the Indianapolis Indians, the Montreal Expos’ Triple-A affiliate. Motley remained with Indianapolis in 1989 and was a key contributor to the Indians’ back-to-back American Association championships and Triple-A Classic wins. Motley said, “I don’t care what level of baseball you are on, when it is a championship situation, you want to perform.”65

In 1990, he played for the Triple-A affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers. In 1991, he returned to Mexico to play for Sultanes de Monterrey. There, he batted .339 and scored a franchise-record 123 runs, helping them win the league championship.66

In 1992 and 1993, Motley played for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League. In 1994 and early 1995, he returned to the Mexican League, playing for several teams. In 1995, Motley briefly considered joining the Royals as a replacement during the players’ strike but quickly reconsidered.67  On a personal level, Motley married his wife Francisca (née Rodriguez) in 1992 (they divorced in 2004). Their daughter Shamaria was born in 1995.68

From 1995 to 2002, Motley played in the unaffiliated Northern League, still hoping to return to the majors. When asked why, he said, “I had never really given serious consideration to what else I would do.”69

In 1995, with the St. Paul Saints, Motley hit .358, earned All-Star honors, and led the Saints to the championship.70 In 1996, he joined the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and had one of the league’s greatest seasons, earning several awards, including Baseball America’s Independent League Player of the Year.71 He was an All-Star again in 1997 and, in 1998, helped the RedHawks win the championship.72

In 2000, Motley joined the Adirondack Lumberjacks and briefly managed them in 2001. He finished his playing career in 2002 with the Allentown Ambassadors and Capitales de Québec.

Motley coached for the Kansas City T-Bones in 2003 and 2004 before retiring from baseball. He recalled, “I was 42 years old when I decided to hang it up as a player. … My daughter was born in ’95, and I just thought it was time for me to come on out of baseball period at some point.”73

Since then, Motley has lived mainly in the Kansas City area, where he runs a party-organizing business.74 He also lived in Orlando, Florida, working as a personal trainer.75

During the 40th anniversary reunion of the Royals’ 1985 championship team, a humorous moment came when George Brett announced that he’d finally paid Motley the $100 for catching the last out of the World Series. “I’m getting it off my conscience, we’re even,” joked Brett.76 Motley confirmed receipt by pulling a crumpled C-note from his jacket. “I can’t believe he gave it to me,” Motley laughed.77

Reflecting on his career, Motley said, “Baseball is always an enjoyable experience. … You have winning and losing seasons, but I enjoyed every season that I had. … I made a lot of good friends.”78

Last revised: August 5, 2026

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Rory Costello and Abigail Miskowiec and checked for accuracy by members of SABR’s fact-checking team.

Photo credit: Darryl Motley, Trading Card Database.

Sources

In addition to the sources shown in the notes, the author used:

Books, Book Chapters, Book Sections

1986 Kansas City Royals Media Guide: 64-66.

1986 Kansas City Royals Yearbook: 51.

1987 Atlanta Braves Media Guide: 57-58.

Newspapers or Magazines

Berkow, Ira. “Howser Aware of Burden,” New York Times, April 6, 1986. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/06/sports/photo-of-dick-howser-nyt-anthony-neste-royals-howser-aware-of-burden.html.

Online Sources

Baseball-almanac.com. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=motleda01.

Baseball-reference.com. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/motleda01.shtml.

Baseballbiographies.com. https://www.baseballbiographies.com/darryl-motley-baseball-player-retired-in-1987/.

Facebook Video. “George Brett, Darryl Motley and Other Former Kansas City Royals Look Back on Their 1985 World Series Championship on MLB Tonight,” October 21, 2015. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10153060886036695.

Facebook Video. “Darryl Motley Reflects on 1985 World Series Championship,” August 11, 2018. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10157524721813942.

Glancy, Patrick. “Darryl Motley’s Claim to KC Royals Fame,” KingsofKauffman.com, April 5, 2024. https://kingsofkauffman.com/posts/darryl-motleys-claim-to-kc-royals-fame.

Lee, Bradford. “A Look Back at Kansas City’s First Year Players in 1981,” Royalsreview.com, December 5, 2022. https://www.royalsreview.com/2022/12/5/23482015/a-look-back-at-kansas-citys-first-year-players-in-1981.

MLB.com Video. “Motley Homers After Changing Bat,” October 27, 1985. https://www.mlb.com/video/motley-homers-after-changing-bat-c31193659?q=PlayerId%20%3D%3D%20%5B119454%5D%20Order%20By%20Timestamp&cp=CMS_FIRST&p=0.

Portland Interscholastic League Hall of Fame Website. https://www.pilhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/darryl-motley.

Stone, Jackson. “Royals Honor 1985 and 2015 WS Champ Teams with Weekend-Long Celebrations,” MLB.com, May 15, 2025. https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-hold-reunions-for-1985-and-2015-world-series-champion-teams.

Trading Card Database Website. https://www.tcdb.com/Person.cfm/pid/4134/Darryl-Motley.

Archives / Documentary Fragments / Other Materials

Baseball Hall of Fame Library, player file for Darryl Motley.

The Sporting News Baseball Player Contract Card for Darryl Motley.

Notes

1 “Louell Motley,” Dignity Memorial. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/portland-or/louell-motley-6428030.

2 Nate Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School, Darryl Motley (’78) Caught the Game-Winning Out of the Major League Baseball World Series,” Grant Magazine, May 27, 2025. https://grantmagazine.com/26928/news/darryl-motley/.

3 Gib Twyman, “A Message for Mothers Everywhere,” Kansas City Star, May 11, 1986: 171, 174. (Obtained from the Baseball Hall of Fame Library, player file for Darryl Motley.)

4 Mike Levinson, “Oregon Bombs Arizona,” San Bernardino County (California) Sun, August 19, 1972: 24.

5 Gary Johnson, “Hawaii All-Stars Take Title, 13-4,” San Bernardino County Sun, August 20, 1972: 57.

6 Dignitymemorial.com, Louell Motley Obituary.

7 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

8 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

9 “1978 ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Team,” American Baseball Coaches Association. https://www.abca.org/ABCA/ABCA/Awards/All-Americans/High_School/1978.aspx.

10 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

11 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

12 1985 Kansas City Royals Media Guide: 62-64. https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/baseball/yearbooks/BKANRMG-1985-kansas-city-royals-media-guide.pdf; “Southern League,” The Sporting News, September 6, 1980: 63.

13 1985 Kansas City Royals Media Guide: 62-64.

14 Mike Fish, “Motley’s Career Is on the Upswing,” The Sporting News, May 14, 1984: 27; Coleman, The Scouting Report 1985: 181. (Accessed through Google Books.); Mike Fish, “A Pact Extension Rewards Howser,” The Sporting News, June 18, 1984: 13.

15 Mike McKenzie, “Royals: Kids Get Call,” The Sporting News, September 5, 1981: 37.

16 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

17 McKenzie, “Royals: Kids Get Call.”

18 McKenzie, “Royals: Kids Get Call.”

19 Fish, “Motley’s Career Is on the Upswing.”

20 Darin Watson, “U.L.’s Toothpick: The Year of the Card–Darryl Motley, 1985,” Baseball Prospectus, November 23, 2016. http://kansascity.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/11/23/u-l-s-toothpick-the-year-of-the-card-darryl-motley-1985/.

21 Trading Card Database Website, 1984 Fleer Update. https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/97/cid/47381/1984-Fleer-Update-U-81-Darryl-Motley; 1985 Kansas City Royals Media Guide: 62-64.

22 Mike McKenzie, “Otis Vows to Avoid Display of Temper,” The Sporting News, March 7, 1983: 38.

23 Mike McKenzie, “McRae is Weary of DH Questions,” The Sporting News, April 18, 1983: 28.

24 Fish, “Motley’s Career Is on the Upswing.”

25 Fish, “Motley’s Career Is on the Upswing.”

26 Associated Press, “Indians’ Heaton stops Yanks,” New Braunfels (Texas) Herald-Zeitung, September 27, 1983: 8.

27 Mike McKenzie, “Outfielder Simpson Tested on Mound,” The Sporting News, September 19, 1983: 18.

28 Mike Fish, “Royals Have Motley Crew,” The Sporting News, October 8, 1984: 17.

29 United Press International, “Outfielder Willie Wilson, Suspended Dec. 15 for One Year,” April 3, 1984.  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/04/03/Outfielder-Willie-Wilson-suspended-Dec-15-for-one-year/5234449816400/.

30 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

31 Mike Fish, “White Identifies with Dangerfield,” The Sporting News, May 7, 1984: 18-19.

32 Fish, “Motley’s Career Is on the Upswing.”

33 “Darryl Motley, Biggest Game – 248,” Greatest 21 Days Baseball Profiles, August 26, 2010. https://www.greatest21days.com/2015/04/darryl-motley-biggest-game-248.html.

34 Mike Fish, “Leonard Is Facing 3rd Knee Operation,” The Sporting News, June 25, 1984: 24.

35 Dan Hutchison, “Royal Review Is Optimistic,” Chillicothe (Ohio) Constitution-Tribune, May 17, 1984: 3.

36 Fish, “Motley’s Career Is on the Upswing.”

37 “Astros’ Walling gets raise: Motley has to take a cut,” Kansas City Times, May 18, 1985. (Obtained from the Baseball Hall of Fame Library, player file for Darryl Motley.)

38 Tim Miller, “Cable TV Outlasts Any Set of Eyeballs,” Tulare (California) Advance-Register, May 3, 1986: 12.

39 Baseball-reference.com. Motley game logs for 1985. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=motleda01&t=b&year=1985.

40 “Cards Trade Lonnie Smith,” Moline (Illinois) Dispatch, May 18, 1985: 19.

41 Twyman, “A Message for Mothers Everywhere.”

42 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

43 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

44 Dick Schneider, “Tudor in Complete Control,” Salinas (California) Californian, October 24, 1985: 35.

45 Schneider, “Tudor in Complete Control,”

46 Vahe Gregorian, “Thirty Years Later, Darryl Motley Remains Entwined with Royals History,” Kansas City Star, June 2, 2015. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article22865907.html.

47 Gregorian, “Thirty Years Later, Darryl Motley Remains Entwined with Royals History.”

48 Matt Fulks, 100 Things Royals Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die (Chicago: Triumph Books, 2016), 2.

49 Gregorian, “Thirty Years Later, Darryl Motley Remains Entwined with Royals History.”

50 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

51 Fulks, “100 Things Royals Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” 4.

52 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

53 Twyman, “A Message for Mothers Everywhere.”

54 Gregorian, “Thirty Years Later, Darryl Motley Remains Entwined with Royals History;” Baseball Hall of Fame Website, Darryl Motley: 1985 World Series Bat. https://baseballhall.org/nine/kansas-city-royals.

55 Gregorian, “Thirty Years Later, Darryl Motley Remains Entwined with Royals History.”

56 Pete Grathoff, “Ex-Royals Player Has Funny Story of Getting Lost on 1985 World Series Parade Route,” Wichita Eagle, May 19, 2025. https://www.kansas.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article306702416.html.

57 Bob Nightengale, “Extra Work Begins Paying Off for Motley,” Kansas City Star, May 11, 1986: 174. (Obtained from the Baseball Hall of Fame Library, player file for Darryl Motley).

58 Gregorian, “Thirty Years Later, Darryl Motley Remains Entwined with Royals History.”

59 “Royals Deal Darryl Motley to Atlanta for Pitcher,” Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune, September 24, 1986: 8.

60 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

61 United Press International, “Baseball,” Moline Dispatch, February 11, 1987: 27.

62 Greenwood (South Carolina) Index-Journal, April 1, 1987: 13.

63 Tyrone (Pennsylvania) Daily Herald, May 21, 1987: 5.

64 Gregorian, “Thirty Years Later, Darryl Motley Remains Entwined with Royals History.”

65 “Indians Claim Triple A Crown,” Kokomo (Indiana) Tribune, September 13, 1988: 13; “Tribe Whips Braves to Win AAA Crown,” Kokomo Tribune, September 11, 1989: 11.

66 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

67 “Royals Replacement Players Hold First Practice Session,” Iola (Kansas) Register, February 21, 1995: 8; “Detroit Leaves the Door Open for Anderson,” San Bernardino County Sun, February 22, 1995: 20.

68 “Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VV2V-1RF : Mon Sep 22 23:31:03 UTC 2025), Entry for Darryl De Wayne Motley and Francisca Rodriguez, 19 Nov 1992.  Also, “Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children,” dated March 16, 2004 obtained from the Orange County (Florida) Comptroller’s Office.

69 “When the Cheers Vanish,” Kokomo Tribune, August 17, 1997: 24.

70 Trading Card Database Website, specifically 1996 Multi-Ad Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/121580/cid/8263989/1996-Multi-Ad-Fargo-Moorhead-RedHawks-19-Darryl-Motley.

71 Trading Card Database Website, specifically 1997 Multi-Ad Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/110667/cid/7652836/1997-Multi-Ad-Fargo-Moorhead-RedHawks-6-Darryl-Motley.

72 Trading Card Database Website, specifically 1998 Multi-Ad Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/110564/cid/7648146/1998-Multi-Ad-Fargo-Moorhead-RedHawks-NNO-Darryl-Motley; Chris Coste, The 33-Year-Old Rookie (New York: Ballantine Books, 2008), 122.

73 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

74 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”

75 Tracy Ringolsby, “1985 Royals: Where Are They Now?” October 26, 2015. https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-1985-world-series-where-are-they-now/c-155537820.

76 Facebook Video, “What a Story! After 40 Years, George Brett Finally Paid His Outfielder His $100…..With Video Proof from Darryl Motley!” May 15, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1869671950452829.

77 Facebook Video, “What a Story!

78 Shine, “Only Seven Years After Graduating from Grant High School.”