KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s tough to go anywhere in the metro these days and not see Royals gear. Royals fever is spreading fast, with some hoping the hometown pride gives the boys in blue a little extra boost as they head to Baltimore. Others in Prairie Village are appealing to a higher power.
Leadership at Asbury United Methodist Church in Prairie Village is getting a lot of attention after changing its sign in front of the church. It reads: “Thou shalt not steal, unless you are Billy Butler.”
“The children’s’ director said we should doing something about Billy Butler,” explained church spokesperson Eva Hedtke.
The idea came up during a Monday morning staff meeting and took off from there.
“I said it’s not okay to steal unless you’re Billy Butler,” she said.
Reverend Lee Johnson added the liturgical spin and the sign went up. It’s a reference to Royals designated hitter Billy Butler stealing second base Sunday night, his first stolen base in more than two years.
The sign and the steal are social media hits that have reached Biblical proportions.
It’s not the only show of support for the Royals, this run into the postseason has pride at a fever pitch.
“Kansas City is bleeding blue right now, it is the heart and soul of our community!” said George Guastello, President and CEO of Union Station.
The entire building is blue, through and through and a Royals logo has a prime location.
“It’s where all the troops left, this is where people came back, to see the Kansas City Royals logo right above the clock, everyone can come on down to cheer on Union Station cheer on the Royals,” said Guastello.
Downtown, there is blue everywhere. The Sprint Center, H&R Bloch building, City Hall and more, all blue. The fountains in every corner of the metro, blue. All for the same reason.
“It really gives Kansas Citians a chance to come together and say, ‘you know, we really did it, this is a great team we are proud of Kansas City,'” said Guastello.
The only fountain you won’t see dyed blue is the one in front of Union Station. It’s made from a porous granite and would be blue forever. LED lights are coming just for the fountain so that next season, it too, will be blue.
