The very first thing they asked me about when we declared bankruptcy was my World Series ring. The guy who was assigned our case wanted to know where it was, and he wanted it up in his office so he could take a photo of it.
So, I knew right away that I was going to have to give that up. All my memorabilia went into the bankruptcy auction: my high school football helmets, autographed baseballs, autographed bats, my Gold Glove I won in 1980, the trophy for winning the stolen base title in 1979, the Silver Slugger bat I won for the 1982 batting championship – though I have that one back. Fred White got that back somehow. Bob Turnaukas, who helped me get back to KC, found out about it and got it for me. Chuck Robinson, whose dad was the auctioneer, got my 1,500th hit baseball for me.
But of all the stuff I wish I had, the World Series ring is the thing I would like to have most. That’s what I think I treasure the most. All the other stuff, that’s all right that I don’t have it. A couple of trophies is just more stuff in my house that I don’t have to put on a shelf.
But my ring is something I worked hard for. It was one of the highest accomplishments you can have in the sport. I know who bought it. I know where to get it. And we have had conversations with him about getting it back. But the guy who bought it at the auction wants too much money. He wants the cost of the ring, the cost of where he kept it in the safety deposit box all these years, season tickets.
I’m going to buy another one from the company that made it because it is less expensive for me. I had to get permission from Dan Glass to have another one made, and that took three years for him to agree to let me buy another one on my own, but I now have the permission.
So, I’m saving money for it. That’s one of my goals right now. But every time I get a little bit of money saved up to get it, then something happens – you have to pay a bill or one of the kids need something.
But back to the bankruptcy. When I declared bankruptcy, the guy came out to the house, and he was going through all the rooms. Whatever was hanging up in the house could be taken, things in the drawers and the cabinets.
So, they took all the memorabilia. The furniture and all of that I could sell on my own. At that point I was just numb to it. I don’t really know what all they took because I was at the point of “just take it.”
I didn’t go to the auction. That would have been too hard. I mean, it’s embarrassing. And you also don’t know how cruel people can be about that kind of stuff.
I remember one time this guy came up to me at a benefit bowling tournament. He was carrying the helmet that he bought at the bankruptcy, and he said, “OK, I got your helmet. Can you sign this for me?”
I’m like, “C’mon man. I’m at this benefit,” but he didn’t care that it was embarrassing or disheartening or anything like that. It was like a joke to him. Some people are just vindictive about stuff like that. They think it’s a joke. For you, it’s having your heart ripped out.
This is the ball I hit for my 1,500th hit.
That’s really only a small percent or so of the people, but those are the ones you remember. There are some really nice, nice people out there, too. They are the 99.9 percent nice people. I used to get all messed up on that other point-one percent. I used to let that part really bother me, but there are some really nice people.