Alex Gordon: Royal Blue, Powder Blue, Blue Collar

Inaugural University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

When he’s patrolling left field at Kauffman Stadium, Alex Gordon wears his royal blue home uniform. When he’s on the road competing in the vast Major League Baseball universe, he’s wearing Kansas City’s traditional powder blue uniform. Growing up in Lincoln and playing for the University of Nebraska baseball team, red was the color of choice, but believe Darin Erstad, blue was still part of his DNA and color scheme.

Why? “Because of what separates all people who grow up in Nebraska – that blue-collar work ethic,” said Erstad, a former American League All-Star who went on to win a World Series with the California Angels, paving the same path that Gordon almost duplicated last year before the San Francisco Giants outlasted the Kansas City Royals in the seventh game of the 2014 World Series. On Tuesday night, Erstad coached his team’s annual Red-White Scrimmage at Hawks Field while Gordon got to sleep at home in preparation for the fifth and deciding game against the Houston Astros. The winner advances to the American League Championship series against either the Toronto Blue Jays or the Texas Rangers. 

Darin Erstad: Alex Gordon’s Picture Should Say Blue-Collar Work Ethic

“Alex stands for everything that’s Huskers,” Erstad said. “The way he goes about his business, on and off the field, the kind of teammate he is and the kind of career he’s having relates directly to his blue-collar work ethic. I mean, his picture should be right next to that definition – Alex Gordon, blue-collar work ethic. I think it’s what separates Alex from others.

“Even in the off-season, how many times do I see Alex in the facility that has his name on it?” Erstad asked, before answering “all the time, and he’s here before the sun comes up. He’s here before anybody else is here. He’s inside the training complex working on his craft. Constantly. His blue-collar work ethic and daily preparation year-round define his success.”

Last August, Gordon became the first baseball inductee into the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame, and Erstad, a major candidate for that honor, is the first to tell us how deserving Gordon is and how his inaugural induction can influence Husker baseball recruiting.

Alex Gordon’s Name and Face are Familiar to Young Kids Who Watch

“It’s huge to see Alex continue to excel,” Erstad said. “I mean, he’s one of the best players in the league. He’s a very familiar name and a familiar face with kids growing up all over the country. He’s just a great example of how to go about your business. When you go to a game, or watch one on TV, you see how prepared Alex is and how competitive he can be. It’s just great to have him be a part of the Nebraska family.”

Blue-collar is in. “When people see the Alex Gordon Training Complex, they always ask, ‘What do you have to do to get your name on the building?’ Well, you donate a lot of money,” Erstad said with a laugh. “But a lot of money comes from the hard work you put in. Alex has definitely earned what he’s made. I don’t know what else I can say other than he’s just that guy you should put his picture next to as the definition of hard work.”

Even though he competed against the Royals, Erstad has acclimated to Kansas City, the most popular baseball team for Nebraska's vast majority. “It’s one of those things that you definitely feel the vibe around here,” Erstad said. “You know how many people love the Royals."

The Royals Feature Homegrown Players Who Transform Kansas City

“I’m a fan of organizations that do it the right way, and it’s obvious the Royals have built from within,” Erstad said. “They have the core of homegrown players. They’ve had patience. They’ve stuck with them. They’re seeing the benefits of that. To see that city transform and see the support for the team over the last 10 years is incredible. Watching it come all together is really cool. It’s just an electric atmosphere pervading that stadium, and Alex is an important part of it.”

When nearly 8,000 Big Red fans showed up at Kauffman Stadium on Husker Night, Nebraska maintained its gold standard because it outdraws all university-related events located closer to Kansas City. “No doubt about it. It’s not a four-year or five-year commitment to Nebraska; it’s a lifelong thing,” said Erstad (pictured above with Gordon and Big Red cheer). “Nebraska has a bond with baseball and not just with Alex, but with all our former players in the big leagues. You go to any of those Royal games and you see great support. You always hear, ‘Go Big Red' chants. You hear Nebraska’s name, and it’s just different. You just don’t hear a lot of other schools being chanted out. It’s just the passion within Husker Nation…unmatched passion!”

Gordon’s Mindset Influences Husker Male and Female Student-Athletes

While Gordon focuses on a Wednesday night win over Houston to advance in the American League playoffs, Erstad will be following what's happening at Kauffman Stadium. “I love baseball,” he said. “I’m just a fan of the game and like watching guys that play with passion. The Royals are fun to watch and Husker fans focus on Alex and all of his teammates.”

That’s important for Erstad in more than one way. “I think this university breeds that type of a person like Alex,” he said, acknowledging that the blue-collar work ethic applies to both male and female student-athletes who compete at Nebraska. “They’re all attracted to that type of mentality we have on campus here and in the community,” Erstad said. “I just think that there’s a structure in place with a lot of people that have that same type of work ethic and really feed off each other. It’s one of those things that can be contagious in a good way. Everybody's part of it. I think that’s what’s happened over the years here at Nebraska."

Like a Certain Popular Comedian, Husker Baseball Stars Git ‘R Done!

Erstad laughs when he thinks of another Husker icon who knows how to Git 'R Done! with a blue-collar work ethic – Dan Whitney, also known as Larry the Cable Guy. “That guy works harder than anybody,” Erstad said. “I mean, I can’t imagine the amount of time he’s traveling on tour. He just has a passion for what he does. Dan has that. Alex has it. A lot of people in this state have it. It’s a big reason why I moved my family back here to live.”

Rex Hudler, pictured above, is an award-winning broadcaster finishing his fourth season as part of the Royals broadcast team. An analyst on FOX Sports Kansas City, he played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and was a teammate of Erstad, a two-time MLB All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and pivotal force on the Angels’ 2002 World Series Championship team.

“One of the reasons I love Nebraska is Darin Erstad. When I was at the end of my career, he was just beginning,” Hudler said. “Ersty just loved red. He wore it all the time because red was the favorite color of Gene Autry, our owner. It was wonderful when I came back to the booth and broadcast the World Championship in Ersty’s best year when he had over 200 hits and helped that team reach the Promised Land. He helped me get a World Series ring, so I love Ersty.”

Hudler Loves Hard-Core Blue-Collar Competitors Who Stick to the Wall

“I thought I would never meet a bigger winner anywhere than Darin Erstad,” Hudler said. “Then I got to know Alex Gordon, and he’s just exactly like Darin Erstad. He’s like a human dart. He would stick to the ball all the way to the wall. He didn’t care about his body, so I’m sitting there thinking to myself: ‘How does Nebraska produce these kinds of players?’

“I love it, absolutely love these hard-core, blue-collar competitors who will take on anybody in the world,” Hudler said. “Last winter, on the Royals’ Caravan, I got to go to Lincoln for the first time in my 65 years of life. I got to see the coolest indoor training facility that had Alex Gordon’s name on it. I saw the weight room, and I fell in love with Nebraska all over again. I love seeing all those Nebraska cars and buses pull into our parking lot and head inside 'The K' game after game.

“Darin and Alex are blue-collar twins,” Hudler said. “I love them because of the way they compete, and I love Nebraska for the way they show up. I’m glad Alex is Nebraska’s first Hall-of-Famer because that’s the way Ersty would want it. Both of those guys are the ultimate team players…identical twins…unbelievable!”

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

N-Sider Archives