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Mission Statement
As a leader in not-for-profit baseball camps for the past three years, Willie Wilson Baseball Foundation provides exceptional baseball athletic skills by former Major League Baseball (MLB) players to all boys and girls from ages 7 to 14 years.
As a community driven company, Willie Wilson Baseball Foundation offers progressive and motivated coaching techniques that provide an interdisciplinary approach within the required skill sets for each baseball player.
The diversity of our coaching staff heightens the experience as they share their own memories of the game.
Willie Wilson Baseball Foundations credo is to provide fun and memorable “on the field” baseball skills, while also incorporating "off the field" leadership and team building elements into all of our camps.
Posted on Sat, Jul. 26, 2008 10:15 PM from www.kansascity.comDental care, food and fun served up to area kids, compliments of NKC dentist
By JOE LAMBE
The Kansas City Star
Bill Busch started the TeamSmile dental outreach nonprofit two years ago, after a Maryland teen died from an infection that started in a tooth.
The North Kansas City dentist found that roughly one-fourth of children who enter kindergarten have tooth decay. Untreated decay can spread infection into the blood and cause lifelong health problems.
On Saturday, Busch and a team of 10 dentists and more than 50 other volunteers provided free dental care, food and fun at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City.
Kansas City Royals legends Willie Wilson and Frank White were there signing autographs, along with designated hitter Billy Butler and mascot Sluggerrr.
Among more than 150 children scheduled to participate in the daylong event was Mitchel Kizala, a 12-year-old who attends Plaza Middle School.
“I think it’s really cool they’re doing this for charity,” he said, his smile revealing chipped front teeth. After a hot dog and a visit with the baseball stars, Mitchel plopped into one of four dental chairs so Busch could work on his teeth.
“The most common accident of all in children is chipped front teeth,” Busch said.
After minutes of treatment with strange materials shaped by various tools, he asked Mitchel to feel his teeth with his tongue.
“Feel nice and smooth?”
“Yeah.”
“OK.”
Mitchel bounded out of the chair with perfect front teeth.
That work was part of an overall donation of dental services that organizers said was worth roughly $40,000.
TeamSmile does two events a year in Kansas City and has one planned for September that will feature Chiefs players. Busch said he has also ordered a dental van that will travel to area schools to provide free care. He hopes to raise enough money to open a permanent clinic in the city.
Willie Wilson Named Kansas City Spokesperson for TeamSmile
June 13, 2008 Kansas City, Mo — TeamSmile, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality dental care to children in need, is pleased to announce that Kansas City Royal Hall of Famer Willie Wilson will be the Kansas City Spokesperson for the group’s 2008 activities.
TeamSmile works with sports organizations throughout the country along with dental professionals to provide free oral health education, screening, and treatment (plus free tickets to one of the hosting team’s home games) for children who might not otherwise receive it.
“We’re thrilled to have Willie Wilson join our team,” said TeamSmile founder Dr. Bill Busch. “As a baseball player Willie brought smiles to so many Royals fans’ faces. And now we’re excited that he’s going to help us help create even more healthy smiles for kids in Kansas City.”
“There are a lot of great dentists, organizations, and companies that work to make TeamSmile a success nationwide,” Wilson said. “I’m proud to do my part in Kansas City to help deserving kids get the education and treatment and good habits they need to have healthy mouths and lives.”
Photos from the 3rd Annual T-Bone's Classic
Posted on Sat, May. 31, 2008 10:15 PM from www.kansascity.comFormer Royals and fans appreciate the good old days
By DAVID BOYCE
The Kansas City Star
Joe Carter (left) was greeted by Dennis Leonard after Carter hit a grand slam off Leonard in the Willie Wilson T-Bones Classic. One of the worst things a former ballplayer can say, according to Al Fitzmorris, is “when I played …”
Time has a way of softening the rough spots.
During these dark days of the current Royals, the players who donned the uniform during the 1970s, ’80s and the first half of the ’90s hold an even more special place for baseball fans in Kansas City.
That was once again made clear on a steamy Saturday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark when a couple hundred fans showed up and paid $10 per autograph of some of their baseball heroes.
The autograph session was part of the third annual Willie Wilson T-Bones Classic, in which former Royals and other former major-league stars participated in a charity game that benefits the Children’s Miracle Network.
Justin Stafford, 28, traveled from St. Joseph to get the autographs of Kevin Seitzer, Amos Otis, Willie Wilson and Dennis Leonard.
“They used to be a powerhouse back in the old days,” Stafford said.
For Royals fans, it’s been a long time since they could cheer for a Royals team like the ones in the good old days. There was the 83-win season in 2003. And before that, you have to go back to the strike year of 1994.
Far too often in the last five years, the Royals have become a national joke, the franchise late-night talk show hosts poke fun at. And just when it seemed those embarrassing days were gone, a 12-game losing streak pops up.
“When we traveled, wearing Kansas City across the chest really meant something,” Fitzmorris said. “We got a lot of respect every place we went, probably starting in 1973. It really felt good. We never had a concept of losing. It never entered our minds.
“They had one good month in 2003, which helped them have a winning year. Since 1994, they really haven’t challenged for anything. I give so much credit to the fans for supporting them.
“I know the players are trying. Trying is all well and good, but it’s results. I could go out there and try. I kind of throw that out the window.”
Dave Henderson played for the Royals in 1994, and he still displays the same sort of exuberance now at an autograph session that he had when he helped the Royals win 14 straight games before the strike hit.
“We started off slow,” Henderson said. “There were rumors (manager) Hal McRae was going to get fired. We had a lot of veterans and we figured if we win every game, he wouldn’t get fired.
“It was a fun time. I always felt it was a privilege that somebody would let you play baseball as an adult and actually pay you.”
Former Royals third baseman Kevin Seitzer was also on hand to sign autographs.
“I think it speaks a lot about the guys who are here who took time out of their schedule to come out, and I think it is a big thrill for the fans, especially the adults, who get to see the heroes they watched,” Seitzer said. “I feel like I get to be a part of the same thing they are experiencing, being able to see guys I played with and against when I was younger.”
It’s hard for Seitzer, who has made Kansas City his home, see the Royals struggle.
“But we’ve been going through this for a few years,” Seitzer said. “It’s hard to watch. It’s the same feeling that a lot of fans have when the Chiefs struggle.
“You want your hometown team to do well, and when they don’t, you get frustrated. You hope things will change. Being a former player, it’s hard seeing your family (Royals) go through hard times and the pain they are enduring. You would love to do something to help.”
Because this is the information age, perhaps the current Royals could spend a week watching old tape of the players who wore the uniform a couple of decades ago or listen to them talk about what it meant to be a Royal.
“We had a tremendous amount of pride, and that should go in any player’s mindset who gets the honor of wearing a major-league uniform or even a minor-league uniform,” Seitzer said. “The pride factor for me was off the chart.
“I would hope and expect anybody who came up through the system would feel the same way. Whoever is signing that paycheck, you owe it to them to go out and bust your butt.
“That’s the thing that can be a little bit frustrating from an outside perspective. Are they going as hard as they can? Are they concentrating as hard as they can?”
It’s a question Royals fans rarely asked in the glory years. It’s why these names of the past can still draw a crowd, like 34-year-old John Pedersen, who traveled from Lawrence to get Wilson’s, Otis’ and Dennis Leonard’s autographs.
“They played hard,” said Pedersen, “and they didn’t take plays off.”
Willie and Brad Waller at the Royals 2008 Fantasy Camp. Brad was overheard telling Willie, "I know you were once very fast, but I bet my 'wheels' are faster than yours now."
Kansas City December 9, 2007 - Wilson
lends a hand to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network
Wilson joined The Country Club Plaza Starbucks team as Guest Barista to help raise funds for the CMNKC. From Monday, November 26- December 9, 50 cents from every Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Mocha or Eggnog Latte sold at Starbucks in the Kansas City area was donated to the Children's Miracle Network. The donations benefit KU Med Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital as the Children's Miracle Network helps provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help hundreds of local kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.
click images to enlarge
News Release
Kansas City baseball fans got to see some of their old favorites in the
Willie Wilson T-Bones Classic Legends Game on Saturday night at Community America Ballpark. Saturday, July 14, 2007
Many Thanks
Many thanks to Willie Wilson who assembled some of his former friends and teammates for a great fun filled 2-day (APRIL 14 & 15 - KANSAS CITY) learning event, and the numerous sponsors & volunteers at Raytown Sports Association who ran a fantastic event that many kids & parents alike will remember for years too come!
George Brett and Willie Wilson
reunite with former KC Royals Bat Boy Chris Browne, now Assistant General Manager T-Bones Independent Baseball League
Willie and Friends at "Legacy Awards Night" January 2007 at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Left to Right: Left to Right: Rick Sutcliffe, Joe Carter, Derek Jeter, and Willie Wilson
Willie and Friends
click image to enlarge
Left to Right: Willie Wilson, John Mayberry, Frank White, Fred Patek,
Buck O'Neil, George Brett
RJ Samuels from Dos Hombres and Willie reminisce
about the World Series Parade
Buck O'Neil may be gone, but his 95th birthday party still goes on to raise money for his vision
Fans at Community America Ballpark were treated to a gathering of Kansas City's finest when
Royals great Willie Wilson (left), Amos Otis (second from right) and George Brett (right) got together
with Negro Leagues legend Buck O'Neil.
John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil | 1911-2006 Baseball icon "lived a full life" as he came to symbolize
the glory of the Negro Leagues.
T-Bones opener with Willie and Weston Funk.
Weston represented CMNKC
Former Royals player Willie Wilson gave Weston Funk, 9, some tips on how to hold the ball on Thursday evening, May 17, 2007, before Weston threw out the first pitch of the 2007 season at the T-Bones.
Weston is a leukemia survivor from Overland Park and represented the Children's Miracle Network.
Willie Wilson T-Bones Classic benefits the CMNKC!
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