Patrick Mahomes on Alex Gordon: ‘He’s done everything the right way his entire career’

Patrick Mahomes honored Alex Gordon in his press conference on Thursday.

By midday on Thursday, the word was out: a Kansas City sports legend was calling it a career with the news that Royals outfielder Alex Gordon would retire at season’s end. Fourteen MLB seasons with the same franchise, one filled with numerous awards and a World Series ring, was finally coming to an end.

Across the parking lot, the Kansas City Chiefs were practicing and answering questions from reporters in media sessions and the subject of Gordon’s retirement came up. For Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Gordon stood as the very symbol of what he is also trying to be—a leader in the K.C. community who delivers with his on-field performances as well as a role model off of it.

In comments to reporters, Mahomes, who is actually a minority owner of the Royals himself, spoke about Gordon’s retirement.

"“He’s done everything the right way his entire career,” said Mahomes. “The amount of Gold Gloves he’s won. Seeing him dive around the outfield growing up—I don’t want to make him sound old—but growing up and throwing people out at the plate and doing everything like that. And then being able to hit and just being a leader on and off the field. He’s someone who set the example of how to be in the Kansas City community and lead his team to championships and do it the right way on and off the field.”"

Mahomes summed up Gordon’s career fairly well with those impromptu comments. In 2005, Gordon was drafted by the Royals in the first round of the MLB Amateur Draft and made his Major League debut two seasons later. He was an instant fixture in the lineup who earned three All-Star appearances from 2013 to 2015.

As solid as he was at the plate, it was Gordon’s incredible defensive ability that will stand out most in the memories of fans—memories of numerous deep throws from left field that somehow nailed the runner attempting to challenge Gordon’s arm. Gordon racked up seven Gold Gloves at his position and will be in the conversation for best defensive player ever at his position for years to come.

Gordon has only three more games in his professional baseball career. When all is said and done, he will have appeared in 1,750 regular season games that developed a generation of fans who are thankful for such a long, consistent career capped by a parade of a lifetime. It’s also likely how we will remember Mahomes, except hopefully with a few more parades to come.