DETROIT – George Brett has stood alone at the top of the Royals’ home run leaderboard for 40 years, ever since he hit his 194th home run on April 9, 1986, passing Amos Otis. By the time Brett retired in 1993, 317 home runs was the number to beat. It didn’t look like it would ever be broken. Who could match the greatest Royal of all time?
Salvador Perez did it earlier this week. And on Saturday, Perez surpassed him with home run No. 318, the most home runs hit by one player in Royals history. They represent different eras and different championships, but they’re both Royals legends.
“I think for everybody, he’s the type of player everybody wants to be,” Perez said of Brett. “Hall of Famer. Everybody loves George in Kansas City. When you’re around a name like him, it’s pretty special.”
Brett, one of the fiercest competitors you’ll ever meet, doesn’t want any of his records to be broken. But he has a lot of respect for Perez, his talent and the way he plays the game.
“I don’t want any of my records to be broken, to be honest with you,” Brett said recently in an interview with MLB.com. “But he’s a home run hitter -- that record is going to be broken, there’s no doubt in my mind. It just means that he’s been here for a long time, he’s been a very productive player, and if anybody was going to break it, I’m glad it’s him.
“I thought Alex Gordon might have a chance when he came up here. Mike Sweeney if he had played 15 years here. But I’m happy for Salvy. I really am.”
He also had one request.
“I hope the last one when he breaks it isn’t one of those that barely crosses the fence,” Brett said. “Crush it into the water. He doesn’t get many cheapies.”
There wasn’t any water for the ball to land on Saturday at Comerica Park, just a crowd of quiet Tigers fans because Perez’s historic home run was the game-tying blast in the Royals’ eventual 3-2 win. It was crushed, though: 105.3 mph off the bat and a Statcast-projected 401 feet.
After the home run, Perez joined the Royals' broadcast on a headset in the dugout, and they played him a video from Brett, who is in Cooperstown this weekend ahead of Sunday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“You know, we played in different eras, but I think we got a lot in common,” Brett said in the video. “Playing for the name on the front of the jersey. Wanting to be on the field no matter what. And most importantly, hating to lose. So today, I’m as proud as ever to share a spot in Royals history with you.”
Perez connected with Brett after the game via phone call to thank him. Brett had to get a few jokes in, of course.
“He was like, ‘You did it already? I didn’t know. I was busy today, didn’t check my phone,’” Perez said. “But after that, he just said, ‘Congratulations, Salvy, I love you.’ He means a lot, you know? For the organization, for the city, for us, for me. I learned a lot of things from George.”
Perhaps it’s fitting that Brett is in Cooperstown this weekend. He goes every summer. One day, he hopes to go when Perez is inducted. Saturday certainly helped Perez’s case for the Hall of Fame, and as he continues to pad the offensive numbers, he gets closer to earning a spot among the greats.
His resume reads like a Hall of Famer: Perez is a nine-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner, a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, the 2015 World Series MVP, the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award winner and the fourth captain in Royals history.
“It’s amazing the things that he has accomplished,” Brett said. “I go to Cooperstown every year. I see the Gary Carters of the world. Other catchers. Salvy’s stats are right there. Hopefully I’m still alive maybe in seven years, six years, eight years -- I don’t know how much longer he’s going to play -- but I want to be there and see him get inducted as the second Kansas City Royal ever in the Hall of Fame.”