DETROIT -- Former Royal Steve Balboni admits he doesn't spend a lot of time thinking or worrying about his 1985 franchise single-season record of 36 home runs eventually being broken.
The odds seem pretty good now that Balboni's record will fall: Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas entered Wednesday's game against Detroit with 29 home runs.
"I really have been too busy to follow it too closely," Balboni, presently a San Francisco Giants scout, told MLB.com. "But there have been KC scouts I run into who give me updates. So I follow it that way. So, I knew he had a lot.
"My record is not a huge number, so I would think it would get broken."
Balboni said while he hasn't given much thought to the record going down, he probably will have some mixed feelings when and if it does.
"Yeah, it'll probably be mixed," Balboni said. "It's been nice to have that record for so long. But then again, I'm not going to worry about it. It's going to get broken someday.
"I think the bigger surprise would be if [Moustakas] didn't break it now. He's got a lot of time left in the season."
Through the years, a few Royals have threatened the record. Gary Gaetti hit 35 home runs in 1995, but the fences had been moved in 10 feet then (the fences went back to normal dimensions in 2004).
"I never really paid attention through the years, but I always knew someone was getting close, because I would start getting calls [from reporters] asking me about it," Balboni said. "I always thought that maybe Bo Jackson would break it, and I think he would have if he hadn't gotten hurt.
"It's something I didn't think would last this long, especially because the game has become so offensive-oriented now."
Balboni always will have fond memories of that 1985 season for obvious reasons -- the home run record and a World Series championship ring.
"My whole experience with Kansas City was great," Balboni said. "The fans were great. The city was great. It was probably the tightest group of players I ever played with. We were a close group.
"Really, I'm just happy for K.C. now. I'm glad they've become a contender again. That's great for the fans and the city. I'll always have fond memories of Kansas City."