One word sums up how Kansas City Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra is feeling about this week’s festivities: special.
The seventh-year manager will coach the West Division squad in the American Association All-Star Game on Tuesday night at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kan.
“It’s always a special honor,” Calfapietra said. “It gives you that feeling of gratitude to be able to manage special players who are being reward for having special seasons.”
Tuesday’s All-Star Game begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at monarchsbaseball.com/allstargame .
The 50 top-level players in KCK this week have dominated the American Association this season, but four didn’t have to travel far for the league’s showcase game. The West Division’s roster features no fewer than four Monarchs.
Right-handed pitcher Julian Garcia found out he’d made the team directly from his manager.
“I got a text from Joe: He just congratulated me and told me he was going to manage me,” Garcia said. “He was happy for me. It was really cool.”
The 29-year-old has racked up 64 strikeouts this season, tied for fifth in the American Association. One of the big reasons for that is Kansas City catcher Herbert Iser, another West Division All-Star.
“Herbert came up to Triple-A when I was up there,” Garcia said. “He’s a great catcher. It’ll be awesome to get a chance to throw to him in the All-Star Game.”
Calfapietra’s staff will coach the Western Division team after taking home the Miles Wolff Cup for the Monarchs in 2023. The seventh-year manager has brought three league championships to Kansas City and was elected as an All-Star manager for the third time in his career.
“It gives you the chance to look back on a season you were able to put together the year prior,” he said. “The players are in the moment, you are in the year of the past.”
Brian O’Grady hit the walk-off winner to clinch the Miles Wolff Cup for Kansas City last September. O’Grady headlined the Jeremiah Johnson Home Run Challenge Monday night, featuring the 10 best power hitters in the league.
The home run contest was followed Monday by the Celebrity Softball Classic, featuring various KC athletes and media split into two squads: Team Buck and Team Paige, honoring legendary former Monarchs Buck O’Neil and Satchel Paige.
Another tie to the historical Monarchs? Tuesday evening’s All-Star jerseys will honor legendary teams of the Negro American League.
“It’s always special to be here at your own ballpark, especially for being in Kansas City,” Calfapietra said. “To represent the Kansas City Monarchs for an All-Star Game is a big deal.”
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