MLB All-Star FanFest spokesman is Legion alum

Alex Gordon, an American Legion Baseball alumnus and Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals, has recently joined the likes of many notable MLB players by becoming the spokesman for the 2012 MLB All-Star FanFest, held July 6-10 in Kansas City, Kan. The 28-year-old Lincoln, Neb., native was the Kansas City Royals’ first-round draft choice in 2005, as well as the second overall pick out of the University of Nebraska. While Gordon made his MLB debut in 2007 as an infielder, during the 2011 season he was placed in left field — a position he had only manned one other time with his hometown Legion Baseball team, J.C. Brager Post 3.

Gordon joined the J.C. Brager Post 3 roster at 15 years old with hopes of continuing his role as a third baseman. However, it was already occupied by his older brother Eric, causing J.C. Brager’s head coach at the time, Mike Dobbs, to place Gordon in left field — a position where he would later receive the highest fielding honor in MLB.

"I knew Alex was a good enough athlete that he could handle left field," said Dobbs, now the athletic fund officer for the University of Nebraska. "I figured he would end up one of our top hitters by the end of the Legion season, so I needed to get his bat in the lineup."

Dobbs decision to place Gordon in the outfield nearly a decade ago not only helped his fielding transition with the Kansas City Royals, it also helped him earn his first American League Rawlings Gold Glove in 2011.

Meanwhile, during an interview with the University of Nebraska’s N-Side, Gordon said that "maybe Mike Dobbs was on to something" in regards to moving him from third base to left field. "I just know that I feel comfortable in left field. It’s been a good change for my career."