Fan-turned-GM hopes to restore Royals' majesty The Kansas City Royals last played in baseball's postseason on Oct. 27, 1985. That was the Sunday night Bret Saberhagen pitched a five-hit masterpiece and the Royals stunned St. Louis 11-0 to win the World Series. Dayton Moore, just 19 and a Royals fan since a toddler, was there for that historic Game 7. Well, sort of. Moore, who grew up in Wichita, stood on a knoll between busy I-70 and the left-field fence at Royals Stadium trying desperately to see the action. Had Moore not been there that night to celebrate the Royals' first — and only — World Series championship I wonder if he would be taking on one of the most difficult jobs in baseball. Now 39, he's the new general manager of baseball's worst team. The Royals are on a pace to lose 100 or more games for the fourth time in five years Why would Moore, one of the best young talents in baseball, leave the comfort and security of the Atlanta Braves to take on the thankless task of reviving a franchise? "Because I remember when the Royals were one of the greatest organizations," he says. "They were winning division titles and going to the postseason almost every year. Plus, I grew up a Kansas City Royals fan and remember that great tradition." Moore will make it work assuming owner David Glass sticks to his promise and gives the young general manager autonomy, not to mention the resources. That's the big if. Moore remembers when John Schuerholz, his Atlanta boss and by far the best general manager of this era, was running the Royals. Schuerholz, with the steady hand (and checkbook) of late owner Ewing Kauffman behind him, guided the Royals to their greatest years. Then, in October 1990, he left to take over the downtrodden Braves. "It's the path that I took in reverse with the same two organizations," says Schuerholz, whose Braves won their 14th consecutive division title last year. Moore's view: "From what I've heard, the situation in Atlanta in the mid-1980s and this one in Kansas City are similar. I've spoken to Bobby Cox, who was general manager in the 1980s, and he agrees. There were some decent players in the farm system, but you didn't know what they'd become." Schuerholz says Moore going to Kansas City is a great match, adding: "I have a lot of confidence he'll be able to re-generate that (baseball tradition)." New GM had other options Schuerholz tried unsuccessfully to talk Moore, who'd been with the Braves 12 years and most recently assistant general manager, out of leaving. Schuerholz, 65, even suggested when he retires Moore would be a likely candidate for the top job. "It was an emotional tear," Moore says over the phone from Kansas City where he met face-to-face with his staff for the first time Thursday. "This all goes back to the challenge. It's a great opportunity for me and my family. I'm energized." Moore was in demand. He was a candidate to become the Boston Red Sox GM before Theo Epstein decided to return, interviewed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and could have emerged as a candidate for the Washington Nationals if new president Stan Kasten decides to replace Jim Bowden. The Royals, because of their poor record in recent years, have had high amateur draft picks, which has given them a solid farm system. Earlier this week, before Moore officially took over, they used the No. 1 pick to draft highly regarded pitcher Luke Hochevar. Ask Moore why the Royals are always drafting high and there's little hesitation. "When things start going poorly a lot of times a feeling starts to permeate throughout the system," he says. "Scouting tends to look at player development and player development looks at scouting. The thing we have to do is make sure scouting defends player development and that player development defends scouting. "The one thing we did in Atlanta was that if something didn't work out everybody took the blame. There was no pointing of fingers." One of the reasons Atlanta has had so much success recasting its teams each season is because all minor-league players are taught The Braves Way. "We always knew what No. 6 (manager Bobby Cox) wanted," says Moore. "We had a saying throughout the minor leagues. Often, I'd stand up during orientation with newly signed players and say, 'You can't play that way for Bobby. He will not accept that.' Everyone knew who the leader was." Glass has said manager Buddy Bell would continue, but added the ultimate decision was Moore's. "I don't know Buddy," Moore says. "I've had some conversations with him over the phone and know people who have a lot of respect for him. I'm just looking forward to getting to know Buddy. That's the fair way to do things." Chances are Dayton Moore won't have to stand outside the leftfield fence watching the Royals the next time they go to the World Series. He'll be in the executive suite. Enlarge By John Sleezer, AP Dayton Moore left the Atlanta Braves to take on the GM position of baseball's worst team.