I have a confession to make. I am a hoarder. No, not like the kind you see on TLC where the floor is completely covered in a sea of junk. I like to think of myself as a more refined hoarder. I don’t have trash or random trinkets splattered around my room. My hardwood floors are very visible, and the top of my dresser is very organized. “What do you hoard?” one might ask. Royals Merchandise.

As I open my dresser drawer, the insides are lined with endless T-shirts. Powder blue. Dark blue. White. Black. Grey. You name a color and I probably have a Royals shirt in it. Not to mention sweatshirts, hats and Rally Towels.

Recently, it has gotten worse.

During the last two years of playoff games and playoff wins, T-shirts with new designs have been flying off the shelves. Every time the Royals advanced in the playoffs, a new slogan was created and put on a T-shirt. I can’t even tell you how many “We Own the Pennant” or “ALCS Champions” shirts I own. Sure, I don’t need more than one of the same shirt but what if the first one gets ketchup on it from my hotdog at The K? What if I’m eating nachos during the bottom of the ninth when suddenly there’s a walk-off home run, and as I leap out of my seat the nachos paint a picture on my T-shirt?

I guess you could say I’m obsessed with the Royals. I won’t argue with you because deep down inside, I know it’s true. I’m even wearing a Royals shirt right now. But having pride isn’t such a bad thing, right? There’s nothing wrong with showing support for a team as personable and athletic as the Royals (these are things I tell myself to justify the amount of shirts I have). If tearing up after watching highlights from either World Series might be classified as borderline crazy, I should be diagnosed as clinically insane.

Nothing beats the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium, especially during the playoffs. Nothing beats the Royals (both figuratively and literally, because hello World Series Champions). Nothing beats my love for the Boys in Blue.
Hello, my name is Megan and I am a Royals Merchandise hoarder.