Kirby and Showalter share messages behind "thank you" patches

Hall of Famer Eddie Murray participated in the Players' Weekend last night by appearing at Camden Yards, which should be a more common occurrence with his new role as special advisor, and holding up a bright orange jersey when shown on the video board with "Steady Eddie" across the back.

The fans ate it up, of course.

First base coach Wayne Kirby chose Murray's name for his "thank you" patch on the sleeve of his jersey. Kirby was a longtime fan who later became a teammate with the Indians.

"When I was growing up in Virginia, I saw Baltimore a lot and Eddie was one of the players, I liked the way he played, I liked the way he hit, I liked the way he carried himself," Kirby said.

"I didn't know about his mannerism in the clubhouse when he came over to Cleveland. Everybody was a little intimidated by him, coming in there being a veteran, and I wasn't because I think I was probably one of the oldest young guys over there."

And a bond developed that continues to this day.

"We became good friends over there," Kirby said. "He helped me and I helped him. And you always want to learn from a veteran, so pretty much I did."

Kirby said they stay in touch "all the time." They were on the field together before last night's first pitch to do a MASN interview.

"I would say three to four times a month we communicate and talk a little shop," Kirby said. "It's fortunate that he's working for us now, so I get to see him a little more often when he comes into town."

Murray will be asked to make various appearances in the community and at spring training to promote the club, but he's also willing to offer any advice and instruction that's requested.

"He has a lot to offer," Kirby said. "I mean, the way he carried himself, how to be a professional. And you can't be nice to everybody. That's the one thing that Eddie brings. He's going to study you before he lets you in. And hopefully that's what people will see about him.

"He knows a phony when he sees phony, he knows real when he sees real. As far as the players, if I'm a young player I'm going to try to pick his brain. We don't have that many veterans around here to pick brains, but if you see somebody who has those credentials and you introduce yourself and be sincere about it, I mean, he might give you one little tip that helps you out.

"Everybody needs a tip, especially if you're struggling. That's the biggest thing about these veterans. When you see them you ask them questions. How you do it, how you perform, how you carry yourself. And maybe something will click in one day."

Manager Buck Showalter used the names of his children, daughter Allie and son Nathan, for his patch. Nathan is a scout in the organization.

"They've been through thick and thin," Showalter said. "They've traveled around this country and been asked to do some things in their life that not many kids do.

"I got a real touching moment when my daughter wrote a letter at her wedding about what an advantage she felt like she had now looking back at it, with all the adjustments she had to make in her life along the way with schools and everything.

"I promised them when we came here and we were (living) in Dallas that we would not take them out of high school or college and they both went to schools in Texas. Just a way of repaying when we got to the point where we could afford it, all the movement they had in their lives."