#ForeverRoyal: KC welcomes back Billy Butler with open arms

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Billy Butler was easy to spot before Friday night's 6-4 Royals win over Oakland.

It wasn't because of his high socks. It wasn't because of the bright green highlights on his shoes. It wasn't even because of his familiar goatee.

All anyone needed to do was find the one Oakland Athletic hugging the guys in blue and chatting with former teammates, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.

It was Butler stationed behind the batting cage catching up with manager Ned Yost and owner David Glass. It was Butler who was an attraction while the rest of the A's stretched and played catch. It was Butler taking center stage when he accepted his American League championship ring, and again when he stepped to the plate in the second inning.

It was Butler's homecoming to Kansas City.

"It's still weird for me on the other side," Butler said. "It's hard to watch from the other side. Great ball team, took it for granted."

Butler spent the first nine years of his career with the Royals, weathering lingering 90-loss seasons and last-place finishes before finally breaking through to the World Series last season. He signed a two-year deal with Oakland in the offseason, leaving where he matured as a big leaguer and where he was adored by a long-starved fan base.

"If you're asking me if we went all the way to the World Series and came up just that short, if I wanted to still be here, the answer is yes," he said. "But there's things that are out of your control, and there are so many elements that you have to consider."

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Butler was reminded of what he accomplished last season with the Royals when he received his AL championship ring. He emerged from the third-base dugout, skipped over the third-base line and exchanged a variety of handshakes, back pats and bear hugs with Royals president Dan Glass, GM Dayton Moore, Yost and longtime teammate Alex Gordon.

Glass handed him the ring and Butler looked directly at the Royals' dugout, held up the ring and pointed to his former teammates.

"I made some eye contact toward the dugout over there, teammates I accomplished it with," Butler said. "It was very special. Something that may never happen again. It was an awesome time."

Gordon lifted Butler's green and yellow Oakland hat off his head and slid his own blue Royals hat onto him. The hat sat tilted briefly, until Butler adjusted it so it looked just as everyone remembered it looking. Then Gordon snatched back his hat, quickly ending Butler's moment as a Royal again.

Butler's time with Kansas City was so special that a member of Oakland's staff actually recorded the Royals' initial ring ceremony on Opening Day for Butler to watch. He hasn't. But he said not being present on Opening Day was one of his regrets, even though he had a game to play that day, too.

In the second inning Friday, Butler strolled to the plate for the first time from the third-base dugout, for the first time wearing another uniform. Kauffman Stadium's seats were rendered useless as the sellout crowd celebrated its former favorite. Butler removed his helmet and acknowledged the fans.

Butler expected butterflies for his first at-bat back in Kansas City and appreciated the welcome he received.

"It was great," Butler said. "It was the same feeling I got during the All-Star Game when they gave me that reception. They've always been great to me and my family, the fans. They're very passionate. It's great to see them out there."

Butler went 1 for 4 with a one-out single in the sixth inning, but his stats didn't matter Friday night. He was back in Kansas City -- once again.

You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.