Illinois Wesleyan<\/a> standout athlete has been the \u201cVoice of the Royals\u201d for decades, recently completing his 57th season.<\/p>\nGrowing up in Atchison, Kansas, Amy Baker first knew Matthews as just that: the soothing voice of her beloved baseball team.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had kind of a rough childhood,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cShe would grab her radio and run out of the house when things got tense. She\u2019d run down the street and sit on the curb and listen to the Royals.\u201d<\/p>\n
A former softball star, Baker went on to become a surgical dental assistant. One day \u2013 \u201cAbout 17 years ago,\u201d Matthews said \u2013 she met the \u201cVoice\u201d in person.<\/p>\n
Matthews had undergone a minor gum procedure and, five days later, returned as scheduled to have sutures removed. That job fell to Baker.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe took the sutures out \u2026 almost,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cShe left one in because she wanted me to come back. Pretty clever. That\u2019s how it all evolved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthews invited Baker to attend a Royals game as his guest in the radio booth \u201cfor an inning or two.\u201d Baker wound up staying for the whole game. At no point did Matthews say, \u201cIt\u2019s time for you to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
He loved having her there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess you could say that was our first real date,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cI\u2019m a charmer, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n
Baker is still by Matthews\u2019 side. And on Nov. 15, they will be married at the home of the Royals, Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City.<\/p>\n
Matthews will turn 83 the day before they say \u201cI do.\u201d The marriage is the first for both.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re rookies,\u201d Matthews joked.<\/p>\n
Those who know him had long concluded Matthews would be a bachelor for life. He understands that, saying news of his engagement \u201cshocked the Twin Cities.\u201d<\/p>\n
So why now?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a combination of a lot of things,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cIt\u2019s the familiarity with somebody. No secrets. As you get older, it\u2019s more of a team now. She and I are a good team. She\u2019ll do things that I don\u2019t do. I can provide her with things that she couldn\u2019t and vice versa. It\u2019s a good combo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The wedding will be in a large room inside Kaufmann Stadium. Doing it outside in mid-November was a weather risk they weren\u2019t willing to take.<\/p>\n
Instead, roughly 150 guests will be warm and dressed in game-day attire. So will the wedding party.<\/p>\n
Matthews and three \u201cbest men\u201d \u2013 his brothers Doug, Steve and Mike \u2013 will be in Royals jerseys with their names and favorite numbers on the back. Amy and her three best friends\/bridesmaids will be as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t want it to be black tie and formals and have everybody have to get tuxes and pretty dresses,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cIf you\u2019re coming to a ballgame, wear what you\u2019d bring to the ballgame \u2026 Royals gear, your jersey, your sweatshirt, your T-shirt, whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cuisine will be familiar, too. Ballpark food will be served as opposed to a former dinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little different from a normal wedding,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still in the game<\/h2>\n
Matthews has been around sports his entire life. After starring at Trinity (now Central Catholic), he was a wide receiver in football and second baseman in baseball at Illinois Wesleyan, graduating in 1966. He played on the final IWU football team to defeat Illinois State, part of the Titans\u2019 undefeated season in 1965.<\/p>\n
His time with the Royals has included World Series championships in 1985 and 2015. With 57 years in the booth, is he shooting for 60?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou better not make those plans. I think you better take it game by game,\u201d he said, laughing. \u201cI\u2019m taking it year by year now since I don\u2019t have to travel, which is a tremendous burden lifted. Boy, that gets old.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthews has worked home games only for several years, though he does travel to St. Louis each year and made a trip to Chicago this season when the Royals played at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n