JJ Metschke of Seward has worn a Royals shirt every day for the last three years.
You’ll never guess who JJ Metschke’s favorite baseball team is. After all, he doesn’t wear their name proudly every day.
Yes, every day.
Since the first day of sixth grade three years ago, JJ has worn a Kansas City Royals shirt every day. He finished eighth grade this year with the streak unbroken.
JJ has been a Royals fan since the day he was born. His dad, Jon, started out as a New York Mets fan but changed his allegiance when he moved to Nebraska. The 1985 World Series win by the Royals cemented his choice.
JJ said no one noticed his shirt streak in sixth grade. By seventh grade, people started commenting on his Royals attire. Once he got to eighth grade, he decided he was going to keep the streak alive through the rest of his middle school career.
He has more than one shirt, of course. Some he really likes, like the golden jersey the Royals wear for Friday night home games. But they’re not all “good.”
“The shirt I wore on the night they lost the World Series (in 2014) is cursed,” JJ said. “I’ve never worn it again.”
He has Royals shirts specifically for St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day. He has a Husker Royals shirt, a Star Wars Royals shirt and a Christmas Royals shirt. He also has hats, shorts, jerseys, sweatshirts, socks and pajamas.
“I would really like shoes,” he said with a grin.
On game days, he said, he wears his St. John Foxes shirt over a Royals shirt. When he played Jesus in a play for chapel at St. John Lutheran School, his costume was all white Royals gear – shirt, socks and shorts.
He even has a collared Royals shirt he wears to church and for his eighth grade graduation.
The only time he doesn’t wear something Royals related is when he’s on the field himself. JJ plays shortstop for the Staplehurst Stormchasers, so he wears that team’s attire instead.
Most of his Royals gear has been given him as gifts. More recently, though, he’s taken his money for detasseling and bought his own stuff. He usually goes through the MLB Shop online, preferring the Majestic brand, but he’ll wear anything with the Royals logo.
Once he outgrows a shirt or pair of shorts, he’ll give it to his sisters, who will wear it. They’re Royals fans, too, though not quite to the same degree, mom Amy said.
The Metschkes celebrate Opening Day with a feast – hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and peanuts. JJ said he’ll often eat a bowl of cereal during games, preferring either Frosted Flakes or Rice Krispies.
JJ has been to a Kansas City Royals game every year of his life.
“The first one, I was 2 months old,” he said.
“I don’t think he remembers it,” Amy said.
The highlight, though, was Game 1 of the 2014 World Series. JJ and his dad Jon were there.
“You just sit back and go, ‘wow,’” he said.
When the Royals lost that World Series, JJ was inconsolable.
“I sobbed for four hours,” he said.
Even the day after, he cried. He said he couldn’t do anything at school.
“I didn’t smile until 2:37,” he said, adding that he wasn’t sure why he remembered the time so specifically.
When the Royals won the Series in 2015, JJ threw his own celebration.
“I was screaming and yelling. I woke up the house,” he said.
He had a bottle of sparkling cider and goggles and pretended he was in the Royals’ locker room.
JJ has gotten to run the bases at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City and likes to go to Friday night games for the fireworks. He has caught at least one baseball, whether during batting practice or the game, at every game he’s been to.
One game in 2015 was particularly memorable.
“I got five,” he said. “I gave one to a lady from Utah and one to a little girl.”
The others he gave to his sisters.
His favorite baseball is one that was used to tag out Jose Altuve of Houston for the third out in an inning and was flipped to him as the team exited the field.
He’s got autographs from Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and Willy Bloomquist. Jarrod Dyson signed a glove. When asked to name his favorite player, JJ couldn’t.
“That’s like asking a mother to choose her favorite child,” he said. “There’s Alex Gordon, Moose (Mike Moustakas), Hoz (Eric Hosmer), Salvy (Salvador Perez) – I can’t pick.”
His favorite game was easier to select – a doubleheader that went into extra innings, followed by a day game. The second game of the doubleheader didn’t end until about 2 a.m. The family was there for all three.
“It was three games in under 24 hours,” JJ said.
He watches all the games on television with his dad. He’s even been caught keeping up with day games at school.
“I have been busted at school a few times,” he said, grinning.
He chooses books about or by Royals team personnel for book projects at school. He and his family re-enact highlights for book trailer projects.
When it comes time to get dressed in the morning, he said, he considers how the previous day’s game went. If someone had a good game, he’ll wear their shirt, if he has one, the next day.
JJ said he plans to continue his Royals shirt streak into high school.
“I’ll go as far as I can get,” he said.
