A young boy watches a Kansas City Royals game in Kauffman Stadium. The sun is beating down and it’s extra bright, but it doesn’t matter to him. After the game, he gets to have an experience that many people won’t have – the opportunity to talk to a famous baseball player. However, this is a regular occurrence for the boy. Brooks Gordon has been to plenty of Royals games and has talked to tons of players – especially his uncle, Alex Gordon.

LSE baseball player Brooks Gordon has been playing baseball since he was four or five. He comes from a family heavily involved in baseball. His dad, uncles, grandfather and great-grandfather have all played, but one family member has had a more notable career than the rest. His uncle, Alex Gordon, is a retired MLB player who, over his career, made his mark in baseball history on the Kansas City Royals team after being a member of the LSE baseball team during his high school years.

Growing up, Brooks’ uncle wasn’t around much due to him living in Kansas City. His uncle came to visit six to eight times a year and Brooks would go down to see his uncle around twice a year. Then they would see each other on holidays but that was about it. However, the miles between them never prevented the two from being close.

“He’s always been down in Kansas City. We’ve always lived in Lincoln, but I’m really close to my cousins and stuff. He has three kids and one of them is two years younger than me and I’m really close with him,” Brooks said.

Due to the distance and circumstances separating Brooks from his uncle, Brooks’ dad has always been the one acting as a guiding hand for all things baseball.

“My dad really pushed me to play, [and to] be pretty good at baseball. [He] is really knowledgeable when it comes to baseball and he knows his stuff. And [he] has a lot of friends that are coaches and really smart guys at baseball. So I usually hit with my dad and do everything with my dad.”

Though his dad was the main supporter and guidance for baseball, Brooks’ uncle Alex and his career has influenced Brooks, especially because he went to many games of his uncle’s and watched him play as a left fielder on TV, which is a position Brooks has played before.

“I did look up to him a lot playing left. I did think he was pretty good at left. And, so I kind of looked up to him playing and what he did and how he worked really, he worked really hard.”

Alex’s hard work throughout his career has earned him many awards, including the Gatorade Nebraska Player of the Year, Brooks Wallace Award, eight Gold Glove Awards, two Platinum Glove Awards, four Fielding Bible Awards, three Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards and many others. This level of success is one that Brooks dreams to achieve.

“Playing professionally, that’d be like a dream for me come true.”

Though that is his hope, Brooks understands that he needs to set his sights on other career options as well.

“I do have other [goals] if that doesn’t work out. Right now, I have no idea what’s going to happen with my life yet.”

Brooks understands that to get towards that, he is going to need to put in a lot of hard work and effort. Currently he lifts weights and practices often, whether it’s just going to the field with his dad or having practice for the school team.

Though he has aspirations like his uncle’s, he is recognized by other players and coaches as his own person. He finds that his uncle’s fame has, so far, has not overshadowed his own playing.

“I think [coaches] kind of just look at me, and look at my abilities and what I can do. I don’t think they really picture Alex when it comes to me.”

Though Brooks is not a replica of his uncle, Gordon is still a “family name” as he puts it. They come from the same family tree and as Brooks said before, they are close. This relationship is what caused Brooks an emotional reaction to his uncle’s retirement.

“I actually started crying when he walked off the field that one time.”

Alex’s career, though he is retired, has earned him a spot in LSE’s Athletic Hall of Honor. His photo hangs on the wall for all to see, including his nephew who continues his legacy. For Brooks’ first season of high school baseball he is on the JV team and swings Varsity. He is eager to keep playing his favorite sport throughout his high school years and take building his abilities step by step.

“High school baseball is the most important [thing] right now, just to finish this season and go on to next season.”