American Idol Winner David Cook Shows Royal Allegiance on Baseball Tonight
David Cook, the 2008 American Idol winner and die-hard Kansas City Royals fan, joined ESPN’s Baseball Tonight team Sunday, Aug., 2, during the 7 p.m. ET show. Cook, who performed the previous night at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn., stopped by ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studios en route to his next tour stop in Bethlehem, Pa.
A life-long Royals fan who worked for the organization for five years, Cook provided analysis during the team’s highlight segment and spoke highly of the organization.
“You get a sense for how much they want to win, and they are really trying to turn around the culture there,” Cook said.
Cook’s favorite Royal of all time?
“Probably my No. 1 guy was Frank White. I used to love seeing him at the ballpark…he’s a consummate player. He never seemed to do anything but his best. As a ball player, you obviously want to emulate that.”
Cook also offered up some pitching advice from personal experience — don’t pitch to Albert Pujols.
Cook, a left-handed pitcher in high school, recalled one particular lowlight on the mound — surrendering a bomb to the present-day St. Louis Cardinals star Pujols during an American Legion game.
“The one guy that really got the best of me…it was one pitch,” said Cook. “I got a chance to throw a curveball that hung just kind of middle-in on Mr. Pujols.
“One time and it was embarrassing. It is a permanent bruise on my ego.”
Cook is on tour through the middle of October performing tracks from his first solo album.
