Toby Cook
Episode 81
17 AUG 2020
He is in his 14th full season with Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals, serving as the team’s Vice President of Publicity after having previously been their Vice President of Community Affairs & Publicity. It is baseball that he credits with leading him to the Catholic church, which he officially became a part of twelve years ago. He shares that story – and more – during this conversation.
Notable guest quotes:
“I grew up in a loving household with my parents… and I’m the fourth of four (children).”
“I was a television anchor and reporter for 15 years. I started off at a small radio station… I actually sat there in the control room and ran the board… at a radio station for Royals baseball games, which is really funny how that all came about.”
“In a small town in southeast Kansas, there was very little hostility with Roman Catholics.”
“I really do believe… all of this was a part of my eventual coming into the Catholic Church. This was my seeking. This was my searching. This was my – to use a great phrase – discernment. And I didn’t know it at the time.”
“I finally confirmed that call to fatherhood as a part of my Catholic conversion and a look at the vocation of marriage.”
“I’m convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that I finally got to go to work for the Royals after all these years because I was supposed to become Catholic.”
“Mike (Sweeney) arranged for the local bishop to come and say Mass at the stadium.”
“I’m very grateful that my Catholic faith has enlightened basically everything I do (at the Royals).”
“I think that there is a lesson to be learned when it comes to sports and how we can apply some of the disciplines and practices of sports to our faith.”
“What my Catholic faith has taught me is that it’s not about me and that I can let go and let God in so many ways.”
“It’s been miraculous to me that I’ve been able to see my Catholic faith and my work in baseball become more and more seamless as I’ve gone on. Hopefully because I’m listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”
Related link:
Toby’s mlb.com (Royals) bio page
