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More Than a Season: Building a Championship Culture
Provides a blueprint for becoming a champion, both on and off the field
When Dayton Moore arrived in Kansas City in 2006, the Royals hardly resembled a contender. The general manager inherited a major league club that had just one winning season in the previous decade. Moore, a Kansas native who grew up as a Royals fan, implemented a plan to return the franchise to its glory years. Though not without a few bumps in the road, that plan came to fruition in 2014 as the Royals swept through the American League playoffs to take the pennant and returned the World Series to Kansas City. In More Than a Season , Moore shares how his faith and leadership principles guided his rebooting of the Royals. The general manager describes how he built one of baseball’s best farm systems and international scouting departments of out nothing. He shares insight on how he persevered through six consecutive losing seasons and the critical response to controversial trades of Zack Greinke and Wil Myers—transactions that ultimately yielded the foundation of a champion. Full of never-before-told stories from inside the Royals organization More Than a Season features a foreword by star outfielder Alex Gordon and an introduction by William F. High, CEO of the National Christian Foundation Heartland.
When Dayton Moore arrived in Kansas City in 2006, the Royals hardly resembled a contender. The general manager inherited a major league club that had just one winning season in the previous decade. Moore, a Kansas native who grew up as a Royals fan, implemented a plan to return the franchise to its glory years. Though not without a few bumps in the road, that plan came to fruition in 2014 as the Royals swept through the American League playoffs to take the pennant and returned the World Series to Kansas City. In More Than a Season , Moore shares how his faith and leadership principles guided his rebooting of the Royals. The general manager describes how he built one of baseball’s best farm systems and international scouting departments of out nothing. He shares insight on how he persevered through six consecutive losing seasons and the critical response to controversial trades of Zack Greinke and Wil Myers—transactions that ultimately yielded the foundation of a champion. Full of never-before-told stories from inside the Royals organization More Than a Season features a foreword by star outfielder Alex Gordon and an introduction by William F. High, CEO of the National Christian Foundation Heartland.
- GenresBaseballSportsNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2015
19 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 19, 2015
As the Royals play in the post season again this year, I enjoyed reading this book reminding as well as educating me on the process it took to get to this point. Due to the encouraging tone and illustrations of wise leadership, I stayed engaged and curious despite the fact this is the first time I've ever read a sports book:)
May 26, 2015
Inspiring.
First, I am a Royals fan! I routed for the teams back in the 80's and follow them even closer today. Reading this book about the business of building today's team into the winners they are is inspiring and illuminating.
First, I am a Royals fan! I routed for the teams back in the 80's and follow them even closer today. Reading this book about the business of building today's team into the winners they are is inspiring and illuminating.
May 29, 2015
Awesome to get the inside scoop on the Royals complete overhaul and turnaround taking place over the last decade, culminating in last year's crazy ride. Nice quick and easy read for any Royals fan. Proud to be a fan of this organization. :)
August 5, 2015
This book explains how baseball General Manager Dayton Moore built a championship organization and team. The book is full of insights ad strategies. It is a must read for serious Royals fans. The book lacks an index and references.
August 24, 2015
As a long time Royals guy, I am rather surprised and happy to report that this was not terrible.
Of course, Dayton handed the book to me himself and wrote my name in it...with a special message. We also took a selfie.
BFF's and stuff.
Of course, Dayton handed the book to me himself and wrote my name in it...with a special message. We also took a selfie.
BFF's and stuff.
November 12, 2022
Not an essential book for baseball fans in general, but I'd recommend it for Royals fans (which I am). The chapter dealing with Alex Gordon's development was insightful, and it's always fun to relive 2014 (I did not read the updated version that covers 2015).
As a leadership book, it's okay--a little heavy on platitudes for my taste. Nevertheless, Moore comes off as a good guy and is probably the type of leader an aspiring person would want to model themselves off of (even if you're not particularly religious).
As a leadership book, it's okay--a little heavy on platitudes for my taste. Nevertheless, Moore comes off as a good guy and is probably the type of leader an aspiring person would want to model themselves off of (even if you're not particularly religious).
December 22, 2017
EXCELLENT!
I really didn't know what I expected when I purchased this book. It really is about "more than a season", more than a team, more than a business, more than a community of time tested fans. It's about being convicted in your beliefs, humbled by your mistakes, and realizing that baseball is a microcosm of the world . That trusting people and in GOD's PLAN anything is possible. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be sharing it with others.
I really didn't know what I expected when I purchased this book. It really is about "more than a season", more than a team, more than a business, more than a community of time tested fans. It's about being convicted in your beliefs, humbled by your mistakes, and realizing that baseball is a microcosm of the world . That trusting people and in GOD's PLAN anything is possible. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be sharing it with others.
April 7, 2019
Fabulous book! I didn't realize when I started that it was written in early 2015... before our historic world series win after a 30 year drought. As a Kansas citian, and a Royals fan even during the tough years, I enjoyed seeing more of the behind the scenes action that got us here. One star removed for increasingly obvious grammatical errors in the final third of the book. Highly recommend. Christian outlook, and no language.
January 4, 2025
Reading this in 2024-25 allowed me to relive one of the most exciting experiences of my life: watching the Royals win the 2015 World Series. Beyond that, though, this book takes readers through every step of the process that lead to that marvelous moment. It was very enjoyable to read about what motivated and inspired Dayton Moore to make the decisions he made as he built a system of world champions.
May 14, 2025
I read this book years ago, after the Royals won it all in 2015. I found it very interesting and enjoyable to read about the behind the scenes decision making and relationships that occured throughout a season that was so unexpected in 2014. One of my favorite teams of all time. I am going to read it again soon, inspired by how good the Royals are playing after a long decade of losing seasons.
June 11, 2025
Excellent. As Royals fan, the journey between 2006 and 2014 was a long one but worth every second. I believed in his plan and this book articulates the entire journey while interweaving his Christian faith throughout.
August 30, 2017
Lots of behind the scenes stories of the lead up to the 2015 championship. If you read this, get the updated version.
April 24, 2018
A great combination of business values and history of the run to the World Championship by the Kansas City Royals! A MUST read for all Royals' fans!
December 26, 2018
Kansas City has been blessed to have this man at the lead of our great Royals team. I'm not even a huge fan of baseball, but this was a great read.
June 25, 2020
Easy read! Of course, I love the Royals so an interesting topic to me.
September 3, 2024
Dayton’s story is one full of resilience and faith.
March 8, 2017
Excellent book
As a die hard Royals fan there was no doubt I would read this book. A great look into the rebuilding of our team. Reliving the 2014 playoffs took me back to the games. Must read for any Royals or baseball fan!!
As a die hard Royals fan there was no doubt I would read this book. A great look into the rebuilding of our team. Reliving the 2014 playoffs took me back to the games. Must read for any Royals or baseball fan!!
December 16, 2015
Dayton Moore went from being a member of one of the top front offices in baseball to running one of the worst when he left Atlanta for Kansas City in 2006. Written after Kansas City's Game 7 loss in the 2014 series but before the successful 2015 campaign, More Than a Season is a quick run-though of his own life in baseball and some of the decisions and mindset he brought to his new team, and how that helped them build their successful program.
Season's subtitle is "Building a Championship Culture," and Moore's book reads more like an exploration of leadership principals with baseball examples than a straight baseball memoir. He describes how he learned things along the way about what kind of things build organizations and what kinds of things tear them down. He also talks about how the Kansas City Royals did not turn around overnight and how their dedication to the process he outlined did not answer all of the objections and questions right away.
While Moore does discuss some baseball-specific matters, such as the decision to build from the farm system up instead of buying big-name talent and hoping it could be melded into a cohesive team, much of the meat of the book could translate to many different kinds of companies, organizations or operations. That aspect is probably Season's top selling-point, as its 200 or so pages don't have room for nuts-and-bolts-level examinations of how the Royals found Lorenzo Cain or tracked down Eric Hosmer. But on that level -- and to some degree on a personal application level as well -- More Than a Season can be worth the brief time it takes to read.
Original available here.
Season's subtitle is "Building a Championship Culture," and Moore's book reads more like an exploration of leadership principals with baseball examples than a straight baseball memoir. He describes how he learned things along the way about what kind of things build organizations and what kinds of things tear them down. He also talks about how the Kansas City Royals did not turn around overnight and how their dedication to the process he outlined did not answer all of the objections and questions right away.
While Moore does discuss some baseball-specific matters, such as the decision to build from the farm system up instead of buying big-name talent and hoping it could be melded into a cohesive team, much of the meat of the book could translate to many different kinds of companies, organizations or operations. That aspect is probably Season's top selling-point, as its 200 or so pages don't have room for nuts-and-bolts-level examinations of how the Royals found Lorenzo Cain or tracked down Eric Hosmer. But on that level -- and to some degree on a personal application level as well -- More Than a Season can be worth the brief time it takes to read.
Original available here.
February 10, 2016
I am a Royals fan. I was brought home from the hospital the day that George Brett moved his 1980 BA to .400 at a whopping five days old. I grew up with the understanding that the Royals are in the postseason. It is just a fact of life. Then, I turned six and did not get to experience that again until 2014.
More than that, I was at the 2014 Wild Card game that lived up to it's name. I yelled, cheered, and jeered. I remember the ups and downs of the game. I was embraced by more strangers than I could count as I witnessed grown men crying over a game (of which I'm sure I was one). I am a Royals fan.
When I was invited to hear Mr. Moore speak in Wichita during the 2015 season I jumped at the chance to hear him. I was fortunate enough to get a few minutes with him and was so impressed with how he carried himself that I was not surprised by the quality of this book.
This was a great read for the one who likes the behind the scenes actions of a baseball team. What was more impressive was the reluctant tone that is behind each story. What I mean is that it is painfully obvious that Mr. Moore does not wish to talk about himself, rather he enjoys lavishing credit on everyone else involved in the process of returning the once proud Royals to their winning ways. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Mr. Moore. Here is to many more winning seasons and even more displays of integrity!
More than that, I was at the 2014 Wild Card game that lived up to it's name. I yelled, cheered, and jeered. I remember the ups and downs of the game. I was embraced by more strangers than I could count as I witnessed grown men crying over a game (of which I'm sure I was one). I am a Royals fan.
When I was invited to hear Mr. Moore speak in Wichita during the 2015 season I jumped at the chance to hear him. I was fortunate enough to get a few minutes with him and was so impressed with how he carried himself that I was not surprised by the quality of this book.
This was a great read for the one who likes the behind the scenes actions of a baseball team. What was more impressive was the reluctant tone that is behind each story. What I mean is that it is painfully obvious that Mr. Moore does not wish to talk about himself, rather he enjoys lavishing credit on everyone else involved in the process of returning the once proud Royals to their winning ways. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Mr. Moore. Here is to many more winning seasons and even more displays of integrity!
November 14, 2015
Dayton Moore is a beast. When he was hired over half a decade ago, he said from day one that there would be a process of rebuilding... that 2013 would be a winning season, and 2014 would be the year that it would all come together. He couldn't have been more correct. If you're a fan of the Kansas City Royals, this is a must-read. Stories of Hosmer's character before being drafted and Gordon's move to the outfield are extremely interesting. But the best part about this book is the leadership principles that Moore has established in Kansas City. He built a culture of winning on humility, character, and transparency. Though I watch each of the Royals' 162 games every season, I'm not in professional baseball. But this book gave me so many good leadership tips, and I'll be taking them in to my professional world.
February 24, 2016
As a Royals fan, I am obviously inclined to like this book so the rating here is likely inflated over that which would be allocated by a non-fan (especially Blue Jays fans perhaps!) I always wonder about books like this: who, outside of the fan base reads them? I am pretty sure that I wouldn't read a book about the Mets from 2014 (maybe I would).
This is clearly aimed at being more than a review of the Royals' run to the World Series in 2014, with background on Moore's philosophy on building a successful organization but it obviously leans heavily on the events of the season with information about the build up to it and the trades etc. that went before.
Interesting for a Royals fan of course, perhaps all the more so since a World Series win followed in 2015 but I am not sure that many outside the relatively limited sphere of Royals followers will find it as interesting as I did.
This is clearly aimed at being more than a review of the Royals' run to the World Series in 2014, with background on Moore's philosophy on building a successful organization but it obviously leans heavily on the events of the season with information about the build up to it and the trades etc. that went before.
Interesting for a Royals fan of course, perhaps all the more so since a World Series win followed in 2015 but I am not sure that many outside the relatively limited sphere of Royals followers will find it as interesting as I did.
December 2, 2015
This is a good chronicle of Dayton Moore's path from failed minor-leaguer to GM of the Royals when they reached the 2014 World Series. The best parts are the inside-baseball insight into how and why decisions are made, along with how Moore relied on his faith and leadership abilities to craft a winning culture in Kansas City. The first-person book is written in a no-frills, straightforward manner that seems to fit Moore's intensely focused personality. Worth a read for Royals fans or those who want a glimpse inside the rejuvenation process.
This gets an extra fourth star from me because I'm a die-hard Royals fan.
This gets an extra fourth star from me because I'm a die-hard Royals fan.
June 22, 2015
The story of his faith journey, leadership advice, and the story of the Royals comeback from 1996 to the 2014 World Series. Terrific book by General a manager Dayton Moore, a man of faith and family. Great behind the scenes info. Thanks to my daughter for recommending this one. Love those boys in blue.
November 5, 2015
Pretty sure this really wasn't written for someone like me. Real short on specifics, and very little about lessons learned over the years. Basically, every decision in the last nine-plus years was correct. Which is less than elucidating. Again, for me anyway.
If you're a Royals fan, maybe semi-essential. And it's a very quick read.
If you're a Royals fan, maybe semi-essential. And it's a very quick read.
April 24, 2016
Since I've been involved in cultural change now for over a year with my company I decided to read this awesome book. I had heard Mr. Moore is well grounded in his faith that rings true in his actions at work and at home. If you love the Royals this is a fun read. It is also a great read if you want to learn leadership skills and about team work.
August 13, 2016
Of special interest to Royals fans, this book by the team's GM tells of how he rebuilt an organization that was in tatters when he arrived. Written after the 2014 World Series, he mentions the turning point for the Royals as being a 2013 game in St. Louis that ended after 3 am. I was at that game, so it was extra meaningful to see his perspective on its place in Royals history.
October 27, 2016
I really enjoyed the in-depth look at a Ten-Year Plan to take a down and out franchise to the World Series. Baseball fans will love this book. Born-again Christians will love it even more. Very heavy on the quotes from scripture. A little sad though that no mention is made of the fact that other religions share many of the same values as Christianity.
July 19, 2015
Normally this type of book -- written to be sold to a fan base -- are not very good. More Than A Season is the exception. It's highly readable, and inspirational. A blueprint for Christian leadership.
January 31, 2016
I may be biased about this book, having lived through both of the Royals championships and suffering through the losing years but never losing faith. Mr. Moore is a wonderful man, I learned so much from this book. I recommend it to any baseball fan, not just Royals fans.
January 18, 2016
Excellent read. Provides insight into the "process" so often criticized by many a Royal fan. Enjoyed reading now being able to reflect on the last 2 seasons of KC baseball. Quick and engaging read, couldn't put down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews