Dan Quisenberry

Dan Quisenberry, age 45, died on September 30, 1998 after a valiant fight with brain cancer. Dan fought for nine months and he was known for saying, “I never ask ‘Why me.’ Why not me?’”. He fought with grace, hope, and faith in God. He was a special man, and although his life was shorter than we would have wanted, he truly lived it to the fullest.

Dan was born on February 7, 1953 in Santa Monica, California. He grew up loving the game of baseball, and went on to play at La Verne College in La Verne, California. It was there that he met his wife, Janie. After college, Dan bounced around the minor leagues, and was underestimated until being called up to the Kansas City Royals in 1979. “The Quiz” dominated relief pitching until the late eighties with his unique submarine style pitch. He set a major league record in 1983 with 45 saves and led the American League in saves for 5 years. In 1980 and 1985, he pitched for the Royals in the World Series. Dan also was a three time All-Star for the American League. Throughout his career, Dan was known not only for his unusual pitching delivery, but his witty lines and upstanding character.

More importantly than his successful baseball career, Dan was an extraordinary person. He loved his wife, Janie, and his two children, Alysia and Dave. He was a great husband and father. He would ride horses with his daughter, play goalie in the driveway for his son, and snowboard with both of his children. He enjoyed hiking in Colorado with Janie, and hunting and golfing with friends. Dan also gave back to the Kansas City community through his involvement in Harvesters. Committed to his deep faith and his church, he would set up chairs every Sunday morning. Dan had a sparkling personality and brillant sense of humor; he had the ability to make each person feel important. Later in life, Dan began writing poetry and published a book, “On Days Like This: Poems”.

Old (G)love

mushy leather
burnt brown
light cracks
saddle creaks
your strings held up well
mine have too
we look trim enough
to still play

you protected me
Wilson A2000 XL
only glove I realy liked
though I flirted with others
you were the one for me
I love your dark center
your womb
rich as Iowa soil
tight feel to my left hand
a worker’s glove
you brought slap shots
stinging in my palm
but I knew where they were
so I could grab them quick

now you look so small
do you shrink like old men
stiff and less flexible?
me too
we’re both on the shelf
but you still look nice
and holding you
feels so right