Writer, podcaster, and lifelong fan David Lesky shares the highs, heartbreaks, and magic of the game that raised him.
For David Lesky, baseball isn’t just a sport — it’s the soundtrack of his life. Raised in a home where Royals games were always on the TV or radio, Lesky was destined to fall in love with the game. One moment sealed it: July 4, 1989, when a four-year-old Lesky watched Bo Jackson launch two towering home runs. From that day forward, he was hooked.
Little did that four-year-old boy know he would go on to become one of the city’s most respected voices in Royals coverage. His Substack newsletter, Inside the Crown, is a labor of love that began during a career transition. “I started writing about the Royals after I was laid off. I’m a writer by trade, and I wanted to keep my skills sharp,” he explains. “Thankfully, I’d built a bit of an audience, so when I launched Inside the Crown, it had built-in readers.”
Now in its fifth season, the newsletter is known for its honest, insightful analysis, fueled by Lesky’s obsessive attention to detail and insatiable curiosity. “I’ve watched thousands of games and been to at least 1,000 in person,” he says. “I try to use that perspective and ask the questions others might miss.” Whether he’s breaking down bullpen decisions or noticing how groundskeepers prep the infield to hint at a bunting strategy, Lesky brings a unique voice to the conversation. “I really just try to take that curiosity and apply it to what I write. What would I want to know about what I just saw? And I hope that others find it as interesting as I do,” he says.
In 2024, he added another platform to his storytelling arsenal with Kauffman Corner, a Royals-centric podcast he co-hosts with sports radio vet Soren Petro and former Royals outfielder Les Norman. “It had been in the works for a while, but this season we finally launched it,” he says. “It’s been a blast to have the opportunity to talk about the game I love with two people who have as much passion as I, because that passion is hard to find.” The weekly episodes dive into player performance, team culture, and the nuances only hardcore Royals fans can appreciate, delivered with a mix of insight and banter that keeps listeners tuning in.
But baseball isn’t just a professional pursuit — it’s personal. As a father, Lesky’s love for the game has evolved into something more emotional with his daughter, Nora. “I find myself looking for ways to pass that love on rather than just make it known how much I love the game,” he shares. “She’s still little, but when she yells ‘Go Royals!’ or claps during big plays, it fills my heart with more joy than I ever expected.” If he could pass on one Royals memory to her? “Playoff baseball,” he says. “It’s the most magical thing in the world. When you get to the playoffs, everything matters more. Each game is so vital. Each inning is so vital. I want her to experience that feeling more often than I did growing up.”
Lesky’s dream is to one day write a book about the Royals — maybe a memorable season, an overlooked player, or a pivotal moment in franchise history. “One of the things I’ve loved about Inside the Crown is that I’ve sort of let the Royals tell me what to write about and I’m really enjoying that for now,” he says. “But I would love to someday write a book about the Royals. I don’t know if it will be a season that’s worth remembering, a player who captured attention, or something else, but that is one of my long-term baseball storytelling dreams.”
While most of David Lesky’s favorite baseball memories happened between the lines, one unforgettable moment took place off the field. After being credentialed to cover Game Three of the 2014 ALDS — the game that sealed the Royals' first postseason sweep — Lesky found himself inside a champagne-soaked clubhouse celebration. “Reporters were eventually let in, and as I sat back taking it all in, I was approached by the Royals' star Center Fielder, Lorenzo Cain, with a full bottle of champagne. He looked me right in the eyes and turned that open bottle upside down right over my head, fully drenching me,” he laughs. “Champagne smells awful when it dries, but I didn’t care one bit.” It was the kind of surreal, pinch-me moment only baseball can deliver — a reward for years of devotion turned into a front-row seat to history.
When it comes to the future of baseball, Lesky hopes more people embrace the game’s hidden magic. “There is so much going on, even when a pitcher is just holding the ball on the mound waiting to deliver the pitch. The second baseman might move a foot to his right. The center fielder might take three steps back,” he says. “As soon as you start to embrace the mental side of the game, it becomes very fast.”
Follow David Lesky’s Work:
Inside the Crown newsletter: insidethecrown.substack.com – New posts throughout the week during the season.
Kauffman Corner podcast: Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. live on YouTube, or available anytime on all major podcast platforms.