Travis Kelce is admittedly in the twilight of his NFL career, but the future Hall of Famer will have his hooks in the sports world for many years to come.
Kelce, 36, is joining the ownership group of Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians as a minority investor, he revealed to ESPN on Wednesday, May 27. The Kansas City Chiefs star was born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
“I have so much love for this city,” Kelce told ESPN. “I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream. I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland and being raised here with the values and the people and the work ethic. Cleveland Heights is such a diverse and dynamic place. Every friend, neighbor, teacher and teammate — they all made me the man I am today. It just fueled such a deep appreciation for life and community and service. That mentality of Cleveland against the world runs deep.”
He continued, “I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to good ownership in my career, and I know the best teams prioritize culture. Everyone is there to play their role, and right now, I’m here to observe and learn and really to support the team and the city when and where I can.”
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Calling himself a “die-hard” Guardians fan, Kelce reflected on attending games in the ‘90s when the franchise was a powerhouse in the American League.
“There was nothing like Cleveland baseball in the ’90s,” Kelce said. “That’s just a core memory for me. Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar Jr., the list goes on, and I admire how they just continue to pour into this city and this game. It’s something that resonates with me, giving back to the places and the people that gave so much to you.”
Before becoming one of the most dominant tight ends in NFL history, Kelce was a standout high school baseball player in the Cleveland area.
“I think I had always felt most confident on the diamond,” he recalled of his baseball playing days. “I was playing every sport growing up, but baseball was actually the only one I had early interest from scouts, so I really did think it was a viable option for me. The football thing chose me at the end of the day, and when I moved to tight end, it really took off for me.”
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He added, “I mean, it’s hard to find a better feeling in sports than hitting a home run. But the best part about playing baseball growing up for me was enjoying it with the fellas and their families I played with. I was lucky enough to be on some great teams growing up on the east side of Cleveland.”
Kelce acknowledged that he and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are now at odds when it comes to baseball, as Mahomes, 30, purchased a minority stake in the division rival Kansas City Royals in 2020.
“We’re both as competitive as it gets, so you know there will be some bragging rights on the line when we play our division games,” Kelce said. “But I really have a lot of respect for the Royals and their organization. It was a fun time in Kansas City cheering them on for their World Series win in 2015.”
