A Playbook for Life: Insights from Dayton Moore

“Your habits will become your kids’ addictions.”

This week on the Delay the Decay podcast, we interview MLB executive Dayton Moore—2015 World Series–winning architect of the Kansas City Royals and now a senior advisor with the Texas Rangers—about leadership, faith, family, and legacy. Dayton shares his focus on strengthening marriage and family, honoring his wife Mary Anne, and learning to be present after being fired by the Royals in September 2022, which exposed unhealthy identity and burnout tied to work.

Dayton describes how studying great leaders led him to the Gospels and a deeper relationship with Jesus, emphasizing grace, daily forgiveness, and modeling character as a leader while avoiding a “critical spirit.” He also recounts his path from college coaching to the Braves and then the Royals in 2006, building culture in a small market, and discusses generosity through the Seeing the Major Leagues Foundation and Unite KC, a faith-centered coalition promoting unity, mentoring youth, and supporting community leaders.