Southwest eighth-grader Billy Barnes sits in front of his collection of baseball memorabilia.

Billy Barnes loves baseball.

The Southwest Junior High eighth-grader devotes countless hours of time and money on his large – and still growing – collection of baseball memorabilia. In his room the walls are decorated with everything from sports posters to jerseys.

A Kansas City Royals 1985 World Series pennant hangs above the collection of autographed baseballs signed by various Kansas City Royals players, including George Brett, Mike Sweeney and others as well as Kansas City baseball legend Buck O’Neill. Along a table at the front of the room a shrine of trophies, plaques, more autographed baseballs and baseball cards beautify an already vibrant setting.

Just a few feet away on another desktop in a blue binder Billy keeps his Royals cards, including many of his favorite Royals’ player, Joe Randa. Members from this year’s team like Mark Grudzielanek and Jimmy Gobble are connected by thin plastic sheets to players from the 70s like Larry Gura and Amos Otis. In a bigger binder, Billy keeps hundreds of cards from players young and old, including Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.

Billy first started collecting about eight years ago and said the collection is his most cherished possession.

“I worked so hard and put so much time into my collection,” Billy said. “If I lost my collection, I’d feel really sad. I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Billy doesn’t have to worry too much about keeping busy during baseball season. He and his father, Jim, are regulars at Kansas University baseball games, and his parents take him to about five Royals games a year.

“When he was 8 years old he was the greatest ball chaser in the world,” Jim Barnes said.

While Billy has a few cards and items from other sports, such as a Paul Pierce Boston Celtics jersey, his dedication to baseball may be a result of some of his activities at Kauffman Stadium.

“It’s my favorite sport. I do baseball because you get so close to the major leaguers,” Billy said.

When the family makes the trip to Kauffman Stadium, they arrive early so Billy can watch the Royals take batting practice. He hangs around the dugouts and has collected several baseballs as well as a practice cap. After the game, Billy and his parents scuttle to the players’ parking lot and wait for them to come out and sign more autographs. Two weeks ago Billy got an autograph from Cleveland Indians’ ace C.C. Sabathia. Billy also has autographs from many Royals players, including Sweeney and Mark Teahen.

“They don’t really have to do that,” Billy said in appreciation. After an eventful time at the ballpark, Billy finally returns home in the early hours of the morning.

This summer Billy plays ball for the Dynasty team of the Heinrich League, and when he’s not on the field or adding to his collection, it’s not unusual to find him watching ESPN and checking box scores and keeping up on all the statistics and records of each team.

“He’s just a little ball player,” his father said. “He’s a baseball fan.”

While Billy’s collection is possibly worth thousands of dollars, he has friends constantly wanting to strike up a deal. To Billy, his collections’ worth isn’t measured in money. It’s measured in meaning.

“He doesn’t trade much,” his father said.