Kansas City Royals history

The Kansas City Royals entered MLB in 1969 and were founded by Ewing Kauffman, a Kansas City businessman. The franchise was established following the actions of Stuart Symington, who demanded a MLB franchise after the A’s left Kansas City for Oakland in after the 1967 season. The name “Royals” came from The American Livestock Show held in Kansas City since 1899.

In 1969, the Royals played their first game in the old Municipal Stadium. The Royals rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win in extra innings against the Minnesota Twins. The club finished the season with a 69-93 record. Their record was the best among the four expansion teams in 1969. Outfielder Lou Pinella was selected Rookie of the Year.

In 1971, under manager Bob Lemon, the Royals posted their first winning season with an 85-76 record. Amos Otis, Cookie Rojas made the All-Star team. The Royals finished second in the Western Division.

In 1973, the Royals moved into Royal Stadium. The Royals also hosted their first All-Star Game, which was won by the National League 7-1. The year also saw the debut of a young third baseman named George Brett, who would become the most loved Royal of them all. The Royals finished the season with an 88-74 record. Amos Otis would go on to win his second consecutive Gold Glove Award.

In 1975, the Royals finished the season with a 91-71 record. With a team built around developing players like Brett, Frank White, Willie Wilson, and Dennis Leonard, the Royals put together a nucleus that stayed together mostly throughout the next decade. After a slow start in the season, Whitey Herzog replaced Jack McKeon as manager.

In 1976, the Royals won 90 games, led by Brett, who won his first batting title, hitting .333. The Royals beat out the Oakland A’s to claim their first division crown.

In the ALCS, the Royals and the Yankees staged one of the most thrilling confrontations since the American League Championship Series was initiated in 1969. George Brett achieved superstar status in the ALCS, batting .444 with five RBI for the Royals. Down two games to one, the Royals pressed the series to the decisive final game by capturing a 7-4 victory in game four. New York finally edged the Royals on Chris Chambliss dramatic home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning of game five in Yankee Stadium.

In 1977, the Royals established a new team record with 102 wins. The Royals won their division for the second consecutive season, and prepared to face the Yankees again in the ALCS. George Brett (.312 average, 22 home runs, 88 RBI) continued to establish himself as one of baseball’s brightest stars, while Dennis Leonard (20-12) and Paul Splittorff (16-6) anchored a solid pitching staff. In a rematch of the previous year’s division winners, Kansas City and New York once again battled to the final inning of game five before the American League champion was crowned. The Yankees trailing two games to one captured game four at Royal Stadium to force another dramatic showdown in game five. Kansas City opened up a 3-1 advantage, but late-game heroics, including a three-run ninth inning to give the Yankees the title.

In 1978, the Royals finished the season with a 92-70 record, winning their division for the third straight year. Once again the Royals and the Yankees met in another thrilling ALCS with the Yankees prevailing in four games.

In 1979, the Royals struggled, winning just 85 games. However, they managed to stay in the race until the final week of the season, finishing three games behind the California Angels. After the season, the Royals hired Jim Frey to replace Herzog as manager.

The most spectacular player of the year in 1980 was George Brett, who batted .390 and had 118 RBI in 117 games, capturing his first AL MVP Award. The Royals had plenty of other talent as well; Willie Wilson stole 79 bases and Willie Aikens hit 20 home runs and 91 RBI. Dennis Leonard led the staff with 20 wins and Larry Gura added 18. The Royals finished off the season with a 97-65 record, first in their division.

For the fourth time in five seasons, the Royals and the Yankees squared off to determine the champion of the American League. The Royals after taking the initial two games of the series in Kansas City stunned a Yankee Stadium crowd by edging New York, 4-2 in game three to complete a convincing sweep of the 1980 rematch. George Brett sealed the deal for the Royals when he hit a three-run home run off Goose Gossage in the seventh inning of the final game, winning the Royals first American League crown.

The first World Series in Kansas City history saw the Royals fall in six games to the Philadelphia Phillies. In an exciting series spiced by several individual performances, Willie Aikens hit four home runs while hitting .400 and Amos Otis hit .478 with three home runs.

In 1984, the Royals finished the season with an 84-78 record. Kansas City’s Cinderella season ended with its fifth LCS appearance in nine years, and it’s first against a team other than the Yankees. The Royals were defeated by the Tigers in three straight games. The Royals lack of offensive support overshadowed outstanding pitching performances from Bret Saberhagen and Charlie Leibrandt.

Under manager Dick Howser, the Royals finished off the 1985 season with a 91-71 record, winning their division. The team was spearheaded by Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen, who went 20-6 with a 2.87 ERA. George Brett had one of his finest seasons batting .335 and driving in 112 runs, to go along with 30 home runs.

In the first ALCS featuring two expansion clubs and a best of seven format, Kansas City defeated Toronto four games to three. The Royals came back from a 3-1 deficit by posting wins in game 5, 6 and 7 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto to give the Royals their second AL pennant.

In the 1985 World Series, the Royals came from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to capture their first World Series crown by defeating the St.Louis Cardinals in the “I-70 Series”. The Royals became the first team in the 82 year history of the fall classic to lose their first two games at home and come back to win the title. Kansas City was only the fifth team on record to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the title. The Royals became the first AL expansion club to win a world championship and the second team overall, joining the NL New York Mets. Kansas City’s talented pitching staff held the Major League’s best hitting club to 13 runs and a batting average of just .185, the lowest ever in a seven-game World Series. George Brett, Willie Wilson, Lonnie Smith and Steve Balboni all hit over .300 for the series. Bret Saberhagen earned MVP honors with two wins and an ERA of 0.50.

In 1986, the Royals finished the season with a 76-86 record, missing the postseason. George Brett and Frank White joined manager Dick Howser at the All-Star Game at the Astrodome in Houston. Broadcasters at the game noticed Howser messing up signals when he changed pitchers, Howser later admitted he felt sick. It would be his last game as a manager in the Major Leagues, as he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery.

Howser attempted a comeback during spring training of 1987, but quickly found he was physically too weak and abandoned the attempt in late February, when Billy Gardner took over. Three months later, he died at the age of only 51. Howser’s number 10 became the first number retired by the Royals.

The 1990s were bittersweet for the Royals and their fans. Kansas City saw the end of the careers of three of the clubs legends.

George Brett won his third batting title in 1990 and broke the 3,000-hit barrier before retiring in 1993. His 3,154 hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history. Brett is one of four players to accumulate 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a career batting average of .300. Brett is the Royals all-time leader in games played (2,707), at-bats (10,349), runs (1,583), hits (3,154), doubles (665), triples (137), home runs (317), RBI (1,595), total bases (5,044), walks (1,096). Brett was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1999, what was then the fourth highest voting percentage in baseball history (98.2%).

Frank White retired as baseball’s premier second baseman, after winning eight Gold Gloves. Speedster Willie Wilson left as the Royals all-time leader in stolen bases with 612.

Sadly, Kansas City mourned the losses of owners Ewing and Muriel Kauffman, who brought excitement and a winning club to Kansas City. The heartbreaking loss of legendary reliever Dan Quisenberry to cancer in 1998 was another emotional hurdle for long time fans of the club.

While the 1990s presented many struggles on the field, fans got to see a glimpse of the future with developing stars of Mike Sweeney and 1999 Rookie of the Year Carlos Beltran.

The Royals established team records in runs scored (879), hits (1,644) and team batting average (.288) in 2000. Despite the offensive firepower, the Royals finished in fourth place. The Royals started the season 8-3, but by the All-Star break had fallen to 39-46 and 15 games out of first place. The bright spot for the Royals came in Mike Sweeney, who broke the Royals single season record for RBI with 144.

In 2001, the Royals tied the franchise record with 97 losses as they finished in fifth place in the AL Central. The last place finish was the first for KC since 1997 and its seventh straight losing season.

In 2002, the Royals finished the season 62-100, marking the first 100-loss season in franchise history.

The 2003 season was a magical season for the Royals as the club posted its first winning season since 1994 and stayed in the heat of the pennant race until the final two weeks of the season. Carlos Beltran led the club in batting average (.307), runs (102), triples (10), home runs (26), RBI (100), walks (72) and stolen bases (41). He became the first Royal to and 23rd player in major league history to record a 20 home run/40 stolen base season.

Kansas City finished the 2004 season with a 58-104 record, marking its worst record in club history and second 100-loss season in three years. The season looked like it was going to be a repeat of the 2003 season as the Royals defeated Chicago 9-7 on Opening Day. Beltran hit the first walk-off home run in Royals Opening Day history in the ninth inning. KC became just the second club in major league history to loss 100 games, post a winning season the next year, and then loss 100 games the next season.

In 2005, the Royals suffered their third 100-loss season in four years as they finished with a franchise worst 56-106 record. The slow start forced the resignation of manager Tony Pena, who was replaced by interim manager Bob Schaefer. The Royals also recorded their longest losing streak in club history, a 19-game streak from July 28 to August 19. Mike Sweeney had another great season leading the team in batting average (.300), home runs (21) and doubles (39). Sweeney was also named to his fifth All-Star team.

In 2007, the Royals finished the season with a 62-100 record, fifth in the AL Central. Things fell apart quickly for the Royals, as they were swept in the opening two-game series against the Tigers which sparked an 11-game losing streak. Mark Grudzielanek led the team in with a .297 batting average. Mark Teahen led the team in home runs with 18. The season ended on a downfall which included manager Buddy Bell missing the last 10 games to have throat surgery.