Historical Moments
:
1968
:
After the
Athletics bolted Kansas City
for Oakland following the 1967 season, Major League Baseball which was looking to
expand to 24 teams grants Kansas City one of its four expansion teams to begin
play in 1969, due in part to pressure from Missouri Senator Stuart Symington
who threatened to revoke baseball's anti-trust exemption.
1969
:
Playing their very first game in the place the Athletics once called home Kansas
City Municipal Stadium, the Royals rally from a 3-1 deficit to win in extra inning
against the Minnesota Twins. The Royals would not win much that first season,
but they would put a respectable 69-93 record for an expansion team. In fact
of the four new teams debuting through out baseball the Royals would post the
best record, and would even see Lou Piniella take home individual honors by winning
the Rookie of the Year.
1970
:
In their second season the Royals actually take a step backwards finishing in fourth
place with a 67-95 record.
1971
:
In just their third year of existence the Royals post their first winning season,
finishing in second place in the American League Western Division with an 85-76
record. This is the fastest an expansion team at that time accomplished such
early success.
1972
:
The up and coming Royals take another step backwards, and fall to fourth place again,
with a disappointing 76-78 record.
1973
:
The Royals move into their very own stadium called Royals Stadium. The stadium's
prominent feature is water fountains beyond the outfield fence. They are added
to the stadium because Kansas City is known as the city of Fountains. That first
year at the stadium, the Royals also host the All Star Game, which is won by
the National League 7-1. The new stadium is installed with Astroturf and Royals
management begins to build a team around speed, and pitching a move that would
pay off within a few years. The year also sees the debut of a young Third Baseman
named George Brett who would become the centerpiece of Royals baseball for
the next 20 years. The Royals would show some of that promises in that first year
too, finishing in second Place with a solid 88-74 record.
1974
:
The Royals take another step backward as they finish the season in a tail spin after
playing above .500 for most of the season as they win just nine of their last
26 games on the way to finishing in fifth place with a 77-85 record.
1975
:
After a disappointing finish, the Royals were off to a slow start, when Manager Jack
McKeon was fired and replaced by Whitey Herzog. The move pays off as the Royals
get back in the race, before settling for second place with a 91-71 record.
However, with a team built around developing players like George Brett, Frank
White, Willie Wilson, and Dennis Leonard the Royals put together a solid nucleus
that will stay together and remain mostly intact for the next decade, in which
the Royals were a perennial playoff contender.
1976
:
With Whitey Herzog taking the reigns from the start of the season fans through out
Kansas City were optimistic that they Royals were ready to take the next step.
Led by George Brett who wins his first Batting Crown the Royals would not disappoint,
winning 90 games to beat out the Oakland Athletics by three games to claim
their first division title, with a 90-72 record. In the ALCS the Royals would
be matched up against the New York Yankees who's postseason history is unmatched
by anyone in baseball history. In the first postseason game played in Kansas
City a pair of George Brett misplays and Catfish Hunter's dominating pitching
handcuffed the Royals. However the Royals would bounce back in front of their
home fans the next night as Paul Splittorff's five and two-thirds innings of
scoreless relief enabled the Royals to tie the series at one game apiece heading
to New York. After losing Game 3 the Royals would bounce back to rough up Catfish
Hunter in Game 4 to send the series to a fifth and deciding game. In Game
5 the Royals and Yankees would each trade two runs in the first Inning. However
the Yankees would score two runs in the third inning and twp in the sixth to take
a 6-3 lead into the eighth. However the Royals would not show any quit as George
Brett blasted a three Run homer down the Rightfield line off Yankees Reliever
Grant Jackson to tie the game. Unfortunately for the Royals, Chris Chambliss
would end the Royals season with a leadoff Series Winning Homer in the Bottom
of the ninth.
1977
:
The Royals as a team don't have any one-individual player put up spectacular numbers;
instead they have the whole team contribute to put up solid numbers, as the
team win it's second straight American League Western Division Title with a franchise
best record of 102-60. The Royals would move on to face the New York Yankees
again in the ALCS. The Royals would get off to a fast start blowing out
the Yankees 7-2 in Game 1 at the Bronx. However, the Yanks would bounce back to
win Game 2 and send the series to KC tied at a game apiece. In Game 3 lead by
the hitting of Hal McRae, and the pitching of Dennis Leonard the Royals won 6-2
to get within one game of their first trip to the World Series. However, the Yankees
would bounce back behind the relief efforts of Sparky Lyle to force a fifth
and deciding game. In Game 5 the Royals would take a 1-run lead to the ninth
inning, but the Yankees would score three times, to beat the Royals for the second
year in a row.
1978
:
For the third year in a row the Kansas City Royals are masters of the American League
West domain with a 92-70 record, as everyone seems to contribute again. In
the ALCS for the third year in a row the Royals opponents are the New York Yankees.
Going into this year's series the Royals have an advantage since the Yankees
had to battle trough a tough one game playoff against the Boston Red Sox the
day before the start of the ALCS. However the Royals are unable to capitalize
as the hitting of Reggie Jackson, and two hit pitching of Jim Beattie, and Ken
Clay combine to beat the Royals in Game 1. The Royals would bounce back to take
Game 2 to even the series at one game apiece meaning for the third year in a
row the series would be tied after two games. In Game 3 thanks to three home runs
from George Brett the Royals would lead 5-4 into the eighth inning of a back
and forth affair in the Bronx. However, a two run home run by Thurman Munson would
doom the Royals. The next night the Royals would only manage one run on seven
hits as they watched the Yankees advance to the World Series for the third
year in a row.
1979
:
Royals pitching struggle and the Royals manage to only post am 85-77 record. However
they would stay in the race until the final week of the season falling only
three games back of the California Angels. After the season Royals management
determine a change is needed and Jim Frey replaces Whitey Herzog as Manager.
1980
:
The change of managers seems to work as the Royals bounce back to dominate the American
League Western Division again with a 97-65 record, winning the division
title by comfortable 14 games. Leading the way is George Brett who was hitting
over .400 as late a Labor Day. Brett would fall off only a little and end the season
with an outstanding .390 Batting Average earning him the American League
MVP. In the ALCS the Royals would face the New York Yankees for the fourth time
in five years. The Royals would get off to fast start as Larry Gura allows only
two runs despite giving up 10 hits in the Royals Game 1 victory. In Game 2 the
Royals would stay hot as four straight third Inning hits led to a 3 -0 lead.
The Yanks would cut the lead to one, and the game went to the ninth inning with
Royals leading 3-2. In the ninth inning Royals relief ace Dan Quisenberry came
on to save the game but it would end up being a bumpy ride. With twoouts Yankees
2B Willie Randolph raced home with what seemed to be the tying run. However
he was out and the Royals took a 2-0 series lead heading to the Bronx. In Game
3 the Royals would complete the sweep, and dust off the monkey on their backs thanks
to a majestic 7th Inning 3-run Homer by George Brett. After finally beating
the Yankees the Royals face the Philadelphia Phillies in their first trip to
the World Series. In Game 1 the Royals would take an early 4-0 lea, but could
not hold it as the Phillies erupted for five runs in the 3rd to beat the Royals
7-6. The Royals would grab a lead in the Game 2 as well, but even Dan Quisenberry
could not hold it as the Phillies took a 2-0 lead with series heading to Kansas
City. In Game 3 the Royals would take 3, 1-run leads only to be tied the very
next inning, as the game went deadlocked into extra Innings. The Royals would
win the game in the 10th Inning thanks to Willie Aikens' game winning triple.
In Game 4 the Royals would take an early 5-0 thanks to Aikens' second two home
run game of the series. The Phillies would make it close, but Quisenberry would
hold them off to knot the series at two games apiece. In Game 5 the Royals would
take a 3-2 lead to the ninth inning but Quisenberry was unable to hold it
as Del Unser, and Many Trillio drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in the ninth
inning. However, The Royals would load the bases in the bottom of the inning
off a tiring Tug McGraw, but Tug would harness every bit of his strength to strike
out Jose Cardenal to send the Series back to Philly with the Phillies leading
3-2. The loss in Game 5 would end up being the end, as the Royals would fall
4-1 in Game 6.
1981
:
The Royals would get off to a bad start losing 30 of their first 50 games, when the
season was halted because of a player's strike. When play resumed two -months
later Major League Baseball decided to have a slit season, and the Royals were
given new life. However through the first 20 games they were only at .500, and
manager Jim Frey was fired and replaced by Dick Howser. The moved paid off, as
the Royals would win 20 of their last 33 to win the division by a game over the
first half winner Oakland Athletics, despite a mediocre overall record of 50-43.
However, In the Division series between two American League Western Division
Champs, the Royals would put up little challenge falling in three straight games.
1982
:
Led by Willie Wilson who leads the American League in hitting, and Hal McRae who
leads the league in RBI the Royals win 90 games again. However, it is not enough
as the Royals fall three games short of the Division title.
1983
:
On July 24th in a game in New York against the Yankees George Brett hits a two out
home run in the ninth Inning to give the Royals a 5-4 lead. However, Yankee catcher
Rick Cerone and manager Billy Martin argue that Brett had too much pine
tar on his bat. (Pine Tar is a sticky substance batters use to get a good grip
on the bat.) The Umpires examine the bat and determine that their is more then
the allowable 18 inches of pine tar on the bat and use on obscure rule to over
turn the home run and give the Yankees the game 4-3. Seeing this makes Brett go
ballistic and he runs out of the dugout to argue with umpires. Brett is so enraged
he has to restrained by several players and coaches. The Royals would protest
the Umpires decision, and the American League agrees, and the call is overturned
and the game is resumed three weeks later. In the resumption Dan Quisenberry
sets the Yankees down in order to win the game 5-4,as the Yanks make a mockery
of the League's ruling by playing several players out of position including
Pitcher Ron Guidry in Centerfield. However, the season would otherwise be a big
disappointment for the Royals who finish 20 games out of first place in second
place with a disappointing 79-83 record, while Willie Aikens, Vida Blue, Jerry
Martin, and Willie Wilson spent part of the season in a Florida Prison on drug
charges.
1984
:
Despite only posting an 84-78 record the Royals finish in first place in a mediocre
season for the American League Western Division. Highlighting the season is
Dan Quisenberry who saves a then record 44 games. In the ALCS the Royals would
face a juggernaut team in the Detroit Tigers who make quick work sweeping them
in three straight games.
1985
:
The Royals led by 30 home runs from Steve Balboni, and George Brett, find themselves
in a tight pennant race throughout the season. Meanwhile on the mound Bret
Saberhagen wins 20 games and the Cy Young, as Quisenberry leads the American League
in saves yet again. The battle for the Division would go down to the wire
as the Royals won 91 games to beat out the California Angels by a one game. In
the ALCS the Royals would face the Toronto Blue Jays. Things get off to a rocky
start when the Royals are blown out in Game 1, and Dan Quisenberry blows Game
2 to give the Jays a 2-0 series lead. In the third game the Royals bounce back
to win, behind the 4-for-4 efforts of George Brett. However, a 1-0 lead in Game
4 disappears as Al Oliver drives in three runs of Dan Quisenberry. Had the loss
occurred a season before the series would be over and the Blue Jays would be
off to the World Series with a three games to one series victory. Fortunately for
the Royals Baseball moved the ALCS from a best of five to a best of seven and
the Royals still had faint life. In Game 5 the Royals sent the series back to
Toronto with a complete game shut out by Danny Jackson. The Royals would show
even more life in Game 6 when George Brett delivers a home run to put the Royals
ahead to stay to force a seventh and deciding game. In Game 7 the Royals would
stun the Jays again as Jim Sundberg's bases loaded triple broke the game wide
open and sent the Royals off to their second World Series. In the World Series,
Missouri became the center of the sports World as the Kansas City Royals met
up with their Show Me State rival St. Louis Cardinals in the I-70 World Series,
named for the highway linking the two cities. In Game 1 the Cardinals get off
to a fast start beating the Royals 3-1. The Royals would fall further behind after
Dan Quisenberry blew another ninth inning lead. This would put the Royals in
a position no team has ever comeback from losing the first two World Series games
at home and coming back to win the series. The Royals would gain some revenge
winning Game 3 in St. Louis 6-1. However, the Cards bounced back to take Game
4 and the Royals faced another 3-1 deficit. As he did in Game of the ALCS Danny
Jackson kept hope for the Royals alive pitching a complete game victory to
send the series back to Kansas City. Game 6 would start out as a pitcher's duel
between the Cards Danny Cox, and Charlie Leibrandt, it would end as one of the
most controversial games in World Series history. The game was scoreless until
the Cardinals broke on top 1-0 in the 8th inning. The game would go to the bottom
of the ninth inning with Cards leading 1-0 and being just three outs from a
championship. Jorge Orta would lead the inning off by beating out an infield single
despite replays showing he was out. The Royals would then capitalize after
a single and a passed ball set up runners on second and thirrd, as Dane Iorg
hit a game winning single to force a decisive seventh game. Ironically Orta would
be erased on a fielder's choice, and despite the frustration of the St. Louis
Cardinals the umpire's mistake was only a small part of the Royals game-winning
rally. With the Cardinals still frustrated over Game 6 the Royals, would take
full advantage and would romp to an 11-0 victory to claim their first ever World
Championship.
1986
:
Coming off their championship the Royals get off to a rough start, and fall way behind
the eventual division Champion Angels early. Things would only get worse
as Manager Dick Howser left the team after managing in the All-Star Game. Howser
who had been expiring headaches for most of the season discovers that he has
a cancerous brain tumor. After undergoing radiation and brain surgery Howser attempts
a comeback in spring of 1987, but he was forced to leave again in mid-March.
The news would only get worse as the cancer would comeback, and claim his
life at the young age of 51. Howser's number 10 would be retired, and his leadership
of the 1985 Championship team would never be forgotten. Without Howser the
Royals would finish in third place with a 76-86 record. The Royals send shockwave
that are felt in baseball and the NFL, as Bo Jackson the NFL's number one
draft pick, and Heisman Trophy winner refuses to sign with Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and announces he will play baseball with Royals. Bo will make his debut, and
despite looking overmatched at times showed a pure raw talent.
1987
:
One year after spurning the NFL Bo Jackson signs a deal with Los Angeles Raiders.
However he does not quit the Royals instead stating football would be his hobby
Bo Jackson makes history by becoming a two sport athlete. The move angers some
in the Royals front office who suggest it would slow down the development of
his baseball skills which show signs of a bust out as he smacks 22 home runs, as
the Royals battle the Minnesota Twins all year before falling two games short
of the a division Championship with an 83-79 record.
1988
:
The Royals would post an 84-77 record finishing in third place as Bo Jackson's raw
talent continued to develop.
1989
:
The raw talent of Bo Jackson reaches its potential as he has a break out year. With
32 homers and 105 RBI Bo becomes a nationwide phenomenon. His outstanding All
Star Game MVP performance and the launching of his national "Bo Knows" commercials
aid the budding phenomenon. "Bo Knows" would even out grow the world of
pro sports, and would become the most popular commercial catch phrase since "Where's
the beef?" With Bo becoming a vital cog of the offense the Royals would finish
in second Place with a 92-70 record.
1990
:
The Bo Jackson phenomenon continues to grow, but signs of physical burn out begin
to appear. Highlights of Bo's season come when first he catches a ball in
Baltimore and proceeds to run up and down the Centerfield fence, His next highlight
comes in Yankee Stadium when he smacks three home runs in his first three
at bats. However, Bo would get injured, and would not get a fourth At Bat. The
injury came when he dove for a ball that would become an inside the park HR.
In an ironic twist the ball is hit by Deion Sanders, who himself makes a name by
playing both baseball and football. Three weeks later as almost like the fates
meant it Bo Jackson hits a home run in his first At Bat after getting off the
Disabled List. Bo is not the only Royal to have individual success. George Brett
captures his third batting title with a .329 average, making history by becoming
the first player ever to win batting crowns in three different decades. Despite
the individual success the Royals would struggle to finish in sixth place
with a 75-86 record.
1991
:
On January 13th in an AFC playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles
Raiders the worst fears of the Royals becomes a reality, when late in the
third quarter Bo Jackson is tackled form behind by David Fulcher. At first the
injury does not appear that serious but Bo would miss the rest of the game and
the following week's AFC Championship game in Buffalo. A few weeks later prior
to the start of spring training Bo was still hurting. Royals' team doctors would
quickly discover that Bo's hip was completely ripped out of his socket. The injury
would lead to a hip replacement. The Royals who had only allowed Bo to play
football if he agreed any injury caused by the NFL could lead to the termination
of his contract cut ties with the star OF. Bo Jackson would later attempt
a comeback with Chicago White Sox but he would never be the same and would quietly
retire after the 1994 season with California Angels. Without Bo the Royals
would finish in sixth Place again with an 82-80 record.
1992
:
On September 30th in Anaheim George Brett becomes the 22nd player in baseball history
to get his 3,000th career hit. However, the Royals would still struggling
finishing in fifth Place with a 70-92 record.
1993
:
The end of two eras in Kansas City Baseball highlight the season. The first end comes
when team founder Ewing M. Kauffman passes away after a long illness. Before
he passed on the city of Kansas City renames Royal Stadium (which will soon
be renovated and turned into a grass field) in his honor. The other change will
come when George Brett retires, after 20 years of great baseball in Kansas City.
Brett's career would end with 3,154 hits and a lifetime 305 average. In Brett's
swan song the Royals would finish in third Place with an 84-78 record.
1994
:
Just a decade after the Royals run of six division titles in ten years with a World
Championship the Royals would become the symbol of small market woes in baseball,
despite David Cone wining the Cy Young, and leading Royals into contention
for the Central Division Championship with a 64-51 record. Owners would use the
Royals as a prime example of a team that will be unable to compete if the economics
of the game go unchanged the owners go into discussions over a new collective
beginning. The players arguing the owners are lying, and go on strike August
12th, and eventually led to the cancellation of the World Series. The strike
would not end until April 1st when a judge finally orders an injunction, and
after replacement players are used in Spring Training. However, despite labor
peace the economics go unchanged and the Royals find themselves slipping into baseball's
abyss.
1995
:
With the team losing money the Royals are forced to trade away Cy Young winning pitcher
David Cone. Despite the loss of Cone the Royals would hover around the .500
mark all season before finishing in a distant second place with a 70-74 record.
1996
:
For their first 27 seasons the Royals were able to avoid finishing in last place.
However, in the Royals 28th season the Royals would no longer be able to avoid
the cellar finishing 75-86 and 24 games out of first place in the American League
Central Division.
1997
:
The Royals who did not finish in last place for their first 27 seasons finish in
the cellar for the second season in a row with a 67-94 record.
1998
:
The Royals escape last place, but continue to struggle posting an awful 72-89 record,
for their fourth straight losing season.
1999
:
On April 30th during a game against the World Champion New York Yankees a group of
frustrated Royals fans stage a protest over the economic state of baseball. The
fans bring signs to the ballpark blaming the Yankees spending and the economic
of baseball for ruining the Royals chances of competing. The fans also throw
fake dollar bills on the field, and turn their backs away from the field when
the Yankees take their turn at-bats. The group would make one more clear statement
by staging a mass walkout after the fifth inning. However, it would have little
effect on the season as the Royals suffered an awful 64-97 season, and the
Yankees won another World Championship. One star Kansas City fans could enjoy
was Carlos Beltran who won the Rookie of the Year with 22 homers and 108 RBI.
2000
:
The Royals show some promise as young players like Johnny Damon, and Jermaine Dye
begin to make a name for themselves, and help lead the Royals to make a run at
finishing .500, before finishing with a 77-85 record. However, economics would
step in again as the Royals are forced to trade Johnny Damon in the off-season.
2001
:
The Royals new closer Roberto Hernandez struggles early as the Royals get off to
a terrible start. Things would only get worse, as the team was forced to trade
Jermaine Dye before the trade deadline. The Royals would on to match their franchise
worse 64-97 record, on the way to finishing in last place again.
2002
:
The Royals would get off to a lousy 8-15 start as Manager Tony Muser is fired, eventually
Muser, would be replaced by Tony Pe?a as the Royals were well on their
way to eighth straight losing season. However, one bright spot would be Mike Sweeney
who was near the top of the American League in batting all season with a
.340 average. However, Sweeney would miss most of the last 2-months as the Royals
hit the century mark in losses for the first time ever finishing in fourth
place with a 62-100 record.
2003
:
Coming off a 100-loss season not much was expected out of the Royals. However they
would break out of the gate like gangbusters winning their first nine games on
the way to a tremendous 16-3 start. However in May the Royals would hit a wall
posting just a 10-19 record as they found themselves below .500 in early June,
as their pitching staff, which was strong early, was now besieged with injuries
and poor performance. Just as it looked as if the Royals were heading back to
the reality of losing baseball they rebounded thanks to the addition of Jose
Lima who helped stabilize their rotation by winning his first four decisions after
starting the year with the independent Newark Bears. The Royals would end the
first half as the surprise of baseball leading the American League Central Division
by seven games with a 51-41 record. However in August the dog days of summer
would begin to take their toll as the Royals lead melted away with Lima breaking
down physically. To replace Lima the Royals would reacquire Kevin Appier
who was a star pitcher for the Royals for a decade. However it would not prevent
the Royals from losing their grip on first place as they entered September
a game and a half out of first in a three team race. The Royals would never regain
their lead as they faded in September finishing in third place with an 83-79
record. However, there was still plenty to celebrate in the Royals first winning
season in nine years as Tony Pe?a was an overwhelming selection for Manager
of the Year, while Angel Berroa was selected the Rookie of the Year, with 17 homers
and 73 RBI, with 92 runs scored.
2004
:
After their surprising season the Royals entered 2004 with a renewed sense of optimism
as they were a favorite in the American League Central Division, Opening
Day would only heighten those good feelings as the Royals used a stirring six run
ninth Inning rally topped by a walk off home run by Carlos Beltran to beat the
Chicago White Sox 9-7. However, the joy would be short lived as the Royals suffered
through an awful April that immediately sank their playoff hopes, as the
team's struggling finances forced them to shop around Carlos Beltran, a free
agent following the season. As the Royals struggled Beltran remained the Royals
lone bright spot with a team high 15 homers and 51 RBI when he was traded to the
Houston Astros in a three way deal, which also involved the Oakland Athletics
for prospects. From their things would only get worse as the Royals won just
one of their next 14 games after the June 24th trade on the way to finishing in
last place with the worst record in franchise history at 58-104.
2005
:
The Royals struggles continued as they got off to another miserable start posting
an 8-26 record through their first 34 games when Manager Tony Pe?a resigned. Under
Interim Manager Bob Schaefer the Royals would not fair much better winning
just 5 of 16 before Buddy Bell takes over on May 31st. The hiring of Bell seemingly
sparked some life in the otherwise comatose Royals as they won their first
4 games including a 3-game sweep of the New York Yankees. Injuries would take
their toll again on the Royals as Ken Harvey was limited to just 45 games while
Mike Sweeney spent time on the Disabled List for the fifth year in a row. After
playing better under Bell for nearly two months the dog days of summer had a
brutal bite on the Royals as they lost 19 straight in August, as the Royals ended
up in last place again with a a ranchise worst 56-106 record.
2006
:
Before the season to try and make the Royals some what better they signed a number
of proven veteran role players, like 2B Mark Grudzielanek, OF Reggie Sanders,
1B Doug Mientkiewicz, and pitchers Mark Redman, Joe Mays and Scott Elarton. However,
these spare parts where not nearly enough to bridge the talent gap the Royals
had with the rest of the American League as they got off to another horrendous
start losing 20 of their first 25 games. As May came to an end the Royals
languishing in last place again with a record of 13-38 shook up the front office
firing General Manager Allard Baird, and replacing him with Dayton Moore, who
was working along side John Schurholtz with the Atlanta Braves. As June came
to an end the Royals took advantage of interleague play and started to play a better
brand of baseball winning 10-of-15 games including two of three against the
eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Royals would never make any
run, and pretty much were an unwatchable disaster once again, but at times they
relished in the role of spoiler as they swept the Boston Red Sox in a three game
series in August, then swept the Detroit Tigers in the season's final three
games forcing them to settle for the Wild Card. However, with a 62-100, becoming
the 11th team in baseball history to lose 100 games three years in a row.
2007
:
After three straight 100-loss seasons, the Royals had just one place to go and that
was up, as they signed free agent right hander Gil Meche, signing him to five-year,
$55 million contract to give stability to their pitching staff. While the
lineup had some blue chip stars like Ross Gload, Alex Gordon and Mark Tehan
working their way up. Meche, would impress in his debut as the Royals beat the
Boston Red Sox 7-1 on opening day. However, it would be the only day they could
say they were better then the eventual World Champs as the Royals won just two
of their next 13 games, on the way to poor April record of 8-18. May would, bring
more struggles as the Royals were on track for 100 losses again in the Central
Division basement with a record of 19-35. However, in June the Royals would
show some signs of life posting a winning record, highlighted by a solid three
game sweep of the Western Division leading Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. In July
the Royals would post another winning record as they took two of three from
the Red Sox in Fenway. The Royals would even briefly escape last place in August,
however a poor September would drop the Royals into last place again, although
they did avoid 100 losses by posting a record of 69-93, as Manager Buddy Bell
was replaced by Trey Hillman following the season.
2008
:
Under new Manager Trey Hillman the Royals had a good start, as they swept the Detroit
Tigers on the road, and took two out of three against the New York Yankees
a week later in their home opener to get off to a 6-3 start. However, with out
much talent again the Royals found themselves in last place again by the end of
May, after posting a terrible 10-19 record in the season's second month. However,
they would post a winning record in June, as they proved a sometimes pesky
opponent to their American League Central Division rivals. A peskiness that would
come through in September as they had a major influence on the winner of the
division title, while escaping last place fir the first time in five years in
the final week of the season. First it was another three game sweep of the Tigers,
then it was winning two of three on the road against the Minnesota Twins,
which forced a chaotic ending an one game playoff, that would cost the Twins the
division title, as the spoiler Royals posted a 75-87 record and finished in fourth
place.
2009
:
Celebrating the newly renovated Kaufmann Stadium, the Royals get off to a solid start,
posting an 18-11 record through 29 games that had them on top the American
League Central Division on May 7th. Pacing the solid play for the Royals early
in the season was Zack Greinke, who posted a 5-0 record with a 0.50 ERA. The
Royals would not be able to maintain their start as they lost 11 of their next
14 games and suffered losing month and losing month the rest of the way, as they
once again were a non factor in the playoff chase, finishing in a fourth place
tie with an awful record of 65-97. Despite the Royals struggles, Zack Greinke
remained the best pitcher in baseball posting a 16-8 record with a ERA of 2.16
that was the lowest in all of MLB, which would be good enough to earn him the
American League Cy Young Award.
2010
:
The Royals looked for Zack Greinke to have a repeat performance as they hoped to
turn things around. However, Greinke and the Royals would get off to a slow start
as the Royals again found themselves at the bottom of the American League Central.
Greinke would not get his first win of the season until May 13th as the
Royals got off to a 12-23 start. That day would be the final game managed by Trey
Hillman as he was fired following the 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians at
Kaufmann Stadium. Under new Manager Ned Yost the Royals would win six of their
first eight games. The Royals would thread water under Yost as they climbed into
fourth place and held a 39-49 record at the All-Star Break. However, in the second
half the Royals pitching would falter, as Zack Grienke finished the season
with a disappointing 10-14 record, with an ERA of 4.17. During a three game span
in July the Royals set a franchise record allowing 42 runs. The Royals would
go on to finish for the sixth time in seven years with a record of 67-95. Following
the season, after requesting a deal, the Royals would deal Zack Greinke
to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Yuniesky Betancourt and $2 million for Alcides
Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Jeremy Jeffress, and Jake Odorizzi.
2011
:
The Royals turned the page after yet another last place season, as they sent Zach
Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Yuniesky Betancourt and 2 million
dollars for Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Jeremy Jeffress, and Jake Odorizzi.
The Royals also dealt away David DeJesus to the Oakland Athletics for Vin Mazzaro
and Justin Marks. Despite losing the season opener at home to the Los Angeles
Angels, the Royals got off to a good start as they won their next three games
against the Angels, on the way to winning 10 of their first 14 games. Among the
Royals starting the seasons strongly were pitcher Bruce Chen, who won four of
his first five decisions. The Royals would not be able to sustain the start as
Chen spent some time on the disabled list. With Chen on the DL the Royals recalled
Vin Mazzaro. However, the pitcher acquired for David DeJesus struggled and
was quickly sent back to the minors. While Mazzaro struggled when he was called
up from Omaha, Eric Hosmer excelled and showed the Royals flashes of a bright
future, as he hit 19 home runs with 78 RBI, while hitting .293 after making his
debut in May. While Hosmer made an immediate impact, one time prospect Alex Gordon,
who thus far had a disappointing career, finally showed the promise the
Royals have been waiting for as he had career highs with 23 homers, 87 RBI, and
a .303 average, while winning a Golden Glove for stellar outfield defense. Despite
the bright spots the Royals continued to be a non factor in the playoff race,
as they finished in fourth place with a record of 71-91.
2012
:
It was an All-Star summer in Kansas City as the Royals hosted their first All-Star
Game in 39 years. The Royals hoped to have some of their own players as part
of the American League team with a talent young lineup leading the way. However,
any hopes of contending seemed to be wiped away in April as the Royals suffered
through a 12 game losing streak, which included a 0-10 record at home against
the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals would
manage back-to-back winning months in May and June, but July brought more struggles
as they won just seven games and lost 19. The biggest bright spot for the
Royals was Billy Butler who was picked to represent the Royals at the All-Star
Game and led the team with 29 home runs, 107 RBI and average at .313. Mike
Moustakas also had a solid season with 20 homers and 73 RBI, while Alex Gordon
had 14 home runs and 72 RBI with a solid .294 average. However, Eric Hosmer
struggled most of the season with 14 home runs, 60 RBI and a .232 average. However,
the Royals biggest problem was pitching as they one of the worst starting
staffs in all of baseball, with only Bruce Chen winning more than 10 games, as
he finished 11-14 with a ERA of 5.07. A particular disappointment was Jonathan
Sanchez, who the Royals acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the off-season
for Melky Cabrera. Sanchez would post a terrible 1-6 record with a hideous 7.76
ERA before he was traded to the Colorado Rockies for Jeremy Guthrie on July
20th. Carbera meanwhile returned to Kansas City during the mid-summer classic and
was named the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player. The trade would end up working
out better in August, as Guthrie was the Royals best pitcher in the last
two months, with a record of 5-3 with an ERA of 3.16. The Royals would have a
strong August, posting a 17-11 record while playing havoc with the two leading
teams in the Central Division, as they swept the Chicago White Sox and Detroit
Tigers in consecutive weeks. The Royals would finish the season in third place
with a record of 72-90. Following the season the Royals looked to improve their
pitching staff by acquiring James Shields along with Wade Davis from the Tampa
Bay Rays for top prospect Wil Myers and three others.
2013
:
With a solid young lineup, the Royals spent the off-season addressing their pitching
problems, as they acquired James Shields and Wade Davis from the Tampa Bay
Rays. To get two solid starting pitchers, the Royals needed to part with their
top prospect Wil Meyers and three others. Shields would get the opening day start,
and pitched well but had nothing to show for it as the Royals lost a pitcher's
duel to Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox 1-0. After splitting their first
six games on the road, the Royals came home and swept the Minnesota Twins, as
they did not make an error in their first six games. April would be a good month
for the Royals, as they spent most of it in first place, posting a record of
14-10. However, in May the Royals came back to Earth, losing 20 games, including
three out of four to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Royals would get back on
track in June, as they stared the month by winning 12 of 16 to get back to .500.
Over the next month the 500 mark would become a barrier for the Royals, as they
reach it and suffer another losing streak. With the help of an eight game winning
streak at the end of July, the Royals finally climbed above .500 to stay.
While they never made a serious push for the Wild Card the Royals were not eliminated
until the final week of the season, as they posted their first winning
record in a decade at 86-76 James Shields would be the Royals most reliable starter,
winning 13 games with an ERA of 3.15, while Greg Holland was nearly flawless
in the pen, saving 47 games. The Royals offense was led by Alex Gordon who
had 20 homers and 81 RBI, while Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez each drove in 79.
2014
:
After posting a record of 86-76, the Royals looked to continue to move forward in
the American League Central. The Royals would drop their first two games against
the Detroit Tigers, before beating the Chicago White Sox 7-5 in their home opener.
The Royals would have their ups and downs in April, posting a record of
14-12. Four runs was the magic number for the Royals early in the season, as they
were 14-0 in their first 29 games, scoring four or more runs. At the same time
they were 0-15 when they scored less than four runs. Offense was tricky for
the Royals, as the team did not hit many home runs, ranking last in the American
League with 95 on the season and thus needed to be creative in getting offense.
The Royals were terrific at building runs, taking the extra base and creating
havoc on the base paths, as they led the league with 153 steals. The Royals also
had an outfield defense that was second to none and played the brand of fundamental
baseball that was more like a team of 1914 instead of 2014. Not all was
well for the Royals offense as they sent down Mike Moustakas to Omaha after hitting
.152 through his first 139 plate appearances. Moustakas's stay in the minors
would be a short one after returning he showed more consistency at the plate,
at the same time the Royals began to heat up, winning ten straight in June.
However, the Royals would not maintain the pace and struggled into the All-Star
Break. The Royals would slip under .500 after the All-Star Break, after being
swept by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Following a 3-1 loss to the Chicago
White Sox on July 21st, 1st Base Coach Rusty Kuntz called for a team meeting.
Kuntz had grown angry at the team for playing games on their cellphones after
the loss. Kuntz along with Manager Ned Yost demanded the players reassess their
priorities and focus on winning baseball. Most team meetings have little effect
on a team's fortunes, but his was just what the doctor ordered for the Royals,
as they started a five game winning streak and posted a 25-9 record over their
next 34 games. The streak took the Royals from third place to first place and
put them right in the thick of the playoff race as September began. A key to the
Royals success was a shutdown bullpen, led by Closer Greg Holland, who
won the Mariano Rivera award by saving 46 games, in 48 save opportunities, while
compiling a 1.44 ERA. Helping Holland be the best closer in the American League
was Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis, who often pitched the seventh and eighth
innings and were nearly flawless all season, helping the Royals to shorten games,
as all three pitchers had ERA's lower than 1.50. The Royals remained in first
place as September began with five straight wins. However, the Tigers regained
the top spot by taking four of six from the Royals. The Royals would rebound
to win six of their last games and clinched a Wild Card birth on September 26th
with a 3-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. The Royals would finish the season
with a record of 89-73 their best win total since 1989.
2014 Postseason
:
The Kansas City Royals would host the Oakland Athletics in their first postseason
game in 29 years. Things looked bleak for Kansas City when the A's erupted for
five runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-3 lead. The Royals would get back into
the game by scratching out three runs in the eighth inning, but still trailed
7-6 entering the bottom of the ninth. Pinch Hitter Pinch-hitter Josh Willingham
ledoff with a single off Athletics Closer Sean Doolitlle. Willingham was replaced
by pinch runner Jarrod Dyson who was moved to second on a successful bunt
by Alcides Escobar. Dyson then preceded to steal third base and scored the tying
run on a sacrifice fly by Nori Aoki. After two scoreless innings, the A's regained
the lead with a run in the 12th inning. After Lorenzo Cain grounded out
to start the bottom of the 12th, Eric Hosmer lined the ball to deep leftfield and
reached third base thanks to poor fielding. Hosmer would score to tie the game
on a Christian Colon single. After Alex Gordon popped out, Colon stole second
base off Jason Hammel. Salvador Perez would follow that up with a single to score
Colon as the Royals won the game 9-8 sending Kaufman Stadium into a state
of delirium. In the ALDS the odds appeared to be stacked against the Royals
as they faced the Los Angeles Angels, who finished the season with the best
record in baseball. However, the Royals would once again get stellar relief and
won the opener 3-2 in 11 innings on a home run by Mike Moustakas, as Kelvin Herrera,
Brandon Finnegan, Wade Davis, Tim Collins, Jason Frasor, Danny Duffy, and
Greg Holland each shutdown the Angels after replacing starter Jason Vargas. The
Royals continued to frustrate the Halos in Game 2, as the game went into extra
innings tied 1-1. The game remained tied because of an outstanding play by Jared
Dyson, who ran down a blast by Chris Iannetta and threw a perfect throw to
Eric Hosmer who tagged out Colin Cowgill attempting to tag up from second base.
In the 11th inning, Royals magic would strike again Hosmer hitting a two run
home run off Kevin Jepsen. The Royals would add an insurance run and win the game
4-1 to take a 2-0 series lead home to Kansas City. MVP Mike Trout who had not
gotten a hit in the first two games, hit a solo home run off James Shields to
open Game 3 at Kaufman Stadium. However, the Royals quickly answered back with
three runs of C.J. Wilson in the bottom of the inning. Shields was sold, as Mike
Moustakas and Eric Hosmer each homered to break the game open. The Royals complete
the sweep of the ALDS with an 8-3 win. The Royals would face the Baltimore
Orioles in a matchup of teams looking to end long World Series droughts. Like
Game 1 of the ALDS, Game 1 of the ALCS at Camden Yards would go to extra inning,
where Royals found more power, with Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas each going
deep to lead the way to an 8-6 win in the tenth inning. The Royals postseason
power was just a big part of the Royals magical October, as they had won three
extra-inning games on the ball with long balls in a season in which they hit
just 95 homers as a team, the fewest in all of baseball. Moustakas and the Royals
would win with small ball in Game 2, scratching out two runs in the ninth inning
to win the game 6-4. After a rain out the series resumed two days later with
Lorenzo Cain looking like a wind shield wiper as he ran down several long drives
to further frustrate the Orioles in 2-1 win at Kaufman Stadium. Looking for
a sweep the Royals scratched out two runs in the first inning. It would be enough
as Jason Vargas was solid allowing just one run in six innings, before giving
way to the three man finishing core of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg
Holland. Lorenzo Cain who frustrated the Orioles all series in the field would
be named ALCS MVP with a .533 batting average in the four game sweep with, eight
hits, five runs.
2014 World Series
:
Facing the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, the Royals had become America's
favorite underdog. Game 1 at Kaufman Stadium would be a rough one for the Royals,
as they could not solver Madison Bumgarner. The Royals did not score until
Salvador Perez ended Bumgarner's postseason road scoreless streak in the seventh
inning. By then the Giants already scored seven runs, starting with threes
in the first inning on the way to an easy 7-1 win, ending the Royals eight game
postseason winning streak. The Royals would bounce back in Game 2, breaking open
a 2-2 tie with a five run sixth inning, as Omar Infante followed a two run
double by Salvador Perez and a RBI single from Lorenzo Cain with a two run blast.
As the series shifted to San Francisco the Royals bullpen brought home another
win with Kelvin Herrera getting Pablo Sandoval to ground out to halt a two run
rally in the sixth inning. The Royals would win the game 3-2, as Brandon Finnegan,
Wade Davis and Greg Holland shut the door. Finnegan made history becoming
the first player in history to play in the College World Series and the World
Series in the same year, earlier pitching in Omaha with TCU. Things looked good
early in Game 4, as the Royals held a 4-1 lead, after scoring four times in the
third inning. However, the Royals would not add any runs, as the Giants roared
back battering Finnegan for five earned runs to even the series with an 11-4
win. With Madison Bumgarner on the mound in Game 5, the Giants were able to regain
control of the series with a 5-0 win, as the Giants ace went the distance,
allowing just four hits for his second win of the series. Back in Kansas City
for Game 6, the Royals came out swinging erupting for seven runs in the seventh
inning to send the series to a seventh game with a 10-0 win as Yordano Ventura
pitched seven shutout innings. Going into Game 7, one man overshadowed the Royals
hopes and that was Madison Bumgarner whom, the Giants planned to use in long
relief. The Giants scored first with two runs in the second inning. The Royals
would answer back right away Billy Butler and Alex Gordon each driving in runs.
The Giants would regain the lead, scratching out a run in the fourth inning.
After failing the Royals failed to score against Jeremy Affeldt in the fourth
inning, Bumgarner entered the game. Omar Infante would great the Giants ace with
a leadoff single in the fifth inning, but retired the next 14 batters before
Alex Gordon came up as the Royals last hope with two outs in the ninth inning.
Gordon would rip the ball to centerfield, where it was misplayed by Gregor Blanco.
Gordon would reach third base but was held up by third base coach Mike Jirschele.
Salvador Perez was not able to get Gordon home, popping up to Pablo Sandoval
to end the game as the Giants won the World Series with a 3-2 win.
2015
:
After losing the World Series in a classic seven game battle the Kansas City Royals
still had their doubters as many thought their run to the Fall Classic was a
fluke. Other than James Shields and Billy Butler the Royals did not lose any significant
players. To replace Butler, as their Designated Hitter the Royals made
an upgrade in power signing Kendrys Morales. Morales would go on to lead Kansas
City with 22 home runs and 106 RBI. The Royals would get off to a fast, winning
their first seven games, including a 10-1 win over the Chicago White Sox to
open the season. The Royals again had one of the best bullpens in baseball as
Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland continued to allow them to shorten
the game. The Royals rotation was led by Yordano Ventura and Edison Volquez who
was signed to replace Shields. Each would win 13 games, while Chris Young expected
to just be a long man out of the bullpen, won 11 games. The Royals would
spend much of the first half in first place, as they went into the All-Star Break
with the best record in the American League at 52-34. While the Royals were
proving themselves as the team to beat, management was not satisfied and made some
big moves at the trade deadline. After losing starting pitcher Jason Vargas
to Tommy John surgery, the Royals first priority was landing another starting
pitcher in which would see them land Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange
for Brandon Finnegan and minor leaguers John Lamb and Cody Reed. To get
another bat the Royals landed utility man Ben Zobrist from the Oakland Athletics,
for Sean Manaea and Aaron Brooks. Zobrist would be a terrific pick up for the
Royals, hitting .284, with seven home runs, 37 runs scored, and 23 RBIs in 49
games with Kansas City. Cueto, did not as well struggling to adjust to the American
League posting a record of 4-7 with an inflated ERA of 4.76. Despite Johnny
Cueto's struggles the Royals pulled away in August, posting a record of 19-9.
The Royals would struggle in September as Closer Greg Holland was lost to an
elbow injury that would need Tommy John surgery. However, the division title was
already wrapped up as Wade Davis assumed the closer's role to perfection. The
Royals would go on to finish the season with an American League best record of
95-67.
2015 ALDS
:
In the Division Series the Royals would take on the upstart Houston Astros, who were
just two years removed from three straight 100-loss seasons. In the series
opener at Kaufman Stadium, the Astros jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against Yordano
Ventura. Meanwhile Colin McHugh was able to silence the Royals bats as the
Astros won 5-2. Game 2 appeared to be a mirror image as the Astros again jumped
out to a quick 3-0 lead and were in front 4-2 in the sixth inning. The Royals
would begin their first postseason rally with one out double by Lorenzo Cain,
who scored on an Eric Hosmer single. Hosmer himself would score to tie the game
on a bases loaded walk. The Royals would than take the lead in the seventh inning
after Ben Zobrist singled home Alcides Escobar to even the series with a
5-4 win. The Royals faced a tall order in Game 3 as the series shifted to Houston,
as Dallas Keuchel who was the best pitcher in the American League struck out
seven to lead the Astros to a 4-2 win to regain control of the series. Things
began to look bleak for the Royals as they trailed 6-2 after seven innings while
facing elimination in Game 4. The Royals than found their October groove with
five straight singles to cut the deficit to two runs. Kendrys Morales than would
deliver a hard shot off the glove of reliever Tony Sipp to even the score.
Alex Gordon's RBI groundout would give the Royals the lead, while Eric Hosmer's
homer an inning later provided some insurance to send the series to a decisive
Game 5, with a 9-6 win. In Game 5 at Kaufman Stadium, the Astros again drew first
blood, with a two run homer by Luis Valbuena in the second inning. That would
be all the Astros could get off Johnny Cueto who was otherwise dominant allowing
just two hits while striking out eight in eight innings pitched. The Royals
would eventually take the lead during a three run fifth sparked by Alex Rios'
double down the third baseline as Kendrys Morales put the game out of reach with
a three run blast in the eighth inning as the Royals won the game 7-2.
2015 ALCS
:
The Royals would go on to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship
Seires. In Game 1, Edison Volquez was effectively wild pitching in and
out of trouble all game, but keeping the Blue Jays big bats silent. Volquez combined
with three relievers for a three hit shutout as the Royals took the opener
at Kaufman Stadium 5-0. The Blue Jays would get on the board in Game 2, as they
took held a 3-0 lead with David Price in firm control after six innings retiring
18 batters in a row. In the seventh inning the Royals would begin a rally
with a seemingly innocent pop fly by Ben Zobrist that was fell between Ryan Gions
and Jose Bautista. Four of the next six Royals would reach base as they scored
five times to take the lead and win the game 6-3. As the series shifted to Toronto,
the Blue Jays thunder finally showed up as Toronto pounded Johnny Cueto
to win the game 11-8. In Game 4 it would be the Royals offense showing off the
power as they scored four times in the first inning, with Ben Zobrist starting
things off with a two run blast off R.A. Dickey. The Royals would than blow apart
the Jays bullpen with nine runs over the last three innings to win the game
14-4. The Blues Jays would not go down without a fight, winning 7-1 in Game 5
to send the series back to Kansas City. In Game 6 Zobrist would open the scoring
again with a first inning homer with Mike Moustakas adding a solo shot in the
second to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead. The Jays would rally to tie the game 3-3
as Jose Bautista who was thus far silent hit two long balls. After a 45-minute
rain delay, Lorenzo Cain led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk. Eric Hosmer
followed it up with a single left, when Bautista threw the ball to second
to hold Hosmer to a single, Cain hustling all the way came into score the go ahead
run, running the bases in 10.5 seconds. Wade Davis who came on to pitch in
the eighth stayed in the game despite the long delay and struggled as the Toronto
got the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position with one out. Davis would
strike out Ben Revere and get Josh Donaldson to ground out to preserve the 4-3
win and send the Royals to their second straight World Series. Alcides Escobar
who hit .478 and led off four straight games with a base hit would be named
ALCS MVP.
2015 World Series: In the Fall Classic the Kansas City Royals would
face the New York Mets in the first ever World Series to feature to expansion
teams. Things started great for the Royals when Alcides Escobar led off with
an inside the park home run. It was the first inside the park home run in the
World Series since 1929. The Mets behind the pitching of Matt Harvey would rally
to take a 3-1 in the sixth inning. The Royals would tie the game on singles by
Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. Hosmer would give it back misplaying a ground
ball in the eighth inning to allow the Mets to regain the lead at 4-3. With Closer
Jeurys Familia on the mound the Royals again rallied as Alex Gordon tied the
game with a one out home run to straight away center in the ninth. From there
the game would go long into the night, with each side making big plays in the
field to keep the game tied 4-4. Finally in the 14th inning Escobar got a rally
started by reaching base on a David Wright throwing error. He would go on to
score the winning run on a sac fly by Alex Gordon. The Royals 5-4 in 14 innings
matched the record for the longest game in World Series history and the longest
ever series opener. Game 2 would see a battle of smoke as Johnny Cueto faced
Jacob deGrom. Cueto was nearly flawless allowing just one run on two hits as he
went the distance in a 7-1 win. As the series shifted to New York, the Mets came
out angry in Game 3 as Noah Syndegaard sailed the first pitch over the head
of Alcides Escobar. The Mets would take out even more frustration on Royals starter
Yordano Ventura scoring five times in four innings on the way to winning the
game 9-3. With the Mets looking to even the series, the Royals were held off
balance all night by Rookie Lefty Steven Matz. The Royals though would rally again,
taking advantage of a Daniel Murphy error to score three runs in the eighth
to win Game 4 by a 5-3 score. Late inning magic would be needed again in Game
5, as the Royals were dominated by Matt Harvey for eight innings. With Citi Field
in an uproar and Harvey looking for a complete game, Lorenzo Cain led off
the ninth with a walk. Eric Hosmer would follow it up with a double, scoring on
two ground outs including one where he broke late from third after David Wright
threw out Moustakas at first. The game would go into extra innings again with
the Royals blowing things open with five runs in the 12th inning to win the game
7-2 and claim their first World Series crown in 30 years. Salvador Perez who
hit .364 in the series and drove in the go ahead run in Game 5 would be named
World Series MVP.
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