Kansas City Royals

All teams have their ups and downs but for the most part, the Kansas City Royals have always been highly competitive.

Leading the team to their greatest successes has been Hall of Famer George Brett. He got plenty of help from outstanding players such as Lou Piniella, Willie Wilson, Amos Otis, Frank White, Hal McRae, Freddie Patek, and John Mayberry. The club’s most outstanding pitchers have included Dick Drago, Steve Busby, Paul Splittorff, Dennis Leonard, Al Fitzsmorris, and Bret Saberhagen.

This is the most complete record book ever written about the Kansas City Royals; it is the only one which includes every season and career record established by every player in Royals history, from 1969 to the present.

Typical records books eliminate old records when new ones are created but this book never deletes a record. Instead, all new records are added to existing chronology lists that begin in the first year of the club’s franchise, show all of the Original Record Setters, and every subsequent Record Breaker. In this way, no players or their records are ever forgotten, and the history of Royals’ records in batting, pitching, and fielding may forever be preserved.

This book is certain to stimulate fan interest as it contains four never-before-seen features. They include the Chronology Lists, which list every record in the exact order of their creation and show how long each record lasted before broken, as well as the Record Holders Lists, which are presented at the end of each chapter. This list reveals exactly how many records have been established by each player. Did you know that George Brett has 75 club records?

This title also features the individual player’s Record Profiles. Now the team’s greatest players are honored at the end of each chapter by having their records profiled. This information is readily accessible for those reading the entire book or browsing for specific information on a player’s achievements.

The fourth feature are the individual player’s Claims to Fame Profile. This is an extension of the Record Profile, but also includes every feat accomplished by a player which has made him famous, such as getting 3000 hits or 500 home runs, winning 300 games, pitching no-hitters, or winning awards such as the MVP, Triple Crown, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Gold Glove. The profile also includes every batting, pitching, and fielding title won, and honors such as being selected for All-Star teams and inductions into the Hall of Fame. Did you know that George Brett has 166 “Claims to Fame?”

This book also includes all Rookie records in batting, pitching, and fielding and managers’ season and career records. All the information you need to know about every Royal Record Setter and Record Breaker, are now at your fingertips.

The best way to understand the concept of Chronology Listing is to use the season’s home run record as an example.
The list appears in the following manner.

The list shows that Ed Kirkpatrick was the club’s first home run champion in 1969 when he hit 14 home runs. His record was broken by Bob Oliver the next year, when he reached the seats 27 times. Oliver’s record would stand for 5 years, until John Mayberry became the new home run leader by blasting 34 round trippers in 1975. Ten years later, Steve Balboni would excite Royals fans by clubbing 36 balls over the fence to become the new home run leader. The bold print indicates that no one has ever broken Balboni’s record which is now 19 years old.

This is the complete history of the season home run record. Nothing could be more complete, easy to read and easy to understand. Every category in batting, pitching, and fielding is done using this simple and all-inclusive concept.

TEAM HISTORY
The Royals began as an expansion team in 1969 under the managerial guidance of former Yankee great, Joe Gordon. Playing their first year in a 12-team league, they struggled as expected and finished tenth. In 1970, divisional play was introduced with six teams in each division. The Royals began improving immediately. Charlie Metro began as manager in 1970 and Bob Lemon finished the year as the skipper as the team finished a respectable fourth. Lemon would bring them in second in 1971.

Jack McKeon was at the helm in 1973 when the club finished second again and in 1975, McKeon and Whitey Herzog brought them in second again. Herzog had total control of the team in 1976 and he won the first of three consecutive division titles but failed to get the Royals into the World Series. Still, this was a great accomplishment for an expansion team.

The Royals would not have to wait much longer for their first pennant. With Jim Frey as new manager in 1980, they won the divisional title and Championship Series but fell short in the World Series. Jim Frey and Dick Howser shared the managerial job in 1981, with Howser taking over in 1982. Under Howser’s leadership, the team won their second pennant in 1985 and their first World Series.

Between 1986 and 2004, the Royals would have nine different managers but none of them would win another title.