118-644: The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri . The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division . The team was founded as an expansion franchise in 1969, and have made four World Series trips, winning in 1985 and 2015 , and losing in 1980 and 2014 . Outside of a dominant 10-year stretch between 1976 and 1985, and
236-639: A Josh Hamilton ground out), but closer Greg Holland 's effort was superb, racking three straight outs, two on strikeouts. The Royals advanced to the ALCS, and the Angels' highly anticipated season ended, with star center fielder Mike Trout striking out swinging. The Baltimore Orioles had defeated the Detroit Tigers earlier in the day, securing their ticket to the ALCS. With the Royals having last reached
354-563: A Nick Markakis line drive. Both stole bases with De Aza at the plate to advance to second and third base, and Schoop came home on a sacrifice fly by De Aza. No scoring occurred in the seventh, eighth, or ninth innings. Wade Davis earned the win for the Royals, striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth, paving the way for Kansas City's three-run tenth. 4:07 p.m. EDT at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore , Maryland The Royals won only their second nine-inning game of
472-536: A 13–5 record in interleague play, the best in the American League. The team finished the season in fourth place in the division with a 75–87 record. Prior to the 2009 season, the Royals renovated Kauffman Stadium, and after the season began, the Royals ended April at the top of the AL Central, both of which raised excitement levels among fans. However, the team faded as the season progressed and finished
590-567: A 7–3 deficit in the eighth. The Royals then swept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2014 American League Division Series . In Game 1 of the ALDS, the score was 2–2 going into the 11th inning, when Mike Moustakas hit a game-winning solo home run. The next day, Kansas City beat the Angels 4–1 in another extra-innings affair, in the process setting an MLB postseason record of three straight extra-inning wins. The Royals then completed
708-462: A Royals victory on hold. Finnegan again pitched well in the top of the eleventh, allowing only one hit and striking out Brandon Moss, who had already hit two home runs. Kansas City's offense produced in the bottom of the eleventh a situation identical to that of the tenth; the winning run stood 90 feet away with two outs, but Jayson Nix struck out to end the inning. Finnegan began the twelfth inning by walking Josh Reddick , who advanced to second on
826-460: A baseball team that consistently loses millions of dollars and had little prospect of making money because it was in a small city." If no owner could be found the Kauffman restrictions were to end on January 1, 2002, and the team was to be sold to the highest bidder. In 1999, New York City lawyer and minor league baseball owner Miles Prentice , vowing not to move the team, bid $ 75 million for
944-576: A brief, albeit dominant, resurgence from 2013 to 2015, the Royals have combined for a bottom-ten all time winning percentage in MLB history. The name "Royals" pays homage to the American Royal , a livestock show, horse show, rodeo, and championship barbecue competition held annually in Kansas City since 1899, as well as the identical names of two former Negro league baseball teams that played in
1062-430: A devastating hip injury while playing football in the off-season, so the Royals waived him during spring training in 1991. Though the team dropped out of contention from 1990 to 1992, the Royals still could generally be counted on to post winning records through the strike-shortened 1994 season . With no playoff appearances despite the winning records during this era, many of the team's highlights instead centered around
1180-511: A dubious franchise record during the season, allowing 42 runs in a three-day span from July 25 to 27. The Royals began 2011 with a hot start, compiling 10–4 record after 14 games, but success faded as the season progressed. The Royals last had a .500 record at 22–22, and by the All-Star break, the Royals had a record of 37–54, the worst in the American League. Almost all of the Royals' bullpen was made up of 2011 minor league call ups, in addition to
1298-434: A laserlike throw to the third baseman Moustakas, who tagged out Cowgill, attempting to tag up from second, to complete a double play. The Royals received a scare in the fifth inning when Los Angeles' Josh Hamilton hit catcher Salvador Pérez on the head with his bat on the follow-through of a swing. Perez underwent a brief concussion test while still on the field and remained in the game. The Royals' victory also made them
SECTION 10
#17327682833661416-425: A powerhouse, appearing in the playoffs seven times from 1976 to 1985, winning one World Series championship and another AL pennant , led by stars such as Amos Otis , Hal McRae , John Mayberry , George Brett , Frank White , Willie Wilson , and Bret Saberhagen . The team remained competitive throughout the early 1990s, but then had only one winning season from 1995 to 2012. For 28 consecutive seasons (1986–2013),
1534-581: A reputation as one of the American League West's top teams throughout the late 1980s. The club posted a winning record in three of the four seasons following its 1985 World Series championship , while developing young stars such as Bo Jackson , Tom Gordon , and Kevin Seitzer . The Royals finished the 1989 season with a 92–70 record (third-best in the major leagues) but did not qualify for the playoffs, finishing second in their division behind
1652-406: A return to winning records. For most of the 2013 season , the Royals hovered near .500. The team also did not commit an error in its first seven games (for 64 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings) for the first time in team history. On September 22, the Royals won their 82nd game of the season to clinch the franchise's first winning season since 2003. The Royals finished the season 86–76 and in third place in
1770-482: A row. They lost to the San Francisco Giants in seven games in the 2014 World Series . To date, the 2014 Royals are the most recent MLB team to hit fewer than 100 home runs in a season. After the first 29 games of the 2014 regular season, the Royals had a record of 14–15. In all of their 14 wins, the Royals had scored at least 4 runs. In all of their 15 losses, the Royals had scored 3 runs or less. In
1888-488: A sacrifice bunt by Jed Lowrie . Finnegan was then relieved by Jason Frasor . Pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo of Oakland took a wild pitch from Frasor, allowing Reddick to go to third base. Callaspo then hit a line drive to left field, scoring Reddick. The new pitcher Frasor quickly stopped the bleeding by retiring Derek Norris and Nick Punto , but the Athletics had retaken the lead, 8–7. Lorenzo Cain failed to start
2006-402: A sacrifice bunt to advance Gore to second. Alcides Escobar then doubled to right field to score Gore and give the Royals a 5–4 lead. Kansas City added insurance when Escobar reached third on a fielding error and then strolled home on a single by Dyson. Britton recovered to strike out both Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler , but the Royals' damage had yet again been done, and closer Greg Holland
2124-491: A single by Aoki, and scored on a Lorenzo Cain sacrifice fly, capping a 2-run fourth for Kansas City and putting the floundering Angels in a 7–2 hole. The Royals' final run of the game was delivered in the sixth inning. Omar Infante walked, went to second base on an Escobar single, and scored from second on an Aoki single. Trailing 8–2, the Angels scrounged together one more run with Wade Davis pitching ( Howie Kendrick doubled, to third on an Erick Aybar single, scoring on
2242-441: A single to center field that would score Moustakas, making the score 9–4 Tigers. After Omar Infante singled and advanced Aoki to second, Eric Hosmer recorded the final out of the game with his team at 4 runs by popping out to the catcher, becoming the first Royal in the 2014 regular season to hit into the final out with the Royals at 4 runs or more. The Royals would then become 14–1 when scoring at least 4 runs. After 30 games, however,
2360-472: A strong farm system and developed future star pitchers Paul Splittorff , Dennis Leonard , and Steve Busby , infielders George Brett and Frank White , and outfielder Al Cowens . Under these young players, the Royals built a core set up for future success. In 1971, the Royals had their first winning season, with manager Bob Lemon leading them to a second-place finish. In 1973, under manager Jack McKeon ,
2478-763: A theme for other professional sports franchises in the city, including the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL, the former Kansas City Kings of the NBA, and the former Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National League . In 1968, the team held a name-the-team contest that received more than 17,000 entries. Sanford Porte, a bridge engineer from the suburb of Overland Park, Kansas , was named the winner for his “Royals” entry. His reason had nothing to do with royalty. “Kansas City’s new baseball team should be called
SECTION 20
#17327682833662596-419: A third run when Alex Gordon walked, stole second and advanced to third on an Angels fielding error with Salvador Pérez at the plate, and then scored on a single by Perez. The Royals led 4–1 heading into the bottom of the eleventh inning, and closer Greg Holland retired three out of four batters faced to rack up his second postseason save and to send the Royals home to Kansas City with an opportunity to sweep
2714-459: A three-run top of the tenth for Kansas City. The twin home runs came off of Orioles pitchers Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day . Salvador Pérez was on first base during Moustakas' home run, which proved to be the difference as the Orioles did manage to score one run in the bottom of the tenth before closer Greg Holland composed himself to record the final out. The Royals' offensive explosion in
2832-411: A week of each other. The team subsequently fell apart completely, losing 104 games and breaking the franchise record set just two years earlier. The Royals did, however, see promising seasons from two rookies, center fielder David DeJesus and starting pitcher Zack Greinke . The team continued a youth movement in 2005, but finished with a 56–106 record (.346), a full 43 games out of first place, marking
2950-705: Is often applied as an umbrella term for all leagues — major and minor — under the authority of the Commissioner of Baseball . Operating outside the Minor League Baseball organization are many independent minor leagues such as the Atlantic League , American Association , Frontier League , and the feeder league to these the Empire Professional Baseball League . Japan has had professional baseball since
3068-545: Is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada consists of the National League (founded in 1876) and the American League (founded in 1901). Historically, teams in one league never played teams in
3186-472: The 2015 World Series – the first championship for the Royals since 1985 – beating the New York Mets four games to one. The Royals entered the 2015 All-Star break with the best record in the American League at 52–34. The team continued its momentum into the second half of the season, and on July 26, Royals management traded three prospects Brandon Finnegan , John Lamb Archived April 7, 2016, at
3304-639: The ALDS . Down 2–1 in the series and trailing 6–2 in the 8th inning of Game 4, the Royals rallied for 5 runs en route to a 9–6 win before Cueto's gem in Game 5 powered the Royals to a second consecutive ALCS . The Royals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6, to win the 2015 ALCS and earn a trip to face the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series . Professional baseball Professional baseball
3422-678: The All-Star break , was a three-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox . After the July 20 game, first base coach Rusty Kuntz entered the team's clubhouse and found many of the players intently playing the computer game Clash of Clans on their smart phones . The team lost a fourth game to the Chicago White Sox on July 21. Before the July 22 game Raúl Ibañez , who joined the team only three weeks earlier after being released by
3540-504: The China National Baseball League , Israel Baseball League , and Baseball Philippines . During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, players of black African descent were barred from playing the major leagues , though several did manage to play by claiming to be Cubans or Native Americans . As a result, a number of parallel Negro leagues were formed. However, after Jackie Robinson began playing with
3658-557: The Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland after the 1967 season , Kansas City was left without major league baseball or, for the first time since 1883, professional baseball at all. The team was led by Charlie Finley , who explored many elaborate relocation plans and essentially shunned Kansas City before the team even relocated. An enraged Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri threatened to introduce legislation removing baseball's antitrust exemption unless Kansas City
Kansas City Royals - Misplaced Pages Continue
3776-1122: The Los Angeles Angels , called a players-only team meeting to discuss the priorities of the team. After that meeting, the team went 25–9 between then and August 27. On Friday, September 26, 2014, the Royals won a game in Chicago against the White Sox 3–1, which would clinch a postseason berth for the Royals for the first time since 1985. (updated through September 28) Infielders Outfielders Coaches Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average Source: [1] Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts Source: [2] 7:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri The one-game playoff
3894-530: The NL Central in 1998, replaced by the Detroit Tigers that moved from the AL East. At the start of the 1990s, the Royals had been hit with a double-whammy when General Manager John Schuerholz departed in 1990 and team owner Ewing Kauffman died in 1993. Shortly before Kauffman's death, he set up an unprecedented complex succession plan to keep the team in Kansas City. The team was donated at his death to
4012-719: The Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 4–3 in 12 innings. The Royals went 69–93 in their first season, highlighted by Lou Piniella , who won the AL Rookie of the Year Award . The team was quickly built through a number of trades engineered by its first General Manager, Cedric Tallis , who picked up center fielder Amos Otis , who became the team's first star, first baseman John Mayberry , who provided power, second baseman Cookie Rojas , shortstop Fred Patek , and designated hitter Hal McRae . The Royals also invested in
4130-624: The Seattle Pilots , the club was founded by Kansas City businessman Ewing Kauffman. The franchise was established following the actions of Stuart Symington , then- U.S. Senator from Missouri , who demanded a new franchise for the city after the Athletics (Kansas City's previous major league team that played from 1955 to 1967) moved to Oakland, California , in 1968. Since April 10, 1973, the Royals have played at Kauffman Stadium , formerly known as Royals Stadium. The new team quickly became
4248-609: The Wayback Machine , and Cody Reed for 2014 All-Star pitcher Johnny Cueto to help bolster its starting pitching rotation, as well as trading two pitchers to the Oakland Athletics for super-utility player Ben Zobrist . The team ended the regular season with a record of 95–67, the best in the entire American League, and the organization's best record since 1980 . The Royals faced the Houston Astros in
4366-489: The "out" sign, disallowing the home run. Enraged, Brett stormed out of the dugout toward McClelland and Martin, and McClelland ejected Brett. The homer was later reinstated by AL President Lee MacPhail , and the Royals won the game after it was resumed several weeks later. The 1983 season was also notable for some transitional changes in the Royals organization. First, owner Ewing Kauffman sold 49% of his interest to Memphis developer Avron Fogelman . Second, John Schuerholz
4484-528: The 15th manager in franchise history. The 2008 season began with the release of fan-favorite Mike Sweeney and the trade of Ángel Berroa to the Dodgers. Through 13 games in 2008, the Royals were 8–5 and in first place in the AL Central , a vast improvement over their start from the previous season. However, by the All-Star break, the Royals were again in losing territory, with their record buoyed only by
4602-700: The 1930s. Nippon Professional Baseball consists of two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League , each with six teams. South Korea has had professional baseball since 1982. There are 10 teams in KBO League . Taiwan has had professional baseball since the 1990s. The Chinese Professional Baseball League absorbed Taiwan Major League in 2003. There are currently 6 teams in the CPBL. Other Asian leagues include three now defunct leagues,
4720-489: The 2006 season, including Doug Mientkiewicz , Mark Grudzielanek , Joe Mays and Scott Elarton . Nevertheless, the Royals struggled through another 100-loss season in 2006, becoming just the eleventh team in major league history to lose 100 games in three straight seasons. During the season Baird was fired as GM and replaced by Dayton Moore . Kansas City entered the 2007 season looking to rebound from four out of five seasons ending with at least 100 losses. The Royals outbid
4838-542: The 2014 season, the Royals had the longest playoff drought of any team in the four main American professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA). On July 21, 2014, the Royals had a losing record (48–50) and were eight games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central standings. But spurred by a 22–5 record from July 22 to August 19 coinciding with a mediocre 12–15 stretch by the Tigers, the team surged into first place in
Kansas City Royals - Misplaced Pages Continue
4956-425: The 30th game of the regular season, the Royals were playing the Tigers at home and the Tigers were winning 9–3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Mike Moustakas walked to lead off the bottom half of the inning, Alcides Escobar struck out, and Jarrod Dyson grounded out, but advanced Moustakas to second. With two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the ninth inning, with his team down 6 runs, Nori Aoki hit
5074-534: The AL Central, securing the team's best winning percentage since 1994. The 2014 season featured a return to the postseason for the first time in 29 years, and what would unfold as a historic playoff run from the Wild Card all the way to the 2014 World Series . Anchored by the "HDH" trio of Kelvin Herrera , Wade Davis , and Greg Holland , the bullpen became one of the most dominant in MLB history. Entering
5192-616: The AL Central. He was named the American League Manager of the Year for his efforts and shortstop Ángel Berroa was named AL Rookie of the Year . From the 2004 season through the 2012 season , the Royals posted nine consecutive losing records, the longest streak in team history. In six of those seasons, the team finished in last place in the American League Central, and in eight of those nine seasons
5310-411: The AL Central. The 2012 team saw more of the same, as they improved by one game to 72–90, but finished one spot better in the division. The 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was hosted by the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 10, 2012 (in addition to the 2012 Home Run Derby , All-Star Futures Game and Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game during the All-Star break), which
5428-405: The AL Central. The Royals reached the top of the division standings on August 11, after winning their eighth game in a row. This marked the latest date the Royals had led their division since August 29, 2003. The team retained its division lead for a month, before falling out of first-place permanently on September 12. They finished the 2014 regular season with a record 89–73, still the most wins for
5546-526: The American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays , the Royals eventually rallied to win the series 4–3, highlighted by a go-ahead 3-run triple from Jim Sundberg against Blue Jay's ace Dave Stieb in Game 7. In the 1985 World Series (nicknamed the "I-70 Series" because the two teams are both located in the state of Missouri and connected by Interstate 70 ) against the cross-state St. Louis Cardinals ,
5664-408: The Angels in Game 3. The Royals' one run prior to the eleventh came in the second inning, as Hosmer scored from second base on a Gordon single. The Angels' lone run of the game came during the sixth inning. Kole Calhoun singled, Mike Trout walked, advancing Calhoun to second, and Calhoun scored from second courtesy of an Albert Pujols single. The Angels very nearly broke the 1–1 tie and took
5782-496: The Cubs and Blue Jays for free agent righty Gil Meche , signing him to a five-year, $ 55 million contract, the largest contract in Royals history. Reliever Octavio Dotel also inked a one-year, $ 5 million contract. The team also added several new prospects, including Alex Gordon and Billy Butler . Among Dayton Moore 's first acts as General Manager was instating a new motto for the team: "True. Blue. Tradition." In June 2007,
5900-479: The Giants 10–0. In game seven, the Royals started Jeremy Guthrie against Giants pitcher Tim Hudson . Guthrie lasted 3 + 1 ⁄ 3 innings before he was replaced by Kelvin Herrera , who himself lasted 2 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings. He was then replaced by Wade Davis , who pitched in two innings. Closer Greg Holland ended the game. On the Giants side, Hudson lasted only 1 + 2 ⁄ 3 innings before he
6018-574: The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and Affiliated Trusts with operating decisions of the team decided by a five-member group chaired by Wal-Mart executive David Glass . According to the plan the Royals had six years to find a local owner for the team before opening ownership to an outside bidder. The new owners would be required to say they would keep the team in Kansas City. Kauffman had feared that new owners would move it noting, "No one would want to buy
SECTION 50
#17327682833666136-550: The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, oversees nearly all minor league baseball in the United States and Canada. The minor leagues are divided into classes AAA, AA, High-A, A, and Rookie. These minor-league divisions are affiliated with major league teams, and serve to develop young players and rehabilitate injured major-leaguers. "Affiliated baseball" (archaically, " organized baseball ")
6254-512: The National League won 8–0. The 2012 season marked the third time the " Midsummer Classic " was held in Kansas City. On December 10, 2012, in an attempt to strengthen the pitching staff (which was among the worst in baseball in 2012), the Royals traded for Rays pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis , giving Tampa top prospects Wil Myers , Jake Odorizzi , Mike Montgomery , and Patrick Leonard in return. This trade helped catalyze
6372-485: The Royals adopted their iconic " powder blue " road uniforms and moved from Municipal Stadium to the brand-new Royals Stadium (now known as Kauffman Stadium). The 1973 All-Star Game was hosted at Royals Stadium, with Otis and Mayberry in the AL starting lineup. The event was previously held at Municipal Stadium in 1960 , when the Athletics were based in Kansas City. Manager Whitey Herzog replaced McKeon in 1975 , and
6490-500: The Royals again fell behind, three games to one. After Danny Jackson pitched the Royals to a 6–1 win in game five, the Cardinals and Royals headed back to Kansas City for game six. Facing elimination, the Royals trailed 1–0 in the bottom of the 9th inning, when Jorge Orta led off, hitting a bouncing ground ball to Cardinals 1st basemen Jack Clark , who flipped the ball back to pitcher Todd Worrell at first base. The ball beat Orta to
6608-436: The Royals because of Missouri’s billion-dollar livestock income, Kansas City’s position as the nation’s leading stocker and feeder market and the nationally known American Royal parade and pageant,” Porte wrote. The team's board voted 6–1 on the name, with the only opposition coming from team owner Ewing Kauffman , who eventually changed his vote and said the name had grown on him. Entering the American League in 1969 along with
6726-598: The Royals did not qualify to play in the MLB postseason , one of the longest postseason droughts during baseball's current wild-card era. The team broke this streak in 2014 by securing the franchise's first wild card berth and advancing to the 2014 World Series , where they lost to the San Francisco Giants in seven games. The Royals, led by players like Salvador Perez , Alex Gordon , Johnny Cueto , Danny Duffy , Eric Hosmer , Mike Moustakas , Lorenzo Cain , and an elite group of bullpen pitchers, followed this up by winning
6844-553: The Royals had their first winning month since July 2003 and followed it up with a winning July. The Royals finished the season 69–93, but 2007 marked the club's first season with fewer than 100 losses since 2003. Manager Buddy Bell resigned following the 2007 season. The Royals hired Trey Hillman , formerly the manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters and a minor league manager with the New York Yankees , to be
6962-475: The Royals in the third inning, vaulting Kansas City to a 3–2 lead. The fourth and fifth innings were scoreless, and Oakland proceeded to stitch together five runs in the top of the sixth as Moss homered a second time, scoring himself, Sam Fuld , and Josh Donaldson . Derek Norris and Crisp singled in two additional runs. Both Oakland and Kansas City batted fruitlessly in the seventh inning, and Royals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera recorded three straight outs in
7080-432: The Royals quickly became the dominant franchise in the American League's Western Division. After a second-place, 91 win season, they won three straight division championships from 1976 to 1978, including the franchise's only 100-win season in 1977 . However, the Royals lost to the New York Yankees in three straight American League Championship Series encounters. After the Royals finished in second place in 1979, Herzog
7198-399: The Royals reduced payroll by trading pitcher David Cone and outfielder Brian McRae , then continued their salary dump in the 1995 season. The team payroll, which had previously remained among the league's highest, was sliced in half from $ 40.5 million in 1994 (fourth-highest in the major leagues) to $ 18.5 million in 1996 (second-lowest in the major leagues). As attendance slid and
SECTION 60
#17327682833667316-502: The Royals since 1989 . Though the team finished one game behind Detroit in the AL Central, the Royals secured their first-ever wild card berth. After qualifying for the postseason, the Royals embarked on a record-setting eight-game winning streak. They hosted the Oakland Athletics in the 2014 American League Wild Card Game and won 9–8 on a Salvador Pérez walk-off single in the 12th inning, having earlier rallied back from
7434-594: The World Series in 1985 and the Orioles having last reached the World Series in 1983, the 2014 World Series is guaranteed to have a participant that has been absent from it for at least the last twenty-nine years. 8:07 p.m. EDT at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland For the fourth time in five games, the Royals broke an extra-innings tie, and for the third time in four games did so via longballs. Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas both crushed respective solo and two-run home runs to combine for
7552-599: The Yankees twice at home, the Indians twice at home, the White Sox three times on the road, and the Tigers three times on the road. At the end of the streak, the Royals were in first place in the AL Central. This was the first time since 2003 that they were leading their division that late in the season. From June 1–18, the Royals posted a 13–3 record with one rainout, followed by a 9–17 record from June 19 to July 20. The last three games of this slump, which immediately followed
7670-471: The average MLB salary continued to rise, rather than pay higher salaries or lose their players to free agency, the Royals traded their remaining stars such as Kevin Appier , Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye . By 1999, the team's payroll had fallen again to $ 16.5 million. Making matters worse, most of the younger players that the Royals received in exchange for these All-Stars proved of little value, setting
7788-414: The bag, but umpire Don Denkinger called him safe, and following a dropped popup by Clark and a passed ball, the Royals rallied to score two runs, winning on a walk-off single from pinch hitter Dane Iorg to send the series to game seven. In game seven Bret Saberhagen shutout the Cardinals as Kansas City dominated the Cardinals 11–0, clinching their first title in franchise history. The Royals maintained
7906-401: The ball for a bases clearing double to put the Royals up 3–1. Angels starter C. J. Wilson didn't last more than two-thirds of one inning and was replaced by Vinnie Pestano after Gordon's hit. Kansas City's offense struck again in the third inning as Eric Hosmer homered to center field with Nori Aoki on base, giving the Royals a capacious 5–1 lead. The Angels inched closer in the top of
8024-660: The bases empty off Jason Vargas for a 1–1 tie. The two teams traded runs again in the fifth—Alex Gordon scoring from second on an Omar Infante sac fly for the Royals, David Freese hitting a solo line drive home run for the Angels—before engaging in a scoreless battle for five innings until Moustakas' game-winner. Royals starter Vargas was replaced after six innings by a battery of relievers that included Kelvin Herrera , Brandon Finnegan , Wade Davis , Tim Collins , Jason Frasor , Danny Duffy , and Greg Holland . Herrera, however, left Game 1 with tightness in his right forearm, and
8142-461: The bottom of the twelfth in a promising fashion, grounding out. The Oakland Athletics were two outs away from advancing to the ALDS. However, Hosmer nursed a lengthy at-bat into a deep left field hit that was poorly fielded, allowing him to reach third base. Christian Colon then singled to tie the game again, scoring Hosmer. Oakland pitcher Dan Otero was replaced by Fernando Abad , who threw to only one batter, Alex Gordon , who popped out. Abad
8260-429: The eleventh inning off of Angels pitcher Fernando Salas proved to be the difference for Kansas City, as the Royals surprised the favored Angels by winning a low-scoring Game 1. Moustakas also scored one of the Royals' other two runs, running home from first base on a double by Alcides Escobar in the third inning, giving Kansas City a 1–0. The Angels battled back quickly, though, as catcher Chris Iannetta homered with
8378-599: The end of George Brett's career, such as his third and final batting title in 1990—which made him the first player to win batting titles in three different decades—and his 3,000th hit . In 1994, the Royals moved from the AL West to the newly created AL Central along with the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins , joined by the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers from the AL East . The Brewers left for
8496-498: The ensuing playoffs, the Royals incurred both a 2-0 and a 3–1 series deficit in both rounds of the playoffs, but always managed to claw their way back into the series. In game three of the American League Championship Series , with KC down 2 games to 0, George Brett homered twice and doubled off the fence in right field to put Kansas City back into the series. With the Royals down three games to one in
8614-479: The eventual World Series champion Oakland Athletics. At the end of the 1989 season, the team boasted a powerhouse pitching rotation, including the AL Cy Young Award -winner Bret Saberhagen (who set franchise record 23 wins that year), two-time All-Star Mark Gubicza (a 15-game winner in 1989) and 1989 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Tom Gordon (who won 17 games that year). But the organization felt it
8732-469: The exit of the effective relief pitcher put a slight damper on the Royals' opening victory. 6:37 p.m. PDT at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California The eleventh inning was again a magical time for the Royals, as Eric Hosmer 's two-run home run to right field broke a 1–1 tie and vaulted Kansas City over the Angels. Lorenzo Cain scored from first base on Hosmer's blast. The Royals added
8850-404: The financial collapse of the Royals' companion expansion team, the Seattle Pilots , who had to begin play in 1969 before they were ready (the league required new franchises to enter in pairs to preserve symmetry for scheduling purposes). Pharmaceutical executive Ewing Kauffman won the bidding for the new Kansas City team. He conducted a contest to determine the best and most appropriate name for
8968-465: The first game against starter Madison Bumgarner . The Royals bounced back with a 7–2 win in game two to tie the series at 1–1. The Royals won game three in San Francisco 3–2 to take the series lead for the first time. In game four, the Royals lost 11–4, which tied the series with the Giants. In game five, they lost 5–0 to the Giants against starter Madison Bumgarner . In game six, the Royals beat
9086-622: The first half of the 20th century (one was a semi-pro team based in Kansas City in the 1910s and 1920s that toured the Midwest and the other was a California Winter League team based in Los Angeles in the 1940s that was managed by Chet Brewer and included Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson on its roster). The Los Angeles team had personnel connections to the Monarchs but could not use the Monarchs name. The name also fits into something of
9204-441: The first team in the history of Major League Baseball to win three straight extra inning games in the postseason. 6:37 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri Royals starter James Shields gave up a home run to slugger Mike Trout to give the Angels an early 1–0 lead. However, back to back singles by Aoki and Cain and a walk to Billy Butler loaded the bases with one out. Alex Gordon came up and smacked
9322-478: The fourth inning with a solo home run by Albert Pujols , but still trailed 5–2. In the bottom half of the inning, Mike Moustakas crushed a long ball of his own, such that Moustakas and Hosmer, who hit game-winning home runs in the top of the eleventh inning in Games 1 and 2, respectively, both homered again in Game 3. Alcides Escobar singled, found second base on a wild pitch from the Angels' Morin , took third on
9440-423: The franchise's final three wins of the 1985 Series, the third-longest multi-year postseason streak in baseball history. The Royals faced the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 World Series . They had home-field advantage, due to the American League 's win in the 2014 All-Star Game . After setting an AL record by winning eight straight games to reach the World Series, the Royals opened the series by losing 7–1 in
9558-413: The handle) on third baseman George Brett's bat after he had hit a two-run home run off Gossage that put the Royals up 5–4 in the top of the 9th. After Yankee Manager Billy Martin came out of the dugout to talk to home plate umpire Tim McClelland , McClelland and the other umpires mulled over the bat (measuring it over home plate, touching it, etc.). McClelland then pointed to Brett in the dugout and gave
9676-402: The history of Major League Baseball. In the second ALCS game, the Royals again beat the Orioles 6–4, behind Lorenzo Cain 's four hits, including an RBI single. After game three, the ALCS was delayed one day due to rainy weather, when the Royals hosted the Orioles at Kauffman Stadium on October 14, 2014. Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie allowed only one run as KC beat the Orioles 2–1, taking a 3–0 lead in
9794-520: The infielders Eric Hosmer , Mike Moustakas , Johnny Giavotella , and catchers Salvador Pérez and Manny Piña . Hosmer won the AL Rookie of the Month award in July and September and finished the season with 19 home runs. Moustakas collected a fifteen-game hitting streak, which tied the longest such streak by a Royals rookie. The Royals finished the 2011 season with a 71–91 record, in fourth place in
9912-472: The lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, but astute defensive play by the Royals kept the stalemate intact. Jarrod Dyson came into center field as the result of a defensive substitution. With Wade Davis on the mound, C. J. Cron doubled and was replaced by pinch-runner Collin Cowgill . Angels catcher Chris Iannetta hit the ball deep to center field, but Dyson made a difficult catch and then launched
10030-717: The major-league Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the Negro leagues gradually faded. The process of integration did not go entirely smoothly; there were some ugly incidents, including pitchers who would try to throw directly at a black player's head. Now, however, baseball is fully integrated, and there is little to no racial tension between teammates. Between 1943 and 1954, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League fielded teams in several Midwestern towns. 2014 Kansas City Royals season The Kansas City Royals ' season of 2014
10148-485: The new franchise. Sanford Porte from Overland Park, Kansas submitted the name Royals, in recognition of Missouri's billion-dollar livestock industry. His suggestion was that the American Royal best exemplified Kansas City through its pageantry and parade, so the new team should be named the Royals. The name was selected out of 17,000 submissions and the Royals Board voted 6–1 to adopt the name. The one dissenting vote
10266-570: The other until the World Series , in which the champions of the two leagues played against each other. This changed in 1997 with the advent of interleague play . The Philadelphia Phillies , founded in 1883, are the oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in both Major League Baseball and all of American professional sports. In addition to the major leagues, many North American cities and towns feature minor league teams. An organization officially styled Minor League Baseball , formerly
10384-434: The postseason, but still had to resort to late-game heroics to do so. With the score tied in the top of the ninth and with Darren O'Day pitching for the Orioles, Kansas City's Omar Infante hit a single toward third base. Infante was replaced by pinch runner Terrance Gore , and O'Day was relieved by Zach Britton . Mike Moustakas , with three home runs in the postseason, played small ball instead of long ball, laying down
10502-446: The second out of the inning, but Dyson was able to jog home, tying the game at 7–7 and completing the Royals' four-run comeback. Cain lined out to end the inning for Kansas City. Brandon Finnegan began a strong inning of work in the tenth, replacing Greg Holland and recording three outs in quick succession. The Royals advanced Eric Hosmer to third base with two outs in the bottom of the tenth, but Salvador Pérez grounded out, putting
10620-495: The series. In game four, the Royals completed the sweep of the Orioles with another 2–1 win to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1985 . The win marked the team's eighth consecutive postseason win in one year, breaking a major league record previously held by the Colorado Rockies in 2007 and Cincinnati Reds in 1976 . It also marked the Royals' 11th win in a row overall in postseason play, dating back to
10738-495: The stage for an extended downward spiral. Indeed, the Royals set a franchise-low with a .398 winning percentage (64–97 record) in 1999, and lost 97 games again in 2001. In the middle of this era, in 1997, the Royals declined the opportunity to switch to the National League as part of a realignment plan to introduce the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays as expansion teams. The Milwaukee Brewers made
10856-482: The sweep at home, winning 8–3 in game three and advancing to the 2014 American League Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles . In the opening game of the ALCS on October 11, 2014, the Royals defeated the Orioles 8–6, with two home runs in the 10th inning. Thus, in eight extra innings over five postseason games in 2014, they succeeded in hitting four homers in extra innings, more than any team in
10974-419: The switch instead. In 2002 , the Royals set a new team record for futility, losing 100 games for the first time in franchise history. They fired manager Tony Muser , and he was replaced by Tony Peña . The 2003 season saw a temporary end to the losing, when manager Tony Peña, in his first full season with the club, guided the team to its first winning record (83–79) since 1994 and finished in third place in
11092-539: The team lost at least 90 games. The worst seasons came in 2004–2006, when the Royals lost at least 100 games each year and set the franchise's all-time record for losses (56–106 in 2005 ). Picked by many to win their division in 2004 after faring well in the free agent market, the Royals got off to a disappointing start and by late June were back in a rebuilding mode, releasing veteran reliever Curtis Leskanic and trading veteran reliever Jason Grimsley and superstar center fielder Carlos Beltrán for prospects, all within
11210-518: The team's first AL Central division title in 2015 and defeating the New York Mets in five games in the 2015 World Series to win their second World Series championship . From 1969 to 2024, the Royals have an all time win–loss record of 4,208–4,623 (.477). Entering the 2023 season, the team is valued at US$ 1.2 billion, placing them 27th out of MLB's 30 teams. Since 2019, the team has been owned by majority owner John Sherman , amongst many other Kansas City business owners and entrepreneurs. When
11328-469: The team. This was the minimum amount Kauffman had stipulated the team could be sold for. MLB rejected Prentice's first bid without specifying any reason. In a final round of bids on March 13, 2000, the Foundation voted to accept Glass' bid of $ 96 million, rejecting Prentice's revised bid of $ 115 million. During the interregnum under Foundation ownership, the team declined. In the 1994 season,
11446-502: The tenth saved them from a potentially devastating situation in the ninth inning, when they failed to score a run despite having the bases loaded with no outs. Kansas City had been aided previously in the game by an Alcides Escobar solo home run and an Alex Gordon 3-RBI double, both in the third inning. They added a run in the fifth when Billy Butler hit a sacrifice fly to score Lorenzo Cain , who had doubled. The Royals' bats then remained quiet until their game-winning performance in
11564-481: The tenth. Baltimore struck for one run in the third inning ( Nick Markakis scoring from third on an Adam Jones line drive) and for three runs in the fifth inning ( Alejandro De Aza scored from second on a Nelson Cruz double, Cruz and Jones scored from second and third on a Ryan Flaherty line drive). The Orioles tied the score at 5–5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, as reliever Brandon Finnegan suffered some shakiness, walking Jonathan Schoop and surrendering
11682-443: The third player in Royals history to receive the award. The Royals began the 2010 season with a rocky start, and after the team's record fell to 12–23, manager Trey Hillman was fired. Former Milwaukee Brewers skipper Ned Yost took over as the 16th manager in franchise history, At the end of the 2010 season, the Royals finished with a 67–95 record, in last place in the division for the sixth time in seven years. The Royals also set
11800-454: The third time in four seasons that the team reestablished the mark for worst record in franchise history. The season also saw the Royals lose 19 games in a row, a franchise record. During the season manager Tony Peña quit and was replaced by interim manager Bob Schaefer until the Indians' bench coach Buddy Bell was chosen as the next manager. Looking for a quick turnaround, general manager Allard Baird signed several veteran players prior to
11918-435: The three required outs without major damage, and Kansas City took their one-run deficit to the bottom of the ninth. Oakland's closer, Sean Doolittle , pitched in relief of Gregerson. Pinch-hitter Josh Willingham singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson . Dyson moved to second base on a successful bunt from Alcides Escobar, and then stole third with Aoki at bat. Aoki hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field for
12036-422: The top of the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth, with Kansas City six outs away from having their season ended, the Royals manufactured a productive inning of their own. Alcides Escobar singled, and then stole second base with Nori Aoki at the plate. Lorenzo Cain singled, scoring Escobar. Cain stole second base himself with Eric Hosmer batting; Hosmer was then walked, at which point starting pitcher Jon Lester
12154-562: The trend of always losing when scoring 3 or less was still in place, with the Royals being 0–15 in these games. Finally, on the 32nd game of the regular season, the Royals had a record of 14–17 heading into the game. They beat the Padres in San Diego 3–1 in 11 innings to end the winless streak of games where they scored 3 runs or less. The Royals went on a 10-game winning streak in June, beating
12272-502: The year with a final record of 65–97, in a tie for fourth place in the AL Central. The season was highlighted by starter Zack Greinke , who did not allow an earned run in the first 24 innings of the season, went on to finish the year with a Major League-leading 2.16 earned run average , and won the American League Cy Young Award. Greinke joined Bret Saberhagen (in 1985 and 1989) and David Cone (in 1994) as only
12390-533: The young pitching staff of Saberhagen, Gubicza, Charlie Leibrandt , Black and Jackson. The Royals were then swept by the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series . The Tigers went on to win the World Series . In the 1985 regular season the Royals topped the Western Division for the sixth time in ten years, led by Bret Saberhagen's Cy Young Award -winning performance and George Brett's self-described best "all around year." Throughout
12508-503: Was Kauffman's. He eventually changed his mind after the name grew on him. (Some sources say it was in honor of the Kansas City Monarchs , a Negro leagues team.) The team's logo, a crown atop a shield with the letters "KC" inside the shield, was created by Shannon Manning, an artist at Hallmark Cards , based in Kansas City. The Royals began play in 1969 in Kansas City, Missouri . In their inaugural game, on April 8, 1969,
12626-588: Was also significant because it remains the most-watched game in World Series history with a television audience of 54.9 million viewers. In July 1983, while the Royals were headed for a second-place finish behind the Chicago White Sox another chapter in the team's rivalry with the New York Yankees occurred. In what has come to be known as "the Pine Tar Incident ", umpires discovered illegal placement of pine tar (more than 18 inches up
12744-520: Was coming off a career-high 19-game win season (third-best in the AL), to a three-year $ 6 million contract. Despite the promising off-season moves, the team suffered critical bullpen injuries while both newly signed Davises experienced lackluster seasons in 1990. The Royals concluded the season with a 75–86 record, in second-to-last place in the AL West (and with the worst franchise record since 1970). Bo Jackson—the team's potential future franchise player—suffered
12862-552: Was effective for the second straight game in quelling an Orioles rally attempt. The Royals had struck first at Camden Yards on this Saturday afternoon, with Hosmer driving in Nori Aoki and Lorenzo Cain in the top of the first inning. The O's halved the lead in the bottom of the second, milking one run out of a succession of walks and a sacrifice fly from starter Yordano Ventura , although Ventura composed himself sufficiently to ward off further Baltimore offense. Kansas City added
12980-619: Was fired and replaced by Jim Frey . Under Frey and a legendary .390 season from George Brett, the Royals rebounded in 1980 and advanced to the ALCS , where they again faced the Yankees . The Royals vanquished the Yankees in a three-game sweep punctuated by Brett's home run off of Yankees' star relief pitcher Goose Gossage . After reaching their first World Series , the Royals fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. Game 6
13098-423: Was granted a team in the next round of expansion. Major League Baseball complied with a hasty round of expansion at the 1967 winter meetings. Kansas City was awarded one of four teams to begin play in 1971. However, Symington was not satisfied with having Kansas City wait three years for baseball to return, and pressured MLB to allow the new teams to start play in 1969. Symington's intervention may have contributed to
13216-412: Was named general manager. Schuerholz soon bolstered the farm system with pitchers Bud Black , Danny Jackson , Mark Gubicza , David Cone , and Bret Saberhagen , as well as hitters such as Kevin Seitzer . Thanks to the sudden and surprising maturation (specifically, in pitching) of most of the aforementioned players, the Royals won their fifth division championship in 1984, relying on Brett's bat and
13334-432: Was relieved by Luke Gregerson . Nerves seemed to get the better of Gregerson, who allowed Billy Butler to single and score Cain, and then allowed Hosmer to score from third base on a wild pitch. Gregerson struck out the next two batters to preserve the Athletics' lead, but the Royals had crept to within one run. Closer Greg Holland took the mound for Kansas City and was somewhat shaky, walking three batters, but mustered
13452-493: Was replaced by Jeremy Affeldt , who was later replaced by Madison Bumgarner . The Royals lost game seven, 3–2, with the tying run ( Alex Gordon ) on third base in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, when Salvador Pérez fouled out to Pablo Sandoval to end the game and the series. After earning a wild card entry to the playoffs in 2014 , in 2015 , the Royals won the franchise's first division title since 1985 and first Central division title ever. The Royals went on to win
13570-419: Was still missing a few necessary pieces to give its divisional rival Oakland Athletics a run for their money. So prior to the 1990 season, the Royals acquired Mark Davis , the 1989 National League Cy Young Award-winner and league leader in saves , signing him to a 4-year, $ 13 million contract (the largest annual salary in baseball history at the time). The Royals also signed starting pitcher Storm Davis , who
13688-531: Was the 46th for the Royals franchise. On September 26, 2014, the Royals clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1985 . They began the post-season by defeating the Oakland Athletics in the ALWC Game and sweeping both the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS and the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS , becoming the first team in Major League history to win their first 8 postseason games in
13806-409: Was then relieved by Jason Hammel . Christian Colon, still on first base, stole second with Pérez at the plate. Pérez then singled to left field, scoring Colon and ending the marathon game with a Royals victory and a ticket to the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim . 6:07 p.m. PDT at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California Mike Moustakas ' solo home run in the top of
13924-429: Was touted as a duel between the Royals' James Shields and the Athletics' Jon Lester , but neither starting pitcher would earn a decision in the game. Oakland's Brandon Moss homered early off of Shields with Coco Crisp on base, giving the Athletics a 2–0 advantage; Kansas City halved the lead in the bottom of the first when Billy Butler singled to score Nori Aoki . Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer had RBI hits for
#365634