Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

The All Starr Sports- Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

  • A.L. Division Champions 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984 and 1985
  • American League Champions 1980, 1985
  • World Series Champions 1985
  • Royals Franchise Records
The Royals won the World Series on October 27, 1985, against the St. Louis Cardinals in what was called the I-70 Series for the two Missouri cities located along Interstate 70.  Bret Saberhagen was the Series MVP. 

Beautiful Kauffman Stadium, with the "water spectacular" in the outfield, located at the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex, next door to Arrowhead Stadium.   Kansas City is known as the "City of Fountains" since it has more water fountains than any city in the world except for Rome.  Behind the fence in right field is a 322-foot-wide fountain, the LARGEST privately owned water display in the world, that puts on a dazzling show between innings and when one of the Royals hits a home run.


Kansas City All Star Games:
  • Municipal Stadium on July 11, 1960
  • Royals Stadium on July 24, 1973.
  • Kaufman Stadium on July 10, 2012

Stadium History
  • 1969-1972 Municipal Stadium
  • 1973-1993 Royals Stadium
  • 1993-present Kauffman Stadium

Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

Members of the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in the order they were inducted:
  • Amos Otis Center Fielder.  Amos became the first Royal to appear in an All Star game.  In the 1970 mid summer classiche made the throw which caused that famous collision between Pete Rose and catcher Ray Fosse.
  • Steve Busby Pitcher
  • Paul Splitorff Pitcher 17 career shutouts, 88 complete games, 166 career wins a Royals record, 392 games started a Royals record, 2,554.2 innings pitched a Royals record, 3.81 ERA, 1,057 strikeouts.
  • Cookie Rojas Second Baseman
  • Dick Howser Manager
  • Dennis Leonard Pitcher
  • Hal McRae Designated Hitter, Hal has a World Series batting average of .400
  • Fred Patek Shortstop
  • Larry Gura Pitcher
  • Joe Burke General Manger/President
  • Ewing Kauffman Founder
  • George Brett The first KC Royal to become a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame,  in Cooperstown, July 25, 1999.  As a Third Baseman, First Baseman and Designated Hitter; George played each game with ceaseless intensity and unbridled passion lifetime marks include 21 Seasons, .305 career ave., 3,154 hits, 317 home runs, 665 doubles, 10,349 at bats,  1,595 RBI, ELEVEN .300 seasons,  Batting titles in 3 decades, 1976, 1980, 1990, Only player with 3,000 hits, 300 HR, 600 doubles, 100 triples, and 200 stolen bases, he hit the famous "Pine tar" Home Run against the Yankees, 6 playoffs (.340), 2 World Series (.373) 13 All Star Selections, AL MVP in 1980, AL Championship Series MVP in 1985, a clutch hitter whose profound respect for the game led to universal reverence.
  • Frank White Second Baseman, Frank was the American League Championship Series MVP in 1980
  • Muriel Kauffman First Lady of the Royals
  • John Mayberry First Baseman
  • Dan Quisenberry Pitcher
  • Whitey Herzog Manager, Member of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame- Class of 2010, Whitey also played for the Kansas City Athletics, 1958-60.
  • Willie Wilson Outfielder, Willie had 668 career stolen bases.
  • Jeff Montgomery Relief Pitcher
  • Denny Matthews Radio Broadcaster- also inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the Ford C. Frick Award in 2007.  Denny has been with the Royals since their inception to now.
  • Brett Saberhagen Pitcher
  • Mark Gubicza Pitcher
  • Art Stewart Scout
  • Kevin Appier, Pitcher, Kevin is the Royals' all-time strikeouts leader with 1,458, and ranks among the club's Top 10 in several career categories, including fourth in wins (115), games started (275) and innings pitched (1843.2); and seventh in ERA (3.49) and shutouts (10). He also ranks ninth in appearances (287) and tenth with 32 complete games. He threw a pair of one-hit games with the Royals - one of only two Royals to accomplish the feat more than once.
  • George Toma, the "Nitty Gritty Dirty Man", a legendary groundskeeper for the Royals, Chiefs and many other big professional sporting events, also a member of the Groundskeepers Hall of Fame.
  • Mike Sweeney, catcher, first baseman, DH, 1995-2007, 5x All Star, Team Captain 2003-07 


Kansas City Royals in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame
Players or managers who spent some of their professional career with the KC Royals:
  • Whitey Herzog -1975-1979
  • George Brett- 1973-1993
  • Orlando Cepada- 1974
  • Joe Gordon- 1969
  • Harmon Killebrew- 1975
  • Bob Lemon- 1970-1972
  • Gaylord Perry- 1983

Kansas City Royals in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
  • Ewing Kauffman- Owner
  • Whitey Herzog- Manager
  • Darrell Porter
  • Orlando Cepeda
  • Al Hrabosky
  • Denny Matthews- Media
  • Jim Eisenreich
  • John Wathan
  • Fred Patek
  • George Brett
  • Willie Wilson
  • Hal McRae
  • Bo Jackson
  • Frank White
  • Dennis Leonard
  • Dan Quisenberry
  • Paul Splitorff
  • Gaylord Perry
  • John Mayberry
  • Steve Busby

Kansas City Royals Starters In the All-Star Game
1973 Amos Otis, OF
1976-1986 George Brett, 3B
1979 Frank White, 2B
1987 Bret Saberhagen, P
1989 Bo Jackson, OF- All Star Game MVP
1991 Danny Tartabull, DH
2000 Jermaine Dye, OF

Royal Awards
  • Bret Saberhagen, 1985 and 1989 Cy Young Award
  • David Cone, 1994 Cy Young Award
  • George Brett, 1980 A.L. MVP
  • Tony Pena, 2003 American League Manager of the Year

Kansas City Royals Retired Numbers
  • Dick Howser - Manager 1981-86, (Dick also played for the Kansas City Athletics from 1961-63, and was the 1961 Rookie of the Year!) 10
  • George Brett- Third Baseman 1973-93,  5
  • Frank White- Second Baseman 1973-90, 20
  • In honor of Jackie Robinson, number 42 retired throughout baseball in 1997.  42

Rookie Royalty
Kansas City Royals who have been the American League Rookie of the Year
  • 1969 Outfielder, Lou Piniella
  • 1994 Firstbaseman, Bob Hamelin
  • 1999 Outfielder, Carlos Beltron
  • 2003 Shortstop, Angel Berroa

No-Hitters Pitched by KC Royal Pitchers:
  • Steve Busby 4/27/1973
  • Steve Busby 6/19/1974
  • Jim Colborn 5/14/1977
  • Brett Saberhagen 8/26/1991

Cy Young Awards by KC Royal Pitchers
  • Bret Saberhagen 1985
  • Bret Saberhagen 1989
  • David Cone 1994
  • Zack Greinke 2009

League Batting Champions by Royals Year Batting Average
  • George Brett 1976 .333
  • George Brett 1980 .390
  • Willie Wilson 1982 .332
  • George Brett 1990 .329

Royals Gold Glove Awards

  • 1971- Amos Otis, OF
  • 1973- Amos Otis, OF
  • 1974- Amos Otis, OF
  • 1977- Al Cowens, OF and Frank White 2B
  • 1978- Frank White, 2B
  • 1979- Frank White, 2b
  • 1980- Willie Wilson OF, Frank White 2B
  • 1981- Frank White, 2B
  • 1982- Frank White, 2B
  • 1985- George Brett, 3B
  • 1986- Frank White, 2B
  • 1987- Frank White, 2B
  • 1989- Bob Boone C, Bret Saberhagen P
  • 2000- Jermaine Dye, OF
  • 2006- Mark Grudzielanek, 2B
  • 2011- Alex Gordon, OF
  • 2012- Alex Gordon, OF
  • 2013- Alex Gordon OF, Eric Hosmer 1B, Salvador Perez C

Royals Hitting for the Cycle
  • Fred Patek 7/9/1971
  • John Mayberry 8/5/1977
  • George Brett 5/28/1979
  • Frank White 9/26/1979
  • Frank White 8/3/1982
  • George Brett 7/25/1990

Royals Six Hit Games
  • Bob Oliver 5/4/1969
  • Kevin Seitzer 8/2/1987
  • Joe Randa 9/9/2004

 
Kansas City World Series Facts

The 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals was the FIRST World Series to be played ALL at night.  This World Series featured two team from MISSOURI, in what was called the I-70 Series since both teams were located along Interstate 70 Hwy.  However, this was NOT the first all Missouri World Series!  The 1944 World Series was between two MO teams: The St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1980, the Royals Amos Otis hit a Home Run in his FIRST World Series at bat while in Philadelphia on  Oct 14, 1980.  At that time, A.O. was only the 16th person in MLB history to hit a homer in their first World Series at bat.  Teammate Willie Aikens followed AO with a homer of his own in the next at bat.
1980 World Series Scores 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Visitor KC-6 KC-4 Phil-3 Phil-3 Phil-4 KC-1  
Home Team Phil-7 Phil-6 KC-4 KC-5 KC-3 Phil-4  

During the 1980 World Series, Willie Aikens became the first player ever with a PAIR of TWO HOMER games during the Fall Classic.

The first World Series HIT for a game played IN Kansas City on Oct 17, 1980, was a first inning Home Run hit by George Brett at Royals Stadium in 1980 against Philadelphia.  42,380 KC fans witnessed the first World Series game played in Kansas City with a WIN.

The first World Series game played in Kansas City was an extra inning WIN for the Kansas City Royals against the Philadephia Phillies by the score of 4-3 in 1980.

Kansas City pitcher Bret Saberhagen was a mere sophomore when he pitched in the 1985 World Series, yet he won two games in the series, both complete games, and one a shut out and was named the World Series MVP.  Bret pitched game 3 despite the distration of his wife who was due at any minute with a baby.  Bret was a 20 game winner that year, with 20 wins and 6 losses.
1985 World Series scores 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Visitor: StL-3 StL-4 KC-6 KC-0 KC-6 StL-1 StL-0
Home Team: KC-1 KC-2 StL-1 StL-3 StL-1 KC-2 KC-11


Royals As GOOD As GOLD Kansas City Royals who have won Gold Glove Awards
  • 1971 Amos Otis OF
  • 1973 Amos Otis OF
  • 1974 Amos Otis OF
  • 1977 Al Cowens OF
  • 1977  Frank White 2B
  • 1978 Frank White 2B
  • 1979 Frank White 2B
  • 1980 Frank White 2B
  • 1981 Frank White 2B
  • 1982 Frank White 2B
  • 1985 George Brett 3B
  • 1986 Frank White 2B
  • 1987 Frank White 2B
  • 1989 Bob Boone C
  • 1989 Bret Saberhagen P
  • 2000 Jermaine Dye OF
  • 2006 Mark Grudzielanek 2B

The All Starr Sports Zone Royals Dream Team
40 Man Roster of the All Time Best Royals
  • 1B John Mayberry, Willie Aikens, Mike Balboni
  • 2B, Frank White, Cookie Rojas, Jose Offerman
  • SS, Fred Patek, UL Washington
  • 3B, George Brett, Kevin Seitzer
  • LF, Johnny Damon, Brian McRae, Lou Pinella
  • CF, Willie Wilson, Amos Otis, Carlos Beltran
  • RF, Danny Tartabull, Al Cowens, Jermaine Dye
  • C, Darrell Porter, Mike McFarlane
  • DH, Bo Jackson, Hal McRae, Mike Sweeney
  • Pitchers:  Bret Saberhagen, David Cone, Kevin Appier, Larry Gura, Paul Splitorff, Dan Quisenberry, Jeff Montgomery, Steve Farr, Joakim Soria, Mark Gubicza, Tom Gordon, Gaylord Perry, Al Hrabosky, Charlie Liebrant, Steve Busby, Danny Jackson

Kansas City Royals Minor League Teams Level & League
  • AAA- Omaha Storm Chasers, Omaha, NE
  • AA- Pacific Coast League, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Springdale, AR
  • A- California League- Wilmington Blue Rocks , Wilmington, Del
  • A- Midwest League- Burlington Bees, Burlington, IA
  • A- Pioneer League- Idaho Falls Chukars, Idaho Falls, ID
  • Rookie Appalacian League, Burlington Royals, Burlington, NC
  • Rookie Arizona League- Arizona Royals, Surprise, AZRookie Dominican Summer League, Dominican Royals, Santo Domingo Este, D.R. Rookie
 

 
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