60 Fun Facts About Kansas City Royals

The Royals name pays homage to the American Royal, an annual Kansas City event featuring what?

The American Royal is a livestock show and rodeo held in Kansas City since 1899; the name Royals won a 1968 fan contest that drew about 17,000 entries.

The Royals began play as an expansion team in which year?

The Royals debuted in 1969 as an American League expansion team, alongside the Seattle Pilots, who lasted one season before becoming the Milwaukee Brewers.

Which pharmaceutical entrepreneur founded the Royals?

Ewing Kauffman, who built Marion Laboratories from a $5,000 start, bought the expansion franchise in 1968 and owned the Royals for 25 seasons.

Which Missouri senator threatened baseball's antitrust exemption to get Kansas City a team?

Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri threatened to revoke baseball's antitrust exemption after Kansas City lost its team; the American League advanced its expansion by two years in response.

Which team left Kansas City after the 1967 season, prompting the push for the Royals?

The Athletics played in Kansas City from 1955 to 1967; owner Charlie Finley, who had long shunned the city, then moved them to California.

The Royals' crown-and-shield logo was designed by an artist at which Kansas City company?

Hallmark Cards artist Shannon Manning designed the crown-and-shield logo with 'KC' inside for the club's debut; the crown turned black for a few years in the 2000s.

Which future manager won the AL Rookie of the Year Award as a Royals outfielder in 1969?

Lou Piniella hit .282 as a rookie for the expansion Royals to win AL Rookie of the Year; he later managed the Reds to the 1990 World Series title.

The Royals won their first game in 12 innings against which team?

The Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in 12 innings at Municipal Stadium, with Joe Keough's 12th-inning single driving in the winning run.

In which year was Royals Stadium renamed Kauffman Stadium?

Royals Stadium became Kauffman Stadium on July 2, 1993, a month before the death of its namesake.

Kauffman Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium together make up a sports complex named after whom?

The complex is named for Harry Truman, the Missouri-born president; building separate baseball and NFL stadiums side by side defied the 1960s fashion for multipurpose bowls.

The best-known feature of Kauffman Stadium is a display of what behind the right-field fence?

At 322 feet wide the 'Water Spectacular' is the largest privately funded fountain in the world.

The Royals' first game at their new stadium in 1973 was a 12-1 win over which opponent?

The Royals beat the Texas Rangers 12-1 in the April 10 opener before 39,464 fans; the park hosted the All-Star Game that same summer.

The Royals adopted their iconic powder blue road uniforms in which season?

The powder blue road uniforms arrived in 1973, the same season the Royals moved into their new stadium and switched to pullover jerseys.

Which manager led the Royals to three straight division titles from 1976 to 1978?

Whitey Herzog won three straight AL West titles before being fired after the 1979 season; as Cardinals manager he lost the 1985 World Series to the Royals.

The Royals lost the ALCS three years running from 1976 to 1978 to which team?

The New York Yankees won all three of those ALCS; the Royals finally got revenge with a three-game sweep in 1980, capped by George Brett's homer off Goose Gossage.

The Royals' first 100-win season came in which year?

The 1977 Royals went 102-60, the franchise's first 100-win season, yet lost the ALCS in five games; the 2015 champions won only 95.

George Brett hit what batting average in his 1980 MVP season?

George Brett finished 1980 at .390 after batting above .400 as late as September 19; he also drove in 118 runs in just 117 games.

The Royals lost their first World Series, in 1980, to which team?

The Philadelphia Phillies won in six games for the franchise's first championship; Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end Game 6.

In the 1983 Pine Tar Incident, George Brett's bat had pine tar more than how far up the handle?

The rule allowed pine tar no more than 18 inches up the handle; AL president Lee MacPhail reinstated the homer, ruling the limit was about keeping baseballs clean rather than unfair advantage.

Which Yankees manager came out of the dugout to challenge Brett's bat in the Pine Tar Game?

Manager Billy Martin, who had known about the bat for weeks, asked umpire Tim McClelland to measure it; Brett's furious charge from the dugout became one of baseball's most replayed clips.

The Pine Tar Game was resumed 25 days later and finished with the Royals winning by what score?

The game resumed on August 18, 1983, with the Royals ahead 5-4 after the reinstated homer; neither side scored again, so 5-4 stood as the final.

The 1985 all-Missouri World Series between the Royals and Cardinals is nicknamed the what Series?

Interstate 70 links Kansas City and St. Louis, giving the I-70 Series its name; the Royals came back from 3-1 down to win in seven games.

Which umpire's disputed safe call on Jorge Orta opened the Royals' ninth-inning rally in the 1985 World Series?

Don Denkinger called Jorge Orta safe at first although replays showed the throw beat him; a dropped popup and a passed ball followed, and a pinch-hit single won it.

Who pitched a shutout in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series as the Royals won 11-0?

Bret Saberhagen, that season's AL Cy Young winner, threw a five-hit shutout in Game 7 and was named Series MVP; he won a second Cy Young in 1989.

Which pinch hitter's walk-off single won Game 6 of the 1985 World Series for Kansas City?

Dane Iorg's pinch single scored two runs in the ninth to win Game 6 2-1; he had won a ring with the Cardinals three years earlier.

Whose go-ahead three-run triple off Dave Stieb won Game 7 of the 1985 ALCS in Toronto?

Jim Sundberg's bases-loaded triple off the top of the right-field fence broke Game 7 open in the sixth; the Royals had trailed 3-1 in the first best-of-seven LCS.

George Brett's 1990 batting title made him the first player to win one in how many different decades?

George Brett's 1990 title, after crowns in 1976 and 1980, made him the first player to win batting titles in three different decades; he finished with 3,154 hits.

Which two-sport star hit a leadoff home run in the 1989 All-Star Game while playing for the Royals?

Bo Jackson led off the 1989 All-Star Game with a homer off Rick Reuschel and was named the game's MVP; Vin Scully's 'Bo Jackson says hello!' became a signature call.

The Royals waived their two-sport star in spring 1991 after he injured his hip playing which other sport?

The hip was dislocated playing football for the Los Angeles Raiders in a January 1991 NFL playoff game; the star had won the 1985 Heisman Trophy at Auburn.

The Royals have retired No. 5 for George Brett and No. 20 for which second baseman?

Frank White, the eight-time Gold Glove second baseman, had No. 20 retired in 1995; manager Dick Howser's No. 10 was retired after his death in 1987.

Which submarine-delivery reliever wore the Royals' unofficially retired No. 29 and saved 238 games?

Dan Quisenberry, with his submarine delivery, saved 238 games for the Royals and led the AL in saves five times; Mike Sweeney later wore his No. 29.

How many straight seasons did the Royals miss the postseason before their 2014 Wild Card berth?

The Royals missed the playoffs for 28 straight seasons, 1986 through 2013, then the longest active drought in major North American pro sports.

The 2005 Royals finished with what win-loss record?

The 2005 Royals went 56-106, a franchise low the 2023 club later matched; that team also lost 19 games in a row and finished 43 games out of first place.

Which Royals pitcher led the majors with a 2.16 ERA and won the AL Cy Young Award in 2009?

Zack Greinke went 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA and 242 strikeouts in 2009, becoming the third Royal to win the Cy Young Award.

The December 2012 trade for James Shields and Wade Davis sent which top prospect to Tampa Bay?

Wil Myers, the reigning minor-league player of the year, went to Tampa Bay with Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery; the deal was criticised at the time but fuelled the club's return to contention.

The Royals' 2014 postseason began with a 9-8, 12-inning Wild Card Game win over which team?

Kansas City trailed the Oakland Athletics 7-3 in the eighth before rallying, and the catcher's 12th-inning walk-off single started a run of eight straight postseason wins.

The Royals lost Game 7 of the 2014 World Series 3-2 to which team, with the tying run on third?

The San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner came out of the bullpen for five scoreless innings, and the last out was a foul pop to Pablo Sandoval with Alex Gordon on third.

The Royals' 2014 and 2015 bullpen was anchored by the 'HDH' trio of Herrera, Davis and whom?

Holland saved a franchise-record 47 games in 2013.

The Royals won the 2015 World Series over the New York Mets in how many games?

Kansas City won in five games; the Game 5 clincher went 12 innings after a two-run ninth-inning rally at Citi Field, and Wade Davis finished it.

Who was named MVP of the 2015 World Series?

Salvador Pérez, who led off the five-run 12th inning of Game 5 with a single, was the first catcher named World Series MVP since Pat Borders in 1992.

Which pitcher did the Royals acquire from Cincinnati in July 2015 for prospects including Brandon Finnegan?

Johnny Cueto came from the Reds for Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed; he threw eight innings of two-hit ball in ALDS Game 5 against Houston to send the Royals to the ALCS.

The Royals' 'ACE 30' jersey patches in 2017 honoured which pitcher, killed in a car accident?

Yordano Ventura, who had thrown seven shutout innings in Game 6 of the 2014 World Series, died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic in January 2017 at age 25.

Which manager retired after 2019 with a franchise-record 746 wins?

Ned Yost took over a 12-23 team in May 2010 and went 746-839 over ten seasons, winning the 2014 AL pennant and the 2015 World Series.

In 2019 John Sherman agreed to buy the Royals from David Glass for roughly what price?

John Sherman's group paid about $1 billion; Glass had bought the club for $96 million in 2000 after the founding owner's foundation searched for a local buyer.

Jorge Soler set the Royals' single-season home run record in 2019 with how many?

Jorge Soler hit 48 home runs in 2019 to set the club record and lead the American League; the Royals' catcher tied it with 48 in 2021.

Bobby Witt Jr. was drafted by the Royals in 2019 with which overall pick?

Bobby Witt Jr. was the 2nd overall pick in 2019, one behind Baltimore's choice of catcher Adley Rutschman; he debuted with the Royals in 2022.

Which Royals outfielder was named MVP of the 2014 ALCS sweep of Baltimore?

Lorenzo Cain was named 2014 ALCS MVP after hitting .533 with eight hits in the four-game sweep of Baltimore; Alcides Escobar won the award the following year.

The 2024 Royals reached the playoffs one season after doing what?

After losing more than 100 games in 2023, the Royals won 86 in 2024 and swept Baltimore in the Wild Card round before falling in the Division Series.

Willie Wilson set the Royals' single-season stolen base record in 1979 with how many?

Willie Wilson stole 83 bases in 1979 to set the Royals' single-season record; he also set club marks for career steals (612) and single-season hits (230 in 1980).

Which manager won AL Manager of the Year for the 2003 Royals' only winning season between 1995 and 2012?

Tony Peña won 2003 AL Manager of the Year as the Royals finished above .500; shortstop Ángel Berroa was Rookie of the Year, and Peña quit mid-season in 2005.

In the 1997 realignment, the Royals declined an offer to do what?

Kansas City declined the offer to switch to the National League; the Milwaukee Brewers made the switch instead for the 1998 season.

Who was the Royals' first general manager, who built the early teams with trades for Amos Otis and John Mayberry?

Cedric Tallis, general manager from 1968 to 1974, added Freddie Patek and Cookie Rojas by trade while the farm system produced George Brett and Paul Splittorff.

After its $250 million renovation in 2009, Kauffman Stadium's listed capacity was about how many?

The 2009 renovation cut Kauffman Stadium's listed capacity to about 37,900 from more than 40,000, while adding an outfield concourse and a larger scoreboard.

The winning 1968 name-the-team entry came from a fan in which Kansas suburb?

Sanford Porte of Overland Park submitted the winning 'Royals' entry, chosen from about 17,000 contest submissions in 1968.

Which Hall of Fame pitcher managed the Royals to their first winning season, in 1971?

Bob Lemon, a 207-game winner with Cleveland, guided the 1971 Royals to 85-76 and second place in the AL West before being let go after 1972.

Avron Fogelman, who bought 49% of the Royals in 1983, was a developer from which city?

Avron Fogelman, a Memphis real-estate developer, bought 49 percent of the club in 1983 and sold the stake back in 1990 after his property business faltered.

How many games did Bret Saberhagen win in 1989, a franchise record, on the way to his second Cy Young?

He went 23-6 with a 2.16 ERA in 1989; Mark Gubicza added 15 wins and rookie Tom Gordon 17 in that rotation.

Which free-agent pitcher's five-year, $55 million deal in 2007 was then the largest contract in Royals history?

Gil Meche signed for five years and $55 million in December 2006; Kansas City outbid the Cubs and Blue Jays for the right-hander after a run of 100-loss seasons.

Manager Trey Hillman came to the Royals in 2008 after managing which Japanese team?

Trey Hillman managed the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from 2003 to 2007, winning the 2006 Japan Series, before the Royals hired him; he was fired in 2010 after a 12-23 start.

How many extra-inning home runs did the 2014 Royals hit in the postseason, an MLB record?

The Royals hit four extra-inning homers: Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer in the 11th innings of ALDS Games 1 and 2, then Alex Gordon and Moustakas in the 10th of ALCS Game 1.