Are you a baseball fan? If yes, you might want to learn about some facts about the Kansas City Royals, a Missouri based professional baseball team. They have competed and still do in Major League Baseball as an American League Central division member team.
They attribute their ‘Royals’ name to American Royal, a horse show, livestock show, championship barbeque, and rodeo competition that are held in Kansas annually since 1899. The team was founded by Ewing Kauffman, a Kansas City businessman, and entered the American League in 1969.
KC Royals gained a generation of fans in the 2014 World Series who might not know some interesting facts about their baseball team. If you are one of the new fans, learn more about your team below.
Fact #1 No-Hitters
The KC Royals have had four no-hitters since they were born. Three of these no-hitters were achieved in the first nine years of their existence and they came in a five-season window. In total, KC Royals have had 295 no-hitters in Major League Baseball history.
However, the team has been no-hit only twice. These no-hitters were produced by Steve Busby on 27/4/1973 and on 19/6/1974, Jim Colborn on 14/5/1977, and Bret Saberhagen on 26/8/1991.
They are due another no-hit. Since the times of Saberhagen 25 years ago, Mark Buehrle, Hideo Nomo, Justin Verlander, Tim Lincecum and Homer Bailey have watch thrown two since their last no-no.
Fact #2 Hitting for the Cycle
Recently, Mike Moustakas made four-for-five against the Yankees and missed hitting for the cycle by a few feet. On the same night, his second double came up a bit short of becoming a home run. Out of 315 cycles in the history of baseball game, the Royals have six cycles. Only 29 players have hit more than once in the cycle, two of whom belonged to Kansas Royals.
Fact #3 Built for Speed
The Kansas Royals attribute their success to speed and they have maintained speed since their ever first game. Since their inception, they have 6,175 stolen bases which is the second-highest number of stolen bases in that category of all baseball teams. Only the Reds beat them with the highest number. KC Royals have four players who have made more than 200 steals in the home town uniform. They are Willie Wilson with 612 steals, Amos Otis with 340 steals, Freddie Patek 336, and George Brett with 201 steals.
Fact #4 Franchise History Turning Point
While some people think the 1985 World Series Championship was the turning point, it was just the biggest moment. And as fans, it’s important that you know the facts. From 1969 to 1991, the KC Royals were 1903-1753, making a winning percentage of .521.
Beginning 1992 through early 2017, the Royals were 1817-2203, for a winning percentage of .452. In 1991, December, when the Royals traded Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen and Bill Pecota for Kevin McReynolds, Keith Miller, and Greg Jefferies, the team never recovered.
Fact #5 Hall-of-Famers that Have Played for KC Royals
This team has two Hall-of-Famers of their own. They are George Brett, who is a baseball all-time best. Then Denny Mathews who is a Ford C.Frick Award recipient in the Hall of Fame for his number of years as a Royals broadcaster. Six other Hall-of-Famers that spent some time in the Royals uniform are Orlando Cepeda, Whitey Herzog, Joe Gordon, Bob Lemon, Harmon Killebrew, and Gaylord Perry.
Fact #6 Cy Young Winners and an MVP
Three of the KC Royals won four Cy Young awards in the history of the baseball Kansas franchise. However, there are some years that the Royals have been awful on the mound. From 1997 to 2006, the Royals put up a 5.22 ERA team, second worst after the Rockies in that season.
Also, in the course of 45 years, the team has got great pitching seasons. The Cy Young award winners are Bret Saberhagen (1985 and 1989), David Cone (1994), and Zack Greinke (2007).
Fact #7 Home Run Hitters They Ain’t
Since 1969, the Kansas Royals have ranked 26th in the Majors in home runs. From the 1990s only the four expansion teams have had fewer home runs.
In early 2017, the KC Royals hit 2,298 less than the Yankees that had the highest number since 1969. George Brett is the only Royal that has more than 200 home runs (317). There are only 14 Royal players with more than 100 round-trippers.
Fact #8 Winning for the KC Royals
In the franchise history, KC Royals have 3,720 wins. This makes the team rank 22nd in the majors since 1969. Out of the ten teams below them, six started playing after the Royals. The teams are Blue, Mariners, Jays, Marlins, Rockies, Diamondbacks and Rays. This leaves only four franchises that have won less than the Royals.
Conclusion
As a Kansas City Royal baseball team fan, you should have these facts and more on your fingertips. Your team has garnered 3,720 wins, ranked 26th in the Majors since 1969, has had three KC royals win Cy Young awards in the baseball Kansas franchise.
