1980 Kansas City Royals season
Encyclopedia
The 1980 Kansas City Royals
season was a season in American baseball
. The Royals finished first in the American League West
with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses. They went on to sweep the New York Yankees
in the ALCS
, then lost to the Philadelphia Phillies
in the 1980 World Series
, four games to two.
One of the highlights of the season was George Brett
winning the American League
batting
title. Brett's .390 batting average was the highest in the majors since Ted Williams
hit .406 in 1941.
against the Royals, Rick Honeycutt
taped a thumbtack to his finger to cut the ball. Royals baserunner Willie Wilson spotted the tack from second base. The umpires investigated and not only found the tack, but also a gash in Honeycutt's forehead. Honeycutt was ejected from the game, suspended for 10 games, and fined.
NL Philadelphia Phillies
(4) vs. AL Kansas City Royals (2)>
Game
Score
Date
Location
Attendance
Time of Game
1
Royals – 6, Phillies – 7
October 14
Veterans Stadium
(Philadelphia)
65,791
3:01
2
Royals – 4, Phillies – 6
October 15
Veterans Stadium
(Philadelphia)
65,775
3:01
3
Phillies – 3, Royals – 4 (10 inns)
October 17
Royals Stadium
(Kansas City)
42,380
3:19
4
Phillies – 3, Royals – 5
October 18
Royals Stadium
(Kansas City)
42,363
2:37
5
Phillies – 4, Royals – 3
October 19
Royals Stadium
(Kansas City)
42,369
2:51
6
Royals – 1, Phillies – 4
October 21
Veterans Stadium
(Philadelphia)
65,838
3:00
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. The Royals finished first in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses. They went on to sweep the New York Yankees
1980 New York Yankees season
The 1980 New York Yankees season was the 78th season for the franchise in New York, and its 80th season overall. The team finished with a record of 103-59, finishing in first place in the American League East, 3 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles. The Kansas City Royals swept the Yanks in the...
in the ALCS
1980 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1980 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriThe series opener saw the Yankees throw their ace, Ron Guidry, against the Royals' Larry Gura. In the top of the second, the Bronx Bombers jumped out to a 2–0 lead when Rick Cerone and Lou Piniella smacked back-to-back...
, then lost to the Philadelphia Phillies
1980 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1980 Philadelphia Phillies season was a season in American baseball. The team finished with a regular-season record of 91 wins and 71 losses, which was good enough to regain the National League East title by just one game over the Montreal Expos...
in the 1980 World Series
1980 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 14, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe Royals jumped on Philly rookie starter Bob Walk early with a pair of two run bombs—one by Amos Otis in the second and another by Willie Aikens in the third...
, four games to two.
One of the highlights of the season was George Brett
George Brett
George Brett , is an American baseball player.George Brett may also refer to:*George Edward Brett , British-born American publisher*George Brett , World War II USAAF general...
winning the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
title. Brett's .390 batting average was the highest in the majors since Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
hit .406 in 1941.
Offseason
- October 26, 1979: Keith Drumright was acquired by the Royals from the Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
to complete an earlier deal (the Astros sent a player to be named later to the Royals for George ThroopGeorge Throop (baseball)George Lynford Throop is a former professional baseball pitcher. Throop pitched in parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball between and ....
) made on April 27, 1979.
Regular season
On September 30, while pitching for the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
against the Royals, Rick Honeycutt
Rick Honeycutt
Frederick Wayne "Rick" Honeycutt is the current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Honeycutt was a left-handed pitcher for 21 years from 1977 to 1997. He played with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and the St. Louis Cardinals...
taped a thumbtack to his finger to cut the ball. Royals baserunner Willie Wilson spotted the tack from second base. The umpires investigated and not only found the tack, but also a gash in Honeycutt's forehead. Honeycutt was ejected from the game, suspended for 10 games, and fined.
Opening Day starters
- Willie AikensWillie AikensWillie Mays Aikens is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He had established himself as one of the top sluggers in the game before drugs derailed his career. In , Aikens was sentenced to twenty years in prison on four counts of crack cocaine distribution and one count of use of a firearm...
- George BrettGeorge BrettGeorge Brett , is an American baseball player.George Brett may also refer to:*George Edward Brett , British-born American publisher*George Brett , World War II USAAF general...
- Clint HurdleClint HurdleClinton Merrick Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball outfielder whose 10-year career was spent with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. After retiring from playing baseball, Hurdle became a manager...
- Pete LaCockPete LaCockRalph Pierre "Pete" LaCock, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder.In 1975, he hit the only grand slam of his career, on the final pitch ever thrown by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson.-Career:LaCock was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 1970...
- Dennis LeonardDennis LeonardDennis Patrick Leonard was one of the Kansas City Royals' most dominating pitchers of the late '70s and early '80s, but a promising career cut short due to injuries. In 1975, his first full year he managed to bust out with a 15-7 record...
- Hal McRaeHal McRaeHarold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
- Jamie QuirkJamie QuirkJames Patrick Quirk is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current bench coach for the Chicago Cubs. Quirk attended Whittier College.-Playing career:Quirk was also a Parade Magazine All-America quarterback at St...
- U L WashingtonU L WashingtonU L Washington is a former Major League Baseball player from 1977 to 1987 for the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He also was the manager of Pittsburgh's minor team the Welland Pirates in 1989...
- Frank White
- Willie Wilson
Notable transactions
- April 5, 1980: Eduardo RodríguezEduardo Rodríguez (baseball)Eduardo Rodríguez Reyes [Volanta] was a professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from through for the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals , mostly as a relief pitcher. Listed at 6' 0", 185 lb., Rodríguez batted and threw right-handed...
was released by the Royals. - June 16, 1980: Mark HuismannMark HuismannMark Lawrence Huismann is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Huismann pitched in all or part of nine seasons in the majors for six different teams from until . Mainly used as a relief pitcher, Huismann started just one game out of 152 total games pitched...
was signed by the Royals as an amateur free agent. - June 17, 1980: Randy McGilberryRandy McGilberryRandall Kent McGilberry is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for two seasons. He pitched in three games for the Kansas City Royals during the 1977 Kansas City Royals season and 18 games during the 1978 Kansas City Royals season. He played college baseball at Louisiana Tech...
was traded by the Royals to the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for Kevin KobelKevin KobelKevin Richard Kobel is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of six seasons in the majors, three for the Milwaukee Brewers and three for the New York Mets .-Sources:...
. - August, 1980: Keith Drumright was purchased from the Royals by the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Roster
| 1980 Kansas City Royals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Player stats
| = Indicates team leader |
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 118 | 418 | 51 | 104 | 14 | 2 | .249 | 7 | 51 | 1 | |
| 1B | 151 | 543 | 70 | 151 | 24 | 0 | .278 | 20 | 98 | 1 | |
| 2B | 154 | 560 | 70 | 148 | 23 | 4 | .264 | 7 | 60 | 19 | |
| 3B | 117 | 449 | 87 | 175 | 33 | 9 | .390 | 24 | 118 | 15 | |
| SS | 153 | 549 | 79 | 150 | 16 | 11 | .273 | 6 | 53 | 20 | |
| LF | 161 | 705 | 133 | 230 | 28 | 15 | .326 | 3 | 49 | 79 | |
| CF | 107 | 394 | 56 | 99 | 16 | 3 | .251 | 10 | 53 | 16 | |
| RF | 130 | 395 | 50 | 116 | 31 | 2 | .294 | 10 | 60 | 0 | |
| DH | 124 | 489 | 73 | 145 | 39 | 5 | .297 | 14 | 83 | 10 |
Other batters
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases| Player | G | AB | R | H | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | 453 | 57 | 138 | .305 | 6 | 58 | 17 | |
| 69 | 167 | 19 | 42 | .251 | 1 | 20 | 1 | |
| 62 | 163 | 13 | 45 | .276 | 5 | 21 | 3 | |
| 114 | 156 | 14 | 32 | .205 | 1 | 18 | 1 | |
| 51 | 72 | 10 | 12 | .167 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 36 | 54 | 8 | 14 | .259 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 25 | 53 | 8 | 18 | .340 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 20 | 26 | 2 | 8 | .308 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
| 14 | 23 | 0 | 1 | .043 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 22 | 16 | 4 | 1 | .063 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | 15 | 1 | 2 | .133 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 7 | 10 | 1 | 2 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 283.1 | 18 | 10 | 2.95 | 76 | 113 | |
| 38 | 280.1 | 20 | 11 | 3.79 | 80 | 155 | |
| 34 | 204 | 14 | 11 | 4.15 | 43 | 53 | |
| 32 | 190.2 | 13 | 9 | 3.92 | 78 | 97 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 137.1 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 4.39 | 70 | 68 | |
| 11 | 42.1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6.17 | 19 | 12 | |
| 3 | 4.2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11.57 | 5 | 2 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 128.1 | 12 | 7 | 33 | 3.09 | 27 | 37 | |
| 37 | 89 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3.64 | 23 | 40 | |
| 24 | 31.1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5.17 | 18 | 16 | |
| 13 | 22.1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6.04 | 7 | 9 | |
| 14 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5.32 | 8 | 5 | |
| 8 | 13.1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 5 | 4 | |
| 5 | 9.1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.75 | 5 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 |
Game 1
October 8 Royals StadiumKauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| Kansas City | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | X | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| W: Larry Gura Larry Gura Lawrence Cyril Gura is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from to . He went to Arizona State University and spent 16 years in the Major Leagues. He played for the Chicago Cubs of the National League, and the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals , both of the American League... (1-0) L: Ron Guidry Ron Guidry Ronald Ames Guidry , nicknamed "Louisiana Lightning" and "Gator", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees... (0-1) |
||||||||||||
| HRs: NYY – Rick Cerone Rick Cerone Richard Aldo Cerone from Seton Hall University is a former Major League Baseball player from 1975 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos... (1) Lou Piniella Lou Piniella Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager... (1) KCR – George Brett George Brett George Brett , is an American baseball player.George Brett may also refer to:*George Edward Brett , British-born American publisher*George Brett , World War II USAAF general... (1) |
||||||||||||
Game 2
October 9 Royals StadiumKauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Kansas City | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| W: Dennis Leonard Dennis Leonard Dennis Patrick Leonard was one of the Kansas City Royals' most dominating pitchers of the late '70s and early '80s, but a promising career cut short due to injuries. In 1975, his first full year he managed to bust out with a 15-7 record... (1-0) L: Rudy May Rudy May Rudolph May, Jr. is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos... (0-1) S: Dan Quisenberry Dan Quisenberry Dan Raymond "Quiz" Quisenberry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Kansas City Royals... (1) |
||||||||||||
| HRs: NYY – Graig Nettles Graig Nettles Graig Nettles , nicknamed "Puff", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best... |
||||||||||||
Game 3
October 10 Yankee Stadium| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 1 |
| New York | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| W: Dan Quisenberry Dan Quisenberry Dan Raymond "Quiz" Quisenberry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Kansas City Royals... (1-0) L: Rich Gossage Rich Gossage Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1994 for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The nickname "Goose" is a play on his surname... (0-1) |
||||||||||||
| HRs: KCR – George Brett George Brett George Brett , is an American baseball player.George Brett may also refer to:*George Edward Brett , British-born American publisher*George Brett , World War II USAAF general... (2) Frank White (1) |
||||||||||||
World Series
1980 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1980 Philadelphia Phillies season was a season in American baseball. The team finished with a regular-season record of 91 wins and 71 losses, which was good enough to regain the National League East title by just one game over the Montreal Expos...
(4) vs. AL Kansas City Royals (2)>
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
(Philadelphia)
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
(Philadelphia)
Kauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
(Kansas City)
Kauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
(Kansas City)
Kauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
(Kansas City)
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
(Philadelphia)
Awards and honors
- George BrettGeorge BrettGeorge Brett , is an American baseball player.George Brett may also refer to:*George Edward Brett , British-born American publisher*George Brett , World War II USAAF general...
- American League Batting Champion (.390) - George Brett, Hutch AwardHutch AwardThe Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson...