#10 Amos Otis

Sigh....The other Met trade gone sour....His acquisition gave a highly positive asset to fledgling KC unit for the decade…..Mets acquired one sub standard year out of bust Joe Foy…..setting them up for the trade in franchise history, Jim Fregosi…Stepping up in 1970 became instant offence for the Royals making them the early frontrunners towards success among the 1969 entries….led AL in doubles to go with his .284 clip and made all star team (too much time spent with Mets in 1969 disqualified him for ROY)….enhanced his stats and standing for 1971….allocated to another all star game adding a gold glove and 8^th in MVP voting….career best .301….subsequent years brought three more All Star games, two more gold gloves, and some serious MVP consideration….decent power (sum total HR 193) but much more likely to get a double….or triple if ball was not cleanly handled…..A Royals fixture through 1982….on occasion BA was drift down to .250 mark, but Otis compensated either with more stolen bases or an outstanding post season….seceded to a part time player 1983…..next year a free agent signing by Pittsburgh failed to materialize a comeback….only knock on a great career….A long standing source of speed, fair power, and longevity he is considered Royals Royality.   

#57 Bob Oliver

Maybe the Royal player with the most impact who was obtained from their expansion draft (note ROY Lou Pinella was acquired from the Seattle Pilots)...passed along Twins and Pirates before finding a home in KC....was able to become a regular outfielder over a cattle call of contenders....set franchise firsts: hit the initial  grand slam and going 6 for 6....1970 moves over to be KC’s primary 1^st baseman with the arrival of rookie outfielder Amos Otis and the failure of second year player Mike Fiore....Oliver responds with career year, establishing team high marks with 27 dingers, 99 RBI’s.....Oliver’s play downgrades in 1971, causing the Royals to take a chance of promising slugger John Mayberry....No longer an outfielder was odd man out Oliver and rather than ride the bench he is exchanged to Angels....Oliver returns to prominence on his new team easily leading the way with 70 RBIs and in going yard 19 times despite being tardy in joining the Halos...was an easy going clubhouse presence.....King Olly brought a wind of change from the controversies from the year prior.... improved runs driven in the following year.....started to tail off in 1974 along with some of his Anaheim peers..... from sent packing to Baltimore in late stages as California cleaned house....while the birds were playoff bound Oliver was not used....picked on waiver by NYY for 1975 also resulted little use and an anemic BA ending his MLB days by the all star break....did not directly give up on baseball, put together strong minor league seasons in AAA and then the Mexican League....but in the mid-30s a return to MLB did not materialize....Once Oliver hung up his spikes did some managing and established a baseball teaching academy....Father of Darren Oliver a MLB pitcher who logged in 20 seasons....jostled around third and first and outfield, did best when assigned to one steady position....resided in Sacramento most of his life until passing away in 2020.

#68 Jim York

Short timer anywhere he played, splitting MiBL and the bigs.....Not an expansion pick but a #1 1969 amateur draft....Put in his best and only full MLB season with the 1971 edition of the KC Royals....5 wins, 5 loses, 2.90 ERA 3 saves.... Traded to Houston along with Lance Clemons for John Mayberry....advantage Royals who benefited from Mayberry maturity and power.....Houston got little out of him in 1972 but became a member of a bullpen by committee in 1973....racked up 6 saves tied for the club lead with two others....work load diminished in 1974 and 1975 but was able to lower ERA to more acceptable levels....still remained far down the Astro depth chart...sold to Yankees in anticipation of 1976.....mostly confined to NYY farm system but was able somehow win a game with no loses for the big club for his MLB swan season.....released and picked up by the White Sox in the closing stages of the season....was not able to win a job out of spring training 1977.  

#81 Mike Hedlund

Texas native known for flaming red hair....along with freckled skin ....a Cleveland prospect initially....lead the Eastern League in losses in 1968 obscured his 2.30 ERA....also topped the circuit in strikeouts....picked by KC in expansion draft....in a mixed role the Rookie stayed with the big club all season....sported in 3-6 record....a poor start for KC in 1970 demoted Mike to AAA Omaha....downfall may have been the resulted contracting Hong Kong flu while playing winter ball in Venus....healthier and buoyed by a strong bullpen resulted in a career year in 1971....assisted the overachieving Royal to second place in AL with 15 wins....Fourth best ERA too....could not follow up in 1972 and Royals faltered accordingly.....registered 5 wins while losing 7 with surrendering more than two more runs in a game....turned out to be last MLB year....returned to Cleveland for 1973....remained in AAA....flipped to White Sox for 1974 faring no better....trade to Reds resulted in his retirement from baseball...hobbies were hunting, fishing, and automobiles.  

#109 Jerry May

An enigma....not much is known…. exclusively a backup backstop…..talent summary: glove over bat…..came from a baseball family and took up catching when he high schools team was short in that position…..his fielding skill was kept him in the MLB…..got a new start in KC….Played enough to be considered the Royals main backstop closely followed by sometime outfielder Ed Kirkpatrick…..was crowded out as Kirkpatrick returned behind the plate in 1972….. Origins were with the Pirates….was given a shot at regular work after an impressive 1967…unfortunately his performance dovetailed in 1968 with .219 BA……relegated to being Manny Sanguillén’s back up from then on….as was the case in both KC and Pittsburgh a loss of playing eroded his batting average….hitting sank even further 1973, his last season….Released by KC, took a brief minor league assignment in the Pirate farm system and had a millisecond with the NY Mets….stayed out of baseball thereafter.....In 1996 May passed away as result of a farm accident.....A rotary brush cutter fell on him at his farm in Virginia. He had jacked up the machine to remove some wire that had gotten snarled in the blades, and the jack slipped…..reminiscent of Mark Fydrich’s death.… not much is known about May personal life other than he was married in 1963 and his game stats....one of six players with the last name May playing in 1971, joining Dave, Carlos, Lee, Milt, and Rudy.

#133 Joe Keough

Career 4^th  or 5^th outfielder....best year was 1970 when he hit .322 but unfortunately was put on the emergency disabled list due to a broken leg on June 29th to the end of the season....1971 was the closest he would come to regular work;  showing up in 110 games, dieturning in a pedestrian .248 BA ....1972 the arrival of Carl Taylor. Rich Scheinblum, and Steve Hovley eliminated any more significant MLB action....Drafted by Kansas City A’s in the first slot of the second round of the first amateur draft 1965....climbed up farm system with solid line drive hitter numbers....made name for himself in debuts....on 8/7/68 hit a pinch hit home run on his first MLB at bat....hit a game winning single in the Royal’s first game 4/8/69....had a brother Marty Keough and nephew Matt Keough who had long, successful baseball careers....traded to White Sox for 1973 season in a minor transaction....spent majority of season in AAA but was able work his way up to the big club for a couple of weeks in July....Passed away September, 2019.

#177-178 Paul Schaal Paul Schaal In Action

1971 Career year....matured veteran...hit for singles or doubles....but a source of pride was his 11 home runs and 61 RBI’s both personal bests....redemption for years of futility in the Angels organization....from his debut in 1964 to 1968 only hit .218 in 1392 at bats with just short of 2 dozen homers... paired with a hit by pitch injury Paul suffered a double whammy of being a never was and uncertain damaged goods....Enter expansion and the KC Royals...taking a chance on the advice of Paul’s ex hitting coach Royal Manager Joe Gordon he is drafted from California....even though at first Paul does not make the KC roster, he shows persistence and feasts on AAA pitching at Omaha at a .374 clip....impressed KC front office pressed Schaal into 61 games...Schaal hit .263 already his MLB top mark.... Paul continues his upward climb for the next two  years....suffered a set back with his .228 1972 BA but bounced back with a .288 mark 1973....1974 started poorly and a young George Brett was waiting in the wings....traded back to Anaheim for the remainder of the year...hit a fair .244...with a lot young competition at 3^rd was released....Paul tried several endeavors but found fulfillment as chiropractor...one patient, later on in his practice, was one George Brett.... Word is Paul had some good natured ribbing at Brett's expense....Passed away 2017.  

#205 Dick Drago

Expansion workhorse....took his bumps with losing records as a starter aside from an excellent 17-11 record in 1971....nevertheless was usually ranked one or two in Royal victories until 1973....1974 found himself in Boston, going 50-50 on starts or relief....moved up to top bullpen specialist in AL championship year....oddly traded to Angels for 1976 (rumored to be a late payment for player to be named later for the early 1975 acquisition of Denny Doyle)....Drago spends a year and change with the Angels, then spends remainder of 1977 with Orioles....Is reunited with Red Sox 1978 pitches well for 3 years....offering support in the wake of the downfall of Bill Campbell.....sent to Mariners for 1982 with lesser results and the end of his career....had confrontations with the law after retirement.

#246 Tom Burgmeier

Lefthander from Central Minnesota quietly played for 17 years….sometimes as the closer sometimes in middle relief….worked his way up the Angel’s chain and got a September call up 1968….gets regular work via the expansion draft and first edition of the Kansas City Royals…his servitude to the Royals is mixed….one half of an excellent duo with Ted Abernathy….accounted for 17 of the team’s 44 saves to go along with a 1.74 ERA…posted a 6-2 record in 1972 with a decidedly inflated ERA….spent most of 1973 in minors….floundering was acquired by his home state team the Twin….regained regular MLB work….once again paired up with another reliever (this time Bill Campbell) made for a formidable tandem going 25-6….took to free agency for the Red Sox.. seemed to have an ability to win games (including a 7-0 and 3-0 marks) and known as a good fielder.

#273 Bobby Floyd

Like so many of his peers, like Al Severinsen, a player stuck in either the Oriole bench or bush league system due the big club’s on the field success….was able stay the year in 1969 but was the 25^th man on roster but on got in 39 contests mostly as a late inning sub…Did get $14K for WS spot…Played on 4 teams in 1970; Baltimore, AAA Rochester, KC Royals, AAA Omaha…hit really well in September call going 14 for 43…could not follow up in 1971 and wound up back in Omaha….1972 was similar splitting time with Royals and Omaha, although his 134 at bats was the most work Bobby had in a season...Bobby was able stay in KC for the duration of 1973…best season too, got a hit out three at bats, a .333 BA….surrendered his spot to young Frank White in 1974 just after chipping a few at bats….would play in AAA but not return to the show….became a long time coach/manager

#315 Paul Splittorff

At the time, still a youngster....the first significant pitcher in the Royals franchise...held the mound for one team for parts of 15 years....Holds team mark for career wins with 166, although Dennis Leonard was probably the more dominant pitcher....was not expansion selection but taken in 25^th round of 1968 amateur draft...was the first Royal signed to a professional contract...was able to take a reasonable jump from low A to AAA ball in 197\68 to 1969...brought up gradually, to full effect....First taste of the Show was in 1971 and held his own....kept taking on more work and subsequently paid dividends by being KC’s first 20 game winner 1973....injuries hampered effectiveness in subsequent years....staged comeback with 16-6 and 19-8 records in 1978 and 1979...continued on hovering  with .500 record in four subsequent seasons....last effective year was 1983 when Paul went 13-8....last game was June 26^th 1984....Was the Royal’s best weapon against the NYY in their 3 playoff showdown...won two games and had 2.68 ERA in 6 games....donned glasses later into his career giving him a scholarly appearance....passed away as of 2011.

#332 Buck Martinez

A KC original...career extended to 17 seasons exceeding his 1969 expansionist teammates of Lou Pinella and Tom Burgmeier by two years and all the rest by a wide margin ...incredible longevity given he only shared catching duties at best and was a less than stellar hitter with a .225 BA....a testimony to the value of the Catcher position...not an expansion pick however rather traded to Royals by Astros....was #2 backstop for KC as a 20 year old rookie....Had trouble getting back to big club for entire campaigns until 1974 (8 hits in 55 at bats 1970-71, bypassed altogether relegated to minors 1972)....Took his reserve value to Milwaukee for three years, then Toronto for another six....played the outfield one game, DH for two, and pitched once....All other work in the field was as backstop.

#349 Al Fitzmorris

A KC original....1968 expansion draftee from the White Sox system....spent most of Royal’s initial year at AAA Omaha negotiating a considerable from Single A the year before....made opening day roster 1970....hung around for several years neither establishing himself as a starter nor reliever....took a demotion to AAA in 1973....it appeared to help however...came back with a new focus and established himself in the rotation...won 8 in the second half of 1973, then 12 in 1974...  #2 in Royals wins with 16 circa 1975....followed up with 15 victories next year the KC wins AL West....all this time as a starter however he butted heads with both Jack McKeon and Whitey Herzog....this was evident as Al was omitted from ALCS....to add insult to injury was exposed to the expansion and picked up by Toronto....immediately flipped to Cleveland....the tumultuous episode appeared to effect his play and was never the same....a very mediocre 6-10 record with a inflated ERA.....last season was 1978 with sparse work shared between Indians and Angels....was position player when started playing professional ball, as a result hit a respectable .242 at the plate.

# 372 Royals Rookie Stars

Irony, one of players traded to Astros for John Mayberry earning a very small note on the backside.... the regal sounding Lance Clemons...never played for the Astros....Bulk of MLB time, 24 inning and one win was already spent with the Royals 1971...did get in 5 shell shocked innings for the Cardinals in 1972....whisked away to the Red Sox as a dreaded player to be named later deal....briefly resurfaced somehow winning a game for Boston 1974 despite a monstrous ERA over 9.00....passed away 2006.....Showing a bit more promise was wealthy sounding Monty Montgomery...had a clean sweep with a 3-0 record in 3 games with a solid 2.11 ERA in 1971....Returned to bookend  Royals 1972 season.... but spent most of year in minors....went 3-3 and logged in 54 inning highlight being a shutout of California on Sept 7th....had great trouble in getting anybody out at AAA level thereafter....one odd coincidence catcher Bob Montgomery’s nickname was “Monty”  

#373 John Mayberry....

Change of scenery, change of career....on a holding pattern in the Astro’s system....never fully broke through getting collect scattered Abs showing glimpses of power but anemic batting...Terrific Royals debut: 2^nd in AL RBIs with 100, a surprising .298 BA....another steal for the fledgling Royals and considered one of worst all time trades by the Astros...His encore in 1973 featured the league best on base %.....after an off season in 1974 rebounded nicely in 1975 with career best in home runs and RBIs....spent two more years in KC....sold to 2^nd year Toronto Blue Jays as the Royals made way for Sports Illustrated cover cursed Clint Hurdle.... Mayberry continued his home run hitting ways by slugging 92 in six seasons....last team; he was picked up by the Yankees in their annual veteran hunt for reserve players 1982.

#415 Cookie Rojas

Initially a jack of all trades, later the Royal first significant 2^nd baseman... tough to strikeout, excellent fielder and double play pivot man, a do whatever it takes player…Author of a strong  comeback….in 1970 was batting barely over .100 for the St Louis Cardinals….this coming on the heels of two subpar seasons with his longstanding Phillies….a .260 BA for the Sophomore Royals was promising sign….steps up his game with a .300 BA in 1971 as the Royals exceeded expectations….provided KC fans with 3 more strong seasons getting an all star nod in each….production exceeding his Philadelphia years of 1964 to 1967….eventually gave away playing time to prospect Frank White as Cookie was nearing age 40….. started out in the Reds organization was one of the last player out of his native Havana as Fidel Castro threaten to nationalize AAA affiliate Sugar Kings….stayed in baseball as a coach, scout, broadcast booth and manager of three MLB teams for one season each.

#449 Bob Lemon

Took over as manager in the middle of the second year of the expansion Royals...Did a great job in third year squad with a low key, laid back style....shrewd trades and strong farm system vaulted the team to second place in AL West with a 85-76 record in 1971.... 1972:  KC was mediocre at 76-78  and Lemon turned over reigns to Jack McKeon....Somewhat a minority a manager who was a star pitcher....HOFer too, with 207 career wins....Won 20 games or more in seven out of seven out of nine seasons...arm troubles spelled a quick exit from playing....turned to coaching and managing in minor leagues....After KC, returned to managing in 1974 for AAA Sacramento....fun time, for laid back helped because team gave up 1030 runs...Not Lemon’s fault, playing in a football stadium with a 250 feet left field was the cause...joined 1976 Yankees as pitching coach.... getting in on ground floor of the fabled Bronx Zoo....Took a detour with the 1977 White Sox steering them to 90 wins....almost identical to KC, team couldn’t repeat the bar set before in 1978, was let go....Enter Tony L from two cards earlier...Collected unemployment for only month....Ever the prodigal son to dysfunctional family returns to Yankees as Manager....Needless to say thing get weird....although team was above .500, when Billy Martin was fired, the Yankees surged under Lemon and take Boston in a playoff in game...Yankees end up winning the World Series on the bat of Reggie, and unexpected sources; infielder Bucky Dent and late season reserve Brian Doyle....Triumph me with tragedy when son dies in off season...while he stays with the Yanks, it was recommend he take time off....eventually works as a NYY scout...he is re-established as manager taking over from Gene Michaels for the tail end of 1981 split season....Yankees make it back to WS but lose....Bob started the 1982 season, but then replaced by the man he last replaced, Gene Michaels....passed in 2000.

#468 Richie Scheinblum

Maybe one of the most ultimate AAA+ player in the post expansion age...way too good to be in minors not good enough for majors on a consistent basis...In 1971 flopped early in a Washington Senators uniform prior to AAA Denver demotion...took his frustrations out on opposing pitchers by hitting 25 home runs, 108 RBIs and .388 in only 374 at bats....possibly the success rubbed off to his most accomplished MLB season 1972...acquired by Kansas City he led the AL in batting for the first half of the year....made the All Star team....cooled down as year wound down but finished hitting .300 ....Rewarded by being traded to Reds....Steal for Royals getting Hal McRea....Started career by tearing up other minor leagues only to have call ups by Cleveland Indians and said chance with Senators met with failure.......Started slowly with Reds in 1973, which prompted a trade to Angels....game picked up and salvaged his season with a .307 BA...not so fortunate in 1974 struggled all season with 3 team complied BA of .174 and 4 RBIs....spent next two years in Japan.

#519 Ted Abernathy

Very underappreciated and very good if handled right....At the time a pitcher identifiable by his submarine delivery....his delivery is the story of an evolution due to injuries, was an overhander in high school turned  side armed turned submariner....1952 First season in minors won 20 games a feat unheard of today....A mixture of military commitment and call ups to the 1^st incarnation of the Washington Senators greatly reduced effectiveness...bounced around minor and organizations but started to find an inkling of effectiveness with Cleveland 1963....Became a Cub in 1965 and set the then MLB record for appearances and was named fireman of the year .... off year in 1966 resulted in a trade....resurfaced and returned to 1965 form with Cincinnati 1967-68 in a rare highly beneficial rule 5 draft....so good won his second fireman of the year award....returned to Cubs in 1968 and became a fixture again teaming for a 1-2 punch with Phil Reagan....Curiously pitched well in 1970 but transversed through three teams, finishing with the KC Royals....Last two season remained effective with 23 saves in 1971 and 1.70 ERA in 1972....Despite this was released as part of a KC youth movement prior 1973...did resurface in low minors for a few games 1973that year....passed away 2004....paved the way for submariners Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry.

#531 Fred Patek

The sparkplug player held most accountable as KC’s surprised  the baseball world by going from fourth in the AL West during 1970 to second place 1971... Acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh had career year by leading the AL in triples and a personal best .267 BA....subsequent seasons did not hit as well but his fielding and speed (top ten stolen bases 8 years in a row) was his value....took free agency after 1978 but playing time diminished as an Angel... out of majors after 1980.....biggest claim to fame was the smallest player @ 5’5” in majors at the time.... 3 time All Star.