1987 Kansas City Royals season
Encyclopedia
The Kansas City Royals
season was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Royals finishing 2nd in the American League
West with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses.
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...
. It involved the Royals finishing 2nd in 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...
West with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses.
Offseason
- December 10, 1986: Scott BankheadScott BankheadMichael Scott Bankhead is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues from -. Bankhead also pitched for Team USA in the 1984 Olympic Games...
, Steve ShieldsSteve Shields (baseball)Steve Shields is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 10th round of the 1977 amateur draft, and played for five different teams between 1985–89. He lives with his family in Hokes Bluff, Alabama.-External links:...
, and Mike KingeryMike KingeryMichael Scott Kingery , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues, primarily as an outfielder, from 1986–1992 and 1994-1996. Kingery's career high for home runs in a season was 9, set in 1987 while playing limited time with the Seattle Mariners...
were traded by the Royals to the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe 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...
for Danny TartabullDanny TartabullDanilo Tartabull Mora , also known as Danny Tartabull, is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. Born to Cuban parents in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he is the son of José Tartabull, who played in the major leagues from 1962 to 1970.-Playing career:Danny played for the Seattle Mariners ,...
and Rick LueckenRick LueckenRichard Fred Luecken is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for two seasons. He pitched in 19 games for the Kansas City Royals in 1989, 36 games for the Atlanta Braves in 1990, and one game for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1990. He was drafted out of Texas A&M in 1983...
. - December 22, 1986: Alan HargesheimerAlan HargesheimerAlan Robert Hargesheimer is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in parts of four seasons between and for three different teams. Since his retirement, Hargesheimer has worked as a scout for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres.-Sources:...
was released by the Royals. - March 20, 1987: Derek Botelho was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Kansas City Royals for Eddie Tanner (minors) and Pete Carey (minors).
- March 27, 1987: David ConeDavid ConeDavid Brian Cone is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1986-2003 for six different teams. Cone pitched the sixteenth perfect game in baseball history. He also set the MLB record for most years between 20-win seasons. He was a member of five...
and Chris JelicChris JelicChristopher John Jelic , is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder who appeared in four games with the New York Mets in...
were 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 Ed Hearn, Rick AndersonRick Anderson (baseball, born 1956)Richard Arlen Anderson is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher and the current pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins.-New York Mets:...
, and Mauro GozzoMauro GozzoMauro Gozzo is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors, from until ....
. - March 30, 1987: Jim SundbergJim SundbergJames Howard Sundberg is a former professional baseball catcher known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. He played for a number of Major League teams, most significantly the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, with whom we won a World Championship...
was traded by the Royals to 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...
for Thad BosleyThad BosleyThaddis Bosley Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the California Angels , Chicago White Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , Seattle Mariners , Chicago Cubs , Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers ....
and Dave GumpertDave GumpertDavid Lawrence Gumpert , was a professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from - for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and Kansas City Royals.He was born in South Haven, Michigan....
. - March 31, 1987: Larry OwenLarry OwenLawrence Thomas Owen is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors, between and , for the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals. His hometown is in Hilliard, Ohio....
was signed as a free agent by the Royals.
Notable transactions
- June 2, 1987: Bret BarberieBret BarberieBret Edward Barberie is a former professional baseball infielder. He is an alumnus of the University of Southern California....
was drafted by the Royals in the 65th round of the 1987 Major League Baseball Draft1987 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
, but did not sign.
Roster
| 1987 Kansas City Royals roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Jamie Quirk Jamie Quirk James 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... |
109 | 296 | 70 | .236 | 5 | 33 |
| 1B | George Brett George Brett (baseball) George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th... |
115 | 427 | 124 | .290 | 22 | 78 |
| 2B | Frank White | 154 | 563 | 138 | .245 | 17 | 78 |
| 3B | Kevin Seitzer Kevin Seitzer Kevin Lee Seitzer is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians.-Career:... |
161 | 641 | 207 | .323 | 15 | 83 |
| SS | Ángel Salazar | 116 | 317 | 65 | .205 | 2 | 21 |
| LF | Bo Jackson Bo Jackson Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985.... |
116 | 396 | 93 | .235 | 22 | 53 |
| CF | Willie Wilson | 146 | 610 | 170 | .279 | 4 | 30 |
| RF | Danny Tartabull Danny Tartabull Danilo Tartabull Mora , also known as Danny Tartabull, is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. Born to Cuban parents in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he is the son of José Tartabull, who played in the major leagues from 1962 to 1970.-Playing career:Danny played for the Seattle Mariners ,... |
158 | 582 | 180 | .309 | 34 | 101 |
| DH | Steve Balboni Steve Balboni Stephen Charles Balboni is a retired Major League Baseball player with the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers. He was a player with home run power and a tendency to strike out. He was nicknamed "Bye Bye" because of his home run hitting prowess... |
121 | 386 | 80 | .207 | 24 | 60 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Owen Larry Owen Lawrence Thomas Owen is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors, between and , for the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals. His hometown is in Hilliard, Ohio.... |
76 | 164 | 31 | .189 | 5 | 14 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Jackson Danny Jackson Danny Lynn Jackson was a pitcher with a 15-year career from to . He played for the Kansas City Royals of the American League and the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, St... |
36 | 224 | 9 | 18 | 4.02 | 152 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|