Paul Splittorff
Encyclopedia
Paul William Splittorff Jr. (icon; October 8, 1946 – May 25, 2011) was a Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
who spent his entire career with the Kansas City Royals
. Listed at 6' 3", Splittorff batted and threw left handed.
. He was drafted by the Royals in the 25th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Morningside College
in Sioux City, Iowa
, where he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi
Fraternity. He pitched for the Corning Royals in 1968 (a year before the major league club existed), and has the distinction of throwing the first pitch in Royals organization history. He went 28-27 with a 4.01 earned run average
in three seasons in the Royals' farm system before receiving his first call to the majors in September . He took the loss in his major league debut, pitching seven innings and giving up three earned runs against the Chicago White Sox
.
, but after going 5-2 with a 1.48 ERA in eight starts for Omaha, he earned a second call up to the majors. He stayed with Kansas City for the rest of the season, going 8-9 with a 2.68 ERA.
From there, he became a fixture in the Kansas City rotation. He enjoyed his only 20-win season in , when he went 20-11 with a 3.98 ERA. Splittorff was the starting pitcher in the inaugural game at Kauffman Stadium
(known at the time as Royals Stadium) on April 10, 1973; Splittorff earned the victory that evening in a 12-1 rout of the Texas Rangers
. After finishing second to the Oakland A's three of his first five seasons in the majors, Splittorff and the Royals emerged as American League West
champions in .
Kansas City faced the New York Yankees
in every American League Championship Series
from 1976 to , with the Yankees emerging victorious in all three. For his part, Splittorff was 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA against the Yankees in the five appearances he made against them in the ALCS. After both teams missed the play-offs in , the Royals and Yankees resumed their post-season rivalry in the 1980 American League Championship Series
. Kansas City swept the series, with Splittorff starting the third and deciding game, and receiving a no-decision. The Royals lost the World Series
in six games to the Philadelphia Phillies
with Splittorff making his only appearance in game six.
Never an All-Star and usually overshadowed by teammates Steve Busby
, Dennis Leonard
and Larry Gura
, Splittorff's consistency and longevity resulted in his winning more games than any of them. Splittorff accumulated 166 career victories over a 15-year career with the Royals.
Besides this, Splittorff was known for staring down hitters after he struck them out. He was particularly effective pitching against the New York Yankees
, who tended to stock up on left-handed hitters to take advantage of the dimensions of Yankee Stadium
, and Splittorff compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.68 earned run average
pitching in four championship series against them.
Splittorff retired when his effectiveness faded. At the same time, the Royals had numerous young pitchers coming through the ranks. His final game was on June 26, .
for the Royals. He was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in .
On May 16, 2011, Splittorff's battle with oral cancer and melanoma became public. Nine days later, on the morning of May 25, he died in his Blue Springs, Missouri
, home at the age of 64.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who spent his entire career with the Kansas City Royals
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...
. Listed at 6' 3", Splittorff batted and threw left handed.
Early years
Splittorff was born in Evansville, IndianaEvansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. He was drafted by the Royals in the 25th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
1968 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Los Angeles Dodgers laid the groundwork for their championship clubs of the 1970s with an outstanding draft...
out of Morningside College
Morningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, where he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established at the City College of New York in 1899 and is a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The headquarters of the fraternity is the Taggart Mansion located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
Fraternity. He pitched for the Corning Royals in 1968 (a year before the major league club existed), and has the distinction of throwing the first pitch in Royals organization history. He went 28-27 with a 4.01 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in three seasons in the Royals' farm system before receiving his first call to the majors in September . He took the loss in his major league debut, pitching seven innings and giving up three earned runs against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
Kansas City Royals
Splittorff began the season with the Omaha RoyalsOmaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
, but after going 5-2 with a 1.48 ERA in eight starts for Omaha, he earned a second call up to the majors. He stayed with Kansas City for the rest of the season, going 8-9 with a 2.68 ERA.
From there, he became a fixture in the Kansas City rotation. He enjoyed his only 20-win season in , when he went 20-11 with a 3.98 ERA. Splittorff was the starting pitcher in the inaugural game at Kauffman Stadium
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...
(known at the time as Royals Stadium) on April 10, 1973; Splittorff earned the victory that evening in a 12-1 rout of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. After finishing second to the Oakland A's three of his first five seasons in the majors, Splittorff and the Royals emerged as 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...
champions in .
Kansas City faced the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in every American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
from 1976 to , with the Yankees emerging victorious in all three. For his part, Splittorff was 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA against the Yankees in the five appearances he made against them in the ALCS. After both teams missed the play-offs in , the Royals and Yankees resumed their post-season rivalry in the 1980 American League Championship Series
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...
. Kansas City swept the series, with Splittorff starting the third and deciding game, and receiving a no-decision. The Royals lost the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in six games to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
with Splittorff making his only appearance in game six.
Never an All-Star and usually overshadowed by teammates Steve Busby
Steve Busby
Steven Lee Busby is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Kansas City Royals . He batted and threw right-handed.-Professional career:...
, 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...
and 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...
, Splittorff's consistency and longevity resulted in his winning more games than any of them. Splittorff accumulated 166 career victories over a 15-year career with the Royals.
Besides this, Splittorff was known for staring down hitters after he struck them out. He was particularly effective pitching against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, who tended to stock up on left-handed hitters to take advantage of the dimensions of Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
, and Splittorff compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.68 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
pitching in four championship series against them.
Splittorff retired when his effectiveness faded. At the same time, the Royals had numerous young pitchers coming through the ranks. His final game was on June 26, .
Personal life
After his retirement, Splittorff became a television color commentatorColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Royals. He was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in .
On May 16, 2011, Splittorff's battle with oral cancer and melanoma became public. Nine days later, on the morning of May 25, he died in his Blue Springs, Missouri
Blue Springs, Missouri
Blue Springs is a city in Jackson County, Missouri and is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census the population at 52,575.- Geography :...
, home at the age of 64.