Suvarna Garge (Editor)

1980 Kansas City Royals season

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Owner(s)
  
Ewing Kauffman

Manager(s)
  
Jim Frey

General manager(s)
  
Joe Burke

Local television
  
WDAF-TV (Al Wisk, Denny Trease)

Local radio
  
WIBW (AM) (Denny Matthews, Fred White)

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.

Contents

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.

Offseason

  • October 26, 1979: Keith Drumright was acquired by the Royals from the Houston Astros to complete an earlier deal (the Astros sent a player to be named later to the Royals for George Throop) made on April 27, 1979.

    • Regular season

    On September 30, while pitching for the Seattle Mariners 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.

    Opening Day starters

  • Willie Aikens
  • George Brett
  • Clint Hurdle
  • Pete LaCock
  • Dennis Leonard
  • Hal McRae
  • Jamie Quirk
  • U L Washington
  • Frank White
  • Willie Wilson

    • Notable transactions

  • April 5, 1980: Eduardo Rodríguez was released by the Royals.
  • June 16, 1980: Mark Huismann was signed by the Royals as an amateur free agent.
  • June 17, 1980: Randy McGilberry was traded by the Royals to the New York Mets for Kevin Kobel.
  • August 1980: Keith Drumright was purchased from the Royals by the Chicago Cubs.

    • 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

    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

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

    Game 1

    October 8 Royals Stadium

    Game 2

    October 9 Royals Stadium

    Game 3

    October 10 Yankee Stadium

    World Series

    NL Philadelphia Phillies (4) vs. AL Kansas City Royals (2)

    Awards and honors

  • George Brett – American League Batting Champion (.390)
  • George Brett, Hutch Award

    • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GCL Royals Blue

    References

    1980 Kansas City Royals season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA