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1977 Kansas City Royals season

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1977 Kansas City Royals
American League West Champions
LeagueAmerican League
DivisionWest
BallparkRoyals Stadium
CityKansas City, Missouri
Record102–60 (.630)
Divisional place1st
OwnersEwing Kauffman
General managersJoe Burke
ManagersWhitey Herzog (second full season)
TelevisionKBMA–TV 41
(Denny Matthews, Fred White)
RadioWIBW–AM 580
KMBZ–AM 980
(Denny Matthews, Fred White)
← 1976 Seasons 1978 →

The 1977 Kansas City Royals season was their ninth in Major League Baseball. The Royals' franchise-best 102–60 record led the majors and Kansas City won its second consecutive American League West title. Once again, the Royals lost to the New York Yankees in the postseason, falling 3–2 in the ALCS. Hal McRae led the American League in doubles, with 54. Al Cowens set a franchise single-season record with 112 runs batted in.

Offseason

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Regular season

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Season standings

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AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Kansas City Royals 102 60 .630 — 55‍–‍26 47‍–‍34
Texas Rangers 94 68 .580 8 44‍–‍37 50‍–‍31
Chicago White Sox 90 72 .556 12 48‍–‍33 42‍–‍39
Minnesota Twins 84 77 .522 17½ 48‍–‍32 36‍–‍45
California Angels 74 88 .457 28 39‍–‍42 35‍–‍46
Seattle Mariners 64 98 .395 38 29‍–‍52 35‍–‍46
Oakland Athletics 63 98 .391 38½ 35‍–‍46 28‍–‍52

Record vs. opponents

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1977 American League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team BAL BOS CAL CWS CLE DET KC MIL MIN NYY OAK SEA TEX TOR
Baltimore — 6–8 5–6 5–5 11–4 12–3 4–7 11–4 6–4 8–7 8–2 7–3 4–6 10–5
Boston 8–6 — 7–3 3–7 8–7 9–6 5–5 9–6 4–6 8–7 8–3 10–1 6–4 12–3
California 6–5 3–7 — 8–7 6–4 4–6 6–9 5–5 7–8 4–7 5–10 9–6 5–10 6–4
Chicago 5–5 7–3 7–8 — 6–4 4–6 8–7 6–5 10–5 3–7 10–5 10–5 6–9 8–3
Cleveland 4–11 7–8 4–6 4–6 — 8–7 3–7 11–4 2–9 3–12 7–3 7–3 2–9 9–5
Detroit 3–12 6–9 6–4 6–4 7–8 — 3–8 10–5 5–5 6–9 5–5 5–6 2–8 10–5
Kansas City 7–4 5–5 9–6 7–8 7–3 8–3 — 8–2 10–5 5–5 9–6 11–4 8–7 8–2
Milwaukee 4–11 6–9 5–5 5–6 4–11 5–10 2–8 — 3–8 8–7 5–5 7–3 5–5 8–7
Minnesota 4–6 6–4 8–7 5–10 9–2 5–5 5–10 8–3 — 2–8 8–6 7–8 8–7 9–1
New York 7–8 7–8 7–4 7–3 12–3 9–6 5–5 7–8 8–2 — 9–2 6–4 7–3 9–6
Oakland 2–8 3–8 10–5 5–10 3–7 5–5 6–9 5–5 6–8 2–9 — 7–8 2–13 7–3
Seattle 3–7 1–10 6–9 5–10 3–7 6–5 4–11 3–7 8–7 4–6 8–7 — 9–6 4–6
Texas 6–4 4–6 10–5 9–6 9–2 8–2 7–8 5–5 7–8 3–7 13–2 6–9 — 7–4
Toronto 5–10 3–12 4–6 3–8 5–9 5–10 2–8 7–8 1–9 6–9 3–7 6–4 4–7 —


Opening Day starters

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Notable transactions

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  • May 27, 1977: Tim Ireland was signed as a free agent by the Royals.[4]

Roster

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1977 Kansas City Royals
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log

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Regular season

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1977 regular season game log: 102–60 (Home: 55–26; Away: 47–34)
April: 11–8 (Home: 5–7; Away: 6–1)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
1 April 7 @ Tigers
2 April 9 @ Tigers
3 April 10 @ Tigers
4 April 11 Yankees W 5–4 (13) Littell (1–0) Tidrow (0–1) — 3:34 39,460 4–0 W4
5 April 13 Yankees L 3–5 Guidry (1–0) Hassler (1–1) — 2:58 20,089 4–1 L1
6 April 15 Tigers
7 April 16 Tigers
8 April 17 Tigers
9 April 18 Twins
10 April 19 Twins
11 April 20 Twins
16 April 26 Rangers
17 April 27 Rangers
May: 10–15 (Home: 6–8; Away: 4–7)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
21 May 2 White Sox
22 May 3 White Sox
23 May 4 White Sox
24 May 5 White Sox
25 May 6 @ Rangers
26 May 7 @ Rangers
27 May 8 @ Rangers
30 May 12 Rangers
31 May 13 Rangers
32 May 14 Rangers
33 May 15 Rangers
34 May 18 @ White Sox
35 May 19 @ White Sox
39 May 25
(1)		 @ Orioles
40 May 25
(2)		 @ Orioles
41 May 27 @ Red Sox
42 May 28 @ Red Sox
43 May 29 @ Red Sox
June: 17–12 (Home: 8–5; Away: 9–7)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
46 June 3 Orioles
47 June 4
(1)		 Orioles
48 June 4
(2)		 Orioles
49 June 5 Orioles
50 June 6 Red Sox
51 June 7 Red Sox
52 June 8 @ Twins
53 June 9 @ Twins
57 June 13 @ Yankees W 8–3 Splittorff (5–4) Torrez (7–5) Mingori (2) 2:25 22,240 28–29 W1
58 June 14 @ Yankees L 2–4 Gullett (6–2) Hassler (3–2) — 2:19 19,559 28–30 L1
59 June 16 @ Yankees W 0–7 Guidry (5–2) Leonard (4–7) — 2:02 26,391 28–31 L2
60 June 17 Twins
61 June 18 Twins
62 June 19 Twins
July: 18–8 (Home: 10–1; Away: 8–7)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
77 July 4 @ Rangers
78 July 5 @ Rangers
83 July 11 @ White Sox
84 July 12 @ White Sox
85 July 13 Tigers
86 July 14 Tigers
87 July 15 Yankees W 7–4 Splittorff (7–5) Guidry (6–5) Mingori (3) 2:26 36,743 49–38 W$
88 July 16 Yankees W 5–1 Leonard (9–9) Torrez (8–9) — 2:20 40,054 50–38 W5
89 July 17 Yankees W 8–4 Hassler (6–2) Clay (0–3) — 2:51 38,699 51–38 W6
48th All-Star Game in Bronx, New York
90 July 21 @ Tigers
91 July 22 @ Tigers
92 July 23 @ Tigers
93 July 24 @ Yankees L 1–3 Gullett (9–3) Hassler (6–3) Tidrow (4) 2:30 41,060 53–40 L2
— July 25 @ Yankees Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: August 29)
96 July 29 @ White Sox
97 July 30 @ White Sox
98 July 31
(1)		 @ White Sox
99 July 31
(2)		 @ White Sox
August: 20–11 (Home: 11–3; Away: 9–8)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
100 August 1 @ Twins
101 August 2 @ Twins
104 August 5 White Sox
105 August 6 White Sox
106 August 7 White Sox
109 August 10 @ Rangers
110 August 11 @ Rangers
114 August 15 @ Red Sox
115 August 16 @ Red Sox
118 August 19 Red Sox
119 August 20 Red Sox
120 August 21 Red Sox
121 August 22 Orioles
122 August 23 Orioles
125 August 26 @ Orioles
126 August 27 @ Orioles
127 August 28 @ Orioles
128 August 29 @ Yankees L 3–5 Lyle (10–4) Mingori (1–4) — 2:29 31,269 75–53 L1
129 August 30 Rangers
130 August 31 Rangers
September: 25–5 (Home: 14–1; Away: 11–4)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
139 September 9 @ Twins
140 September 10 @ Twins
141 September 11 @ Twins
149 September 20 Twins
150 September 21 Twins
October: 1–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 0–0)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Royals team member

Postseason Game log

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1977 Postseason game log: 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–1)
AL Championship Series: vs. New York Yankees 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–1)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/
Streak
1 October 5 2:15 p.m. CDT @ Yankees W 7–2 Splittorff (1–0) Gullett (0–1) — 2:40 54,930 KC 1–0 W1
2 October 6 7:15 p.m. CDT @ Yankees L 2–6 Guidry (1–0) Hassler (0–1) — 2:58 56,230 Tied 1–1 L1
3 October 7 7:15 p.m. CDT Yankees W 6–2 Leonard (1–0) Torrez (0–1) — 2:19 41,285 KC 2–1 W1
4 October 8 12:15 p.m. CDT Yankees L 4–6 Lyle (1–0) Gura (0–1) — 3:08 41,135 Tied 2–2 L1
5 October 9 7:15 p.m. CDT Yankees L 3–5 Lyle (2–0) Leonard (1–1) — 3:04 41,133 NYY 3–2 L2
Legend:        = Win        = Loss     
Bold = Royals team member

Player stats

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= Indicates team leader

Batting

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Starters by position

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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 Darrell Porter 130 425 117 .275 16 60
1B John Mayberry 153 543 125 .230 23 82
2B Frank White 152 474 116 .245 5 50
3B George Brett 139 564 176 .312 22 88
SS Freddie Patek 154 497 130 .262 5 60
LF Tom Poquette 106 342 100 .292 2 33
CF Amos Otis 142 478 120 .251 17 78
RF Al Cowens 162 606 189 .312 23 112
DH Hal McRae 162 641 191 .298 21 92

Other batters

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Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Pete LaCock 88 218 66 .303 3 29
Joe Zdeb 105 195 58 .297 2 23
Cookie Rojas 64 156 39 .250 0 10
John Wathan 55 119 39 .328 2 21
Buck Martinez 29 80 18 .225 1 9
Joe Lahoud 34 65 17 .262 2 8
Bob Heise 54 62 16 .258 0 5
Dave Nelson 27 48 9 .188 0 4
Willie Wilson 13 34 11 .324 0 1
U L Washington 10 20 4 .200 0 1
Clint Hurdle 9 26 8 .308 2 7

Pitching

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Starting pitchers

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Dennis Leonard 38 292.2 20 12 3.04 244
Jim Colborn 36 239.0 18 14 3.62 103
Paul Splittorff 37 229.0 16 6 3.69 99
Andy Hassler 29 156.1 9 6 4.20 83

Other pitchers

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Marty Pattin 31 128.1 10 13 3.58 55

Relief pitchers

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Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Doug Bird 53 11 4 14 3.88 83
Larry Gura 52 8 5 10 3.13 46
Mark Littell 48 8 4 12 3.58 55
Steve Mingori 43 2 4 4 3.09 19
Tom Hall 6 0 0 0 3.52 10
George Throop 4 0 0 1 3.38 1
Randy McGilberry 3 0 1 0 5.14 1
Gary Lance 1 0 1 0 4.50 0

Other events

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Before they were to play a game on June 12 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Milwaukee County Stadium, thieves stole gloves and uniforms belonging to Royals players. Due to this, all but seven Kansas City Royals players had to wear Milwaukee road uniforms for the game played that day.[5]

ALCS

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Main article: 1977 American League Championship Series

Game 1

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October 5: Yankee Stadium, New York City

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kansas City 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 9 0
New York 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 0
W: Paul Splittorff (1–0)  L: Don Gullett (0–1)  
HRs: KC – Hal McRae (1), John Mayberry (1), Al Cowens (1) NYY – Thurman Munson (1)

Game 2

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October 6: Yankee Stadium, New York City

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kansas City 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 1
New York 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 1 X 6 10 0
W: Ron Guidry (1–0)  L: Andy Hassler (0–1)  
HRs: KC – none; NYY – Cliff Johnson (1)

Game 3

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October 7: Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 4 1
Kansas City 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 X 6 12 1
W: Dennis Leonard (1–0)  L: Mike Torrez (0–1)  
HRs: NYY – none; KC – none

Game 4

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October 8: Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 13 0
Kansas City 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 2
W: Sparky Lyle (1–0)  L: Larry Gura (0–1)  
HRs: NYY – none; KC – none

Game 5

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October 9: Royals Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 10 0
Kansas City 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 10 1
W: Sparky Lyle (2–0)  L: Dennis Leonard (1–1)  
HRs: NYY – none; KC – none

Farm system

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See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Omaha Royals American Association John Sullivan
AA Jacksonville Suns Southern League Gordon Mackenzie
A Daytona Beach Islanders Florida State League José Martínez
Rookie GCL Royals Gulf Coast League Bill Scripture

Notes

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  1. ^ Ruppert Jones at Baseball-Reference
  2. ^ Jamie Quirk at Baseball Reference
  3. ^ Frank Ortenzio at Baseball Reference
  4. ^ Tim Ireland at Baseball Reference
  5. ^ Kansas City Royals have gloves, uniforms stolen before game

References

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  • Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.
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