1977 Kansas City Royals season

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 November 5, 1976: Ruppert Jones was drafted from the Royals by the Seattle Mariners with the first pick in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft.Ruppert Jones at Baseball-Reference December 6, 1976: Jamie Quirk, Jim Wohlford and a player to be named later were traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jim Colborn and Darrell Porter. The Kansas City Royals completed the trade by sending Bob McClure to the Brewers on March 15, 1977.Jamie Quirk at Baseball Reference December 7, 1976: Frank Ortenzio was traded by the Royals to the Montreal Expos for Rudy Kinard (minors).Frank Ortenzio at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day starters George Brett Al Cowens Pete LaCock John Mayberry Hal McRae Amos Otis Freddie Patek Darrell Porter Paul Splittorff Frank White

Notable transactions May 27, 1977: Tim Ireland was signed as a free agent by the Royals.Tim Ireland at Baseball Reference

Roster 1977 Kansas City Royals Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log Regular season

|-style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || || 7:40p.m. CST || Yankees || 5–4 || Littell (1–0) || Tidrow (0–1) || — || 3:34 || 39,460 || 4–0 || W4 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || || 7:30p.m. CST || Yankees || 3–5 || Guidry (1–0) || Hassler (0–1) || — || 2:58 || 20,089 || 4–1 || L1

|-style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || || 4:34p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || 4–1 || Splittorff (3–4) || Grimsley (4–3) || Gura (4) || 2:23 || — || 19–20 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || || 7:25p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || 2–7 || D. Martínez (3–2) || Colburn (5–5) || — || 2:56 || 11,388 || 19–21 || L1

|-style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Orioles || 6–7 || Grimsley (6–3) || Bird (2–1) || T. Martinez (1) || 3:00 || 21,878 || 22–24 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 47 || || 5:00p.m. CDT || Orioles || 4–5 || D. Martínez (4–2) || Colburn (6–6) || — || 2:21 || — || 22–25 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || || 7:56p.m. CDT || Orioles || 14–13 || Gura (3–1) || Flanagan (1–5) || — || 3:36 || 36,931 || 23–25 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || || 1:30p.m. CDT || Orioles || 4–3 || Hassler (2–1) || Palmer (7–5) || Gura (5) || 2:32 || 16,559 || 24–25 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || || 7:00p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || 8–3 || Splittorff (5–4) || Torrez (7–5) || Mingori (2) || 2:25 || 22,420 || 28–29 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 58 || || 7:00p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || 2–4 || Gullett (6–2) || Hassler (3–2) || — || 2:19 || 19,559 || 28–30 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 59 || || 7:00p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || 0–7 || Guidry (5–2) || Leonard (4–7) || — || 2:02 || 26,391 || 28–31 || L2

|-style="background:#bfb;" | 87 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Yankees || 7–4 || Splittorff (7–5) || Guidry (6–5) || Mingori (3) || 2:26 || 36,743 || 49–38 || W4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 88 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Yankees || 5–1 || Leonard (9–9) || Torrez (8–9) || — || 2:26 || 40,059 || 50–38 || W5 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 89 || || 1:30p.m. CDT || Yankees || 8–4 || Hassler (6–2) || Clay (0–3) || — || 2:26 || 38,699 || 51–38 || W6 |-style=background:#bbbfff | — || || 7:15p.m. CDT || colspan=9|48th All-Star Game in Bronx, NY |-style="background:#fbb;" | 93 || || 1:00p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || 1–3 || Gullett (9–3) || Hassler (6–3) || Tidrow (4) || 2:30 || 41,060 || 53–40 || L2 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || || 7:00p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 29

|-style="background:#bfb;" | 121 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Orioles || 8–7 || Mingori (1–3) || T. Martinez (4–1) || — || 2:49 || 36,328 || 70–51 || W6 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 122 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Orioles || 5–2 || Colburn (14–12) || Flanagan (9–10) || Gura (9) || 2:36 || 27,602 || 71–51 || W7 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 125 || || 6:38p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || 3–2 || Leonard (14–10) || Palmer (13–11) || — || 2:15 || 21,511 || 74–51 || W10 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 126 || || 6:33p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || 2–4 || Flanagan (10–10) || Colburn (14–13) || D. Martínez (4) || 2:16 || 17,074 || 74–52 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 127 || || 1:08p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || 5–0 || Hassler (7–5) || Grimsley (12–7) || Bird (8) || 2:19 || 15,764 || 75–52 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 128 || || 1:00p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || 3–5 || Lyle (10–4) || Mingori (1–4) || — || 2:29 || 31,269 || 75–53 || L1

|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend:      = Royals win      = Royals loss      = Game postponed      = Clinched division     Bold = Royals team member

Detailed records

American League Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Runs scored Runs allowed AL East Baltimore Orioles 4–2 3–2 7–4 57 51 New York Yankees 4–1 1–4 5–5 42 40 Div Total 8–3 4–6 12–9 99 91 AL West Kansas City Royals — — — — — — Div Total 0–0 0–0 0–0 0 0 Season Total 8–3 4–6 12–9 99 91

Month Games Won Lost Win % Total Games Won Lost Win % Home Away Total

Postseason Game log

|-style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || || 2:15p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || 7–2 || Splittorff (1–0) || Gullett (0–1) || — || 2:40 || 54,930 || KCA 1–0 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || || 7:15p.m. CDT || @ Yankees || 2–6 || Guidry (1–0) || Hassler (0–1) || — || 2:58 || 56,230 || TIE 1–1 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || || 7:15p.m. CDT || Yankees || 6–2 || Leonard (1–0) || Torrez (0–1) || — || 2:19 || 41,285 || KCA 2–1 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || || 12:15p.m. CDT || Yankees || 4–6 || Lyle (1–0) || Gura (0–1) || — || 3:08 || 41,135 || TIE 2–2 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || || 7:15p.m. CDT || Yankees || 3–5 || Lyle (2–0) || Leonard (1–1) || — || 3:04 || 41,133 || NYA 3–2 || L2

|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend:      = Win      = Loss     Bold = Royals team member

Starting Lineups Regular Season Batting Order

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |4 | ! style=";" |NYY | #5Brett | #11McRae | #7Mayberry | #26Otis | #15Porter | #18Cowens | #8LaCock | #2Patek | #20White |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |5 | ! style=";" |NYY | #5Brett | #11McRae | #7Mayberry | #26Otis | #15Porter | #18Cowens | #8LaCock | #2Patek | #20White

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |39 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |40 | ! style=";" |@ BAL

|- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |46 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |47 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |48 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |49 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |57 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #25Poquette | #11McRae | #5Brett | #7Mayberry | #18Cowens | #8LaCock | #15Porter | #2Patek | #20White |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |58 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #2Patek | #5Brett | #11McRae | #7Mayberry | #18Cowens | #26Otis | #19Zdeb | #15Porter | #6Heise |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |59 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #2Patek | #5Brett | #11McRae | #18Cowens | #7Mayberry | #26Otis | #1Rojas | #15Porter | #19Zdeb

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |87 | ! style=";" |NYY | #5Brett | #11McRae | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #7Mayberry | #19Zdeb | #15Porter | #2Patek | #20White |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |88 | ! style=";" |NYY | #5Brett | #11McRae | #8LaCock | #18Cowens | #7Mayberry | #25Poquette | #15Porter | #2Patek | #20White |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |89 | ! style=";" |NYY | #5Brett | #11McRae | #8LaCock | #18Cowens | #10Lahoud | #26Otis | #15Porter | #2Patek | #20White |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |93 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #5Brett | #11McRae | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #7Mayberry | #19Zdeb | #15Porter | #2Patek | #20White

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |121 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |122 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |125 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |126 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |127 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |128 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #25Poquette | #22Leonard | #5Brett | #48Coburn | #16Hassler | #15Porter | #26Otis | #2Patek | #20White

Defensive Lineup

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |4 | ! style=";" |NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #8LaCock | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #34Splittorff |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |5 | ! style=";" |NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #8LaCock | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #16Hassler

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |39 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |40 | ! style=";" |@ BAL

|- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |46 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |47 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |48 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |49 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |57 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #11McRae | #18Cowens | #25Poquette | #34Splittorff |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |58 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #6Heise | #5Brett | #2Patek | #19Zdeb | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #16Hassler |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |59 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #1Rojas | #5Brett | #2Patek | #19Zdeb | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #22Leonard

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |87 | ! style=";" |NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #19Zdeb | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #34Splittorff |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |88 | ! style=";" |NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #11McRae | #18Cowens | #25Poquette | #22Leonard |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |89 | ! style=";" |NYY | #15Porter | #8LaCock | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #10Lahoud | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #16Hassler |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |93 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #15Porter | #7Mayberry | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #19Zdeb | #26Otis | #18Cowens | #16Hassler

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |121 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |122 | ! style=";" |BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |125 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |126 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |127 | ! style=";" |@ BAL |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |128 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #15Porter | #16Hassler | #20White | #5Brett | #2Patek | #25Poquette | #26Otis | #48Colburn | #34Splittorff

Postseason Batting Order

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |1 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #2Patek | #11McRae | #5Brett | #18Cowens | #26Otis | #7Mayberry | #19Zdeb | #15Porter | #20White |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |2 | ! style=";" |@ NYY | #2Patek | #11McRae | #5Brett | #18Cowens | #26Otis | #7Mayberry | #19Zdeb | #15Porter | #20White |- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |3 | ! style=";" |NYY | #25Poquette | #11McRae | #5Brett | #18Cowens | #7Mayberry | #10Lahoud | #15Porter | #2Patek | #20White |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |4 | ! style=";" |NYY | #25Poquette | #11McRae | #5Brett | #18Cowens | #7Mayberry | #15Porter | #26Otis | #2Patek | #20White |- style="background:#fbb;" ! style=";" |5 | ! style=";" |NYY | #2Patek | #11McRae | #5Brett | #18Cowens | #26Otis | #12Wathan | #1Rojas | #15Porter | #20White

Defensive Lineup

|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |1 | ! style=";" |@ NYY