1976 Kansas City Royals season

The 1976 Kansas City Royals season was their eighth in Major League Baseball. The Royals won their first division title, taking the American League West with a record of 90–72 in the first full season as manager for Whitey Herzog. Kansas City was defeated 3–2 by the New York Yankees in the ALCS. George Brett (.333) became the first Royals player to win a league batting title.

Offseason September 29, 1975: Harmon Killebrew was released by the Royals.Killebrew cut by Royals November 12, 1975: Nelson Briles was traded by the Royals to the Texas Rangers for Dave Nelson.Royals trade Briles to Texas March 3, 1976: Roger Nelson was signed by the Royals as a free agent.Roger Nelson at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup Dave Nelson, DH Amos Otis, CF George Brett, 3B John Mayberry, 1B Hal McRae, LF Al Cowens, RF Fran Healy, C Freddie Patek, SS Frank White, 2B

Notable transactions May 16, 1976: Fran Healy is traded by the Royals to the New York Yankees for Larry Gura.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gurala01.shtml#all_transactions_other June 8, 1976: 1976 Major League Baseball draft Bill Paschall was drafted by the Royals in the 3rd round.Bill Paschall at Baseball Reference Ken Phelps was drafted by the Royals in the 15th round.Ken Phelps at Baseball Reference

Roster 1976 Kansas City Royals Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders

Other batters Manager

Coaches

Game log Regular season

|-style=background:#fbb | 1 || April 9 || 1:15p.m. CST || @ White Sox || L 0–4 || Wood (1–0) || Splittorff (0–1) || – || 2:25 || 40,318 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#bbb | — || April 11 || || @ White Sox || colspan="8" | Postponed (Cold) (Makeup date: August 6) |-style=background:#bbb | — || April 11 || || @ White Sox || colspan="8" | Postponed (Cold) (Makeup date: September 13) |-style=background:#cfc | 2 || April 13 || 7:30p.m. CST || Angels || W 7–4 || Fitzmorris (1–0) || Hassler (0–1) || Pattin (1) || 3:05 || 25,516 || 1–1 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 3 || April 14 || 7:30p.m. CST || Angels || L 6–7 || Monge (1–0) || Pattin (0–1) || Brewer (1) || 3:16 || 9,043 || 1–2 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 4 || April 15 || 7:30p.m. CST || Angels || L 1–5 || Ryan (1–1) || Splittorff (0–2) || – || 2:13 || 7,657 || 1–3 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 5 || April 16 || 7:30p.m. CST || Indians || W 5–3 || Mingori (1–0) || Peterson (0–1) || Pattin (2) || 2:21 || 12,219 || 2–3 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 6 || April 17 || 7:30p.m. CST || Indians || W 5–3 || Fitzmorris (2–0) || Eckersley (0–2) || – || 1:32 || 9,799 || 3–3 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 7 || April 18 || 1:30p.m. CST || Indians || L 0–6 || Dobson (1–1) || Busby (0–1) || – || 2:41 || 10,466 || 3–4 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 8 || April 20 || 6:30p.m. CST || @ Brewers || L 4–5 || Broberg (1–0) || Leonard (0–1) || Rodríguez (3) || 2:46 || 4,902 || 3–5 || L2 |-style=background:#bbb | — || April 21 || || @ Brewers || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: April 21) |-style=background:#cfc | 9 || April 22 || 6:30p.m. CST || @ Brewers || W 2–1 || Bird (1–0) || Colborn (1–1) || – || 2:36 || 5,196 || 4–5 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 10 || || 7:00p.m. CST || @ Yankees || W 3–2 || Splittorff (1–2) || Hunter (1–3) || Mingori (1) || 2:32 || 35,116 || 5–5 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 11 || || 1:15p.m. CST || @ Yankees || L 8–9 || Lyle (2–0) || Pattin (0–2) || — || 3:53 || 16,034 || 5–6 || L1 |-style=background:#bbb | — || || || @ Yankees || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 6) |-style=background:#bbb | — || || || Red Sox || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 15) |-style=background:#bbb | — || || || Red Sox || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 16) |-style=background:#fbb | 12 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Yankees || L 3–5 || Hunter (2–3) || Splittorff (1–3) || — || 2:11 || 11,368 || 5–7 || L2

|-style=background:#cfc | 13 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Yankees || W 4–1 || Busby (1–1) || Figueroa (1–1) || — || 2:25 || 18,703 || 6–7 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 14 || || 1:30p.m. CDT || Yankees || W 2–1 || Bird (2–0) || Lyle (1–1) || — || 3:23 || 13,404 || 7–7 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 15 || || 6:30p.m. CDT || @ Red Sox || W 7–5 || Fitzmorris (3–0) || Lee (0–3) || Bird (1) || 2:47 || 16,274 || 8–7 || W3 |-style=background:#cfc | 16 || || 6:30p.m. CDT || @ Red Sox || W 8–4 || Splittorff (2–3) || Jenkins (1–4) || Littell (1) || 2:52 || 17,596 || 9–7 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 17 || || 6:30p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || L 3–4 || Garland (2–0) || Pattin (0–3) || — || 2:35 || 7,310 || 9–8 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 18 || || 6:30p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || W 6–3 || Leonard (1–1) || Holtzman (2–2) || Bird (2) || 2:33 || 51,195 || 10–8 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 19 || || 1:00p.m. CDT || @ Orioles || W 7–4 || Littell (1–0) || Palmer (4–4) || — || 2:47 || 7,590 || 11–8 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 20 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Twins || L 4–5 || Burgmeier (2–0) || Pattin (0–4) || Luebber (2) || 3:26 || 12,526 || 11–9 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 21 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Twins || W 6–3 || Bird (3–0) || Luebber (0–1) || Littell (2) || 2:33 || 9,652 || 12–9 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 22 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Twins || W 17–5 || Pattin (1–4) || Decker (2–3) || — || 3:04 || 9,601 || 13–9 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 23 || May 13 || 7:30p.m. CDT || White Sox || W 13–2 || Leonard (2–1) || B. Johnson (1–4) || – || 2:39 || 13,657 || 14–9 || W3 |-style=background:#cfc | 24 || May 14 || 7:30p.m. CDT || White Sox || W 7–1 || Fitzmorris (4–0) || Vuckovich (0–1) || – || 2:09 || 12,990 || 15–9 || W4 |-style=background:#cfc | 25 || May 15 || 7:30p.m. CDT || White Sox || W 2–1 || Littell (2–0) || Gossage (1–3) || – || 3:00 || 14,693 || 16–9 || W5 |-style=background:#fbb | 26 || May 16 || 1:30p.m. CDT || White Sox || L 3–4 || Carroll (1–1) || Bird (3–1) || Hamilton (1) || 2:49 || 28,413 || 16–10 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 27 || May 17 || 7:30p.m. CDT || Rangers || W 8–7 || Hall (1–0) || Foucault (3–1) || – || 3:57 || 18,936 || 17–10 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 28 || May 18 || 7:30p.m. CDT || Rangers || W 3–1 || Fitzmorris (5–0) || Umbarger (3–3) || – || 2:07 || 14,116 || 18–10 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 29 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Athletics || W 5–2 || Splittorff (3–3) || Torrez (4–4) || Pattin (3) || 2:49 || 22,483 || 19–10 || W3 |-style=background:#cfc | 30 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Athletics || W 8–4 || Bird (4–1) || P. Mitchell (1–2) || Littell (3) || 2:46 || 25,682 || 20–10 || W4 |-style=background:#cfc | 31 || || 8:00p.m. CDT || @ Twins || W 5–1 || Leonard (3–1) || Hughes (0–4) || — || 2:37 || 8,619 || 21–10 || W5 |-style=background:#fbb | 32 || || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Twins || L 3–5 || Goltz (3–2) || Fitzmorris (5–1) || — || 2:00 || 6,812 || 21–11 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 33 || || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Twins || L 1–3 || Blyleven (4–3) || Splittorff (3–4) || Campbell (4) || 2:10 || 24,716 || 21–12 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 34 || May 24 || 7:30p.m. CDT || @ Rangers || W 14–11 || Mingori (1–0) || Barr (1–3) || – || 3:10 || 12,751 || 22–12 || W1 |-style=background:#bbb | — || May 25 || || @ Rangers || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: May 26) |-style=background:#cfc | 35 || May 26 || 5:00p.m. CDT || @ Rangers || W 14–2 || Leonard (4–1) || Perry (4–4) || – || 2:54 || – || 23–12 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 36 || May 26 || 8:29p.m. CDT || @ Rangers || L 4–5 || Foucault (4–1) || Pattin (1–5) || – || 3:07 || 16,510 || 23–13 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 37 || May 27 || 7:30p.m. CDT || @ Rangers || L 4–6 || Singer (4–1) || Splittorff (3–5) || Hoerner (3) || 2:44 || 14,755 || 23–14 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 38 || May 28 || 9:30p.m. CDT || @ Angels || W 3–0 || Bird (5–1) || Ryan (3–6) || – || 2:07 || 15,777 || 24–14 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 39 || May 29 || 7:00p.m. CDT || @ Angels || L 2–3 || Monge (2–1) || Littell (2–1) || – || 2:26 || – || 24–15 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 40 || May 29 || 10:01p.m. CDT || @ Angels || L 2–7 || Ross (2–6) || Fitzmorris (5–2) || – || 2:43 || 28,415 || 24–16 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 41 || May 30 || 3:00p.m. CDT || @ Angels || W 3–2 || Mingori (3–0) || Drago (1–4) || – || 4:43 || 14,193 || 25–16 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 42 || || 10:00p.m. CDT || @ Athletics || L 1–10 || Torrez (6–5) || Splittorff (3–6) || — || 2:32 || 31,842 || 25–17 || L1

|-style=background:#cfc | 43 || || 10:00p.m. CDT || @ Athletics || W 5–2 || Bird (6–1) || Bahnsen (2–2) || Pattin (4) || 2:29 || 3,860 || 26–17 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 44 || || 10:00p.m. CDT || @ Athletics || W 4–3 || Littell (3–1) || Fingers (2–5) || Mingori (2) || 3:57 || 2,628 || 27–17 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 45 || June 4 || 7:30p.m. CDT || Brewers || W 4–3 || Leonard (5–1) || Slaton (7–2) || – || 2:34 || 16,899 || 28–17 || W3 |-style=background:#cfc | 46 || June 5 || 5:00p.m. CDT || Brewers || W 5–4 || Fitzmorris (6–2) || Broberg (1–5) || Littell (4) || – || 2:51 || 29–17 || W4 |-style=background:#cfc | 47 || June 5 || 8:26p.m. CDT || Brewers || W 7–2 || Splittorff (4–6) || Champion (0–1) || – || 2:26 || 35,817 || 30–17 || W5 |-style=background:#fbb | 48 || June 6 || 1:30p.m. CDT || Brewers || L 3–4 || Augustine (1–1) || Pattin (1–6) || – || 3:53 || 15,508 || 30–18 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 52 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Orioles || W 7–0 || Splittorff (5–6) || Palmer (6–7) || — || 2:28 || 12,210 || 33–19 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 53 || || 7:30p.m. CDT || Orioles || W 4–0 || Bird (7–1) || Cuellar (2–7) || Littell (6) || 2:00 || 25,883 || 34–19 || W3 |-style=background:#cfc | 54 || || 1:15p.m. CDT || Orioles || W 7–6 || Busby (3–1) || Alexander (3–4) || Pattin (5) || 2:39 || 19,693 || 35–19 || W4 |-style=background:#cfc | 55 || || 1:30p.m. CDT || Orioles || W 8–4 || Leonard (6–2) || Flanagan (0–2) || — || 2:34 || 23,751 || 36–19 || W5 |-style=background:#cfc | 59 || June 18 || 6:30p.m. CDT || @ Indians || W 5–3 || Leonard (7–2) || Thomas (0–1) || – || 2:42 || 14,170 || 39–20 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 60 || June 19 || 6:30p.m. CDT || @ Indians || L 0–3 || Dobson (8–5) || Fitzmorris (8–3) || Kern (3) || 2:20 || 17,389 || 39–21 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 61 || June 20 || 1:00p.m. CDT || @ Indians || L 8–11 || Bibby (3–2) || Littell (3–2) || Thomas (3) || 2:55 || 13,295 || 39–22 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 62 || June 21 || 7:30p.m. CDT || White Sox || L 1–2 || Hamilton (3–3) || Hall (1–1) || – || 3:00 || 28,918 || 39–23 || L3 |-style=background:#fbb | 63 || June 22 || 7:30p.m. CDT || White Sox || L 8–14 || Jefferson (2–2) || Busby (3–2) || – || 2:44 || 18,125 || 39–24 || L4 |-style=background:#fbb | 64 || June 23 || 7:30p.m. CDT || @ Rangers || L 5–7 || Foucault (6–3) || Leonard (7–3) || – || 2:52 || 21,336 || 39–25 || L5 |-style=background:#fbb | 65 || June 24 || 7:30p.m. CDT || @ Rangers || L 2–5 || Hargan (2–2) || Fitzmorris (8–4) || Hoerner (5) || 2:56 || 14,455 || 39–26 || L6 |-style=background:#cfc | 66 || June 25 || 7:30p.m. CDT || Angels || W 6–3 || Splittorff (7–6) || Ross (5–9) || Littell (7) || 2:14 || 25,522 || 40–26 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 67 || June 26 || 7:30p.m. CDT || Angels || W 3–0 || Pattin (2–7) || Ryan (6–8) || Mingori (4) || 2:28 || 30,125 || 41–26 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 68 || June 27 || 1:30p.m. CDT || Angels || W 5–4 || Bird (8–1) || Drago (1–6) || – || 3:22 || 37,960 || 42–26 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 69 || || 8:00p.m. CDT || @ Twins || L 3–4 || Campbell (8–2) || Littell (3–3) || — || 2:47 || 6,170 || 42–27 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 70 || || 8:00p.m. CDT || @ Twins || W 1–0 || Fitzmorris (9–4) || Goltz (7–6) || — || 2:40 || 6,201 || 43–27 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 71 || || 8:00p.m. CDT || @ Twins || W 4–2 || Splittorff (8–6) || Bane (0–1) || — || 2:40 || 7,471 || 44–27 || W2

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