The 1972 Kansas City Royals season was their fourth in Major League Baseball. The Royals finished fourth in the American League West at 76–78, games behind the Oakland Athletics. John Mayberry, in his first season with Kansas City, led the team with 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in. Mayberry was the first Royals player to drive in at least 100 runs in a season.
Offseason November 29, 1971: Steve Hovley was drafted by the Royals from the Oakland Athletics in the 1971 rule 5 draft.Steve Hovley at Baseball Reference December 2, 1971: Jim York and Lance Clemons were traded by the Royals to the Houston Astros for John Mayberry and Dave Grangaard (minors).John Mayberry at Baseball Reference March 15, 1972: José Martínez was purchased by the Royals from the Pittsburgh Pirates.José Martínez at Baseball Reference Prior to 1972 season: Mark Williams was signed as an amateur free agent by the Royals.Mark Williams at Baseball Reference
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions June 6, 1972: 1972 Major League Baseball draft Jamie Quirk was drafted by the Royals in the 1st round (18th pick).Jamie Quirk at Baseball Reference George Throop was drafted by the Royals in the 16th round.George Throop at Baseball Reference
Roster 1972 Kansas City Royals Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches (Pitching) (Third base) (Hitting) (First base)
Player stats
= Indicates team leader Batting
Starters by position 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 Ed Kirkpatrick 113 364 100 .275 9 43 1B 149 503 150 .298 25 100 2B Cookie Rojas 137 487 127 .261 3 53 SS Freddie Patek 136 518 110 .212 0 32 3B Paul Schaal 127 435 99 .228 6 41 LF 151 574 179 .312 11 72 CF Amos Otis 143 540 158 .293 11 54 RF Richie Scheinblum 134 450 135 .300 8 66
Other batters 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 105 196 53 .270 3 24 Bobby Floyd 61 134 24 .179 0 5 Jerry May 53 116 22 .190 1 4 63 113 30 .265 0 11 Bobby Knoop 44 97 23 .237 0 7 Gail Hopkins 53 71 15 .211 0 5 Joe Keough 56 64 14 .219 0 5 Bob Oliver 16 63 17 .270 1 6 16 30 4 .133 0 2 Jim Wohlford 15 25 6 .240 0 0 Dennis Paepke 2 6 0 .000 0 0
Pitching
Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Dick Drago 34 239.1 12 17 3.01 135 Paul Splittorff 35 216.0 12 12 3.13 140 9 56.1 3 3 3.04 24 5 40.0 3 1 1.58 31
Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 34 173.1 11 6 2.08 120 Bruce Dal Canton 35 132.1 6 6 3.40 75 Mike Hedlund 29 113.0 5 7 4.78 52 Jim Rooker 18 72.0 5 6 4.38 44 18 70.1 4 4 3.07 34 7 19.2 1 2 6.41 15
Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO 51 6 2 9 4.23 18 45 3 4 5 1.70 28 Al Fitzmorris 38 2 5 3 3.74 51 21 2 1 2 2.25 16 17 1 2 4 4.91 18
Awards and honors
All-Star Game
Cookie Rojas, Second Base, Reserve Lou Piniella, Outfield, Reserve Richie Scheinblum, Outfield, Reserve
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Billings
Notes
References
1972 Kansas City Royals at Baseball Reference 1972 Kansas City Royals at Baseball Almanac