List of Kansas City Royals seasons

Kauffman Stadium, home stadium for the Royals since 1973.

This is a list of seasons completed by the Kansas City Royals, a professional baseball franchise based in Kansas City, Missouri. They formerly played in the American League West until the 1994 realignment, where they now compete in the American League Central Division.

The team was formed by pharmaceutical executive Ewing Kauffman as a result of the move of the Athletics to Oakland,[1] and began play in 1969. They quickly became competitive, achieving a winning record in their third season with an 85–76 win–loss record. By 1976, the young team was becoming the dominant force in the American League West, winning 90 or more games in four consecutive seasons from 1975 to 1978.

Despite two lapses to below 80 wins in the 1980s, the Royals continued to be a strong force, reaching the 1980 World Series (before being defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies),[2] and winning in 1985 against cross-state rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. During that postseason, they became the first team to ever rally from a three games to one deficit twice to win the World Series. The 2016 Chicago Cubs accomplished the same feat, by defeating the Cleveland Indians in a seven-game series.

The team remained competitive throughout the mid-1990s before entering a long period of failure. From 1995 through 2013, the team had only two winning seasons in 2003 and 2013. For 28 consecutive seasons, between the 1985 World Series championship and 2014, the Royals did not qualify to play in the Major League Baseball postseason, one of the longest postseason droughts during baseball's expanded wild-card era. The worst years during this era were from 2002 to 2006, when the Royals had four 100-loss seasons out of five.

The team broke its postseason drought by securing the franchise's first ever wild card berth in 2014. They advanced to the 2014 World Series, where they were defeated by the San Francisco Giants in seven games.[3] The next season, the team would go 95–67, the best record in the American League, securing the franchise's first divisional title since 1985, and the first Central division title ever. The team would eventually advance to the 2015 World Series, where they defeated the New York Mets in five games.[4]

## Table Key

[edit]

ALWC

| American League Wild Card

|

ALDS

| American League Division Series

ALCS

| American League Championship Series

MVP

| Most Valuable Player Award

CYA

| Cy Young Award

ROY

| Rookie of the Year Award

MOY

| Manager of the Year Award

WS MVP

| World Series Most Valuable Player Award

## Regular season results

[edit]

World Series champions † | AL champions * | Division champions ^ | Wild card berth (1995–present) ¤

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|
|

Season  | Level  | League | Division | Finish  | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Postseason | Awards

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|
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1969 | MLB | AL | West | 4th  | 69  | 93  | .426  | 28  |  | Lou Piniella (ROY)
1970 | MLB  | AL  | West  | T–4th  | 65  | 97  | .401  | 33  |  |
1971 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 85  | 76  | .528  | 16  |  |
1972 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 4th  | 76  | 78  | .494  | 16½  |  |
1973 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 88  | 74  | .543  | 6  |  |
1974 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 5th  | 77  | 85  | .475  | 13  |  |
1975 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 91  | 71  | .562  | 7  |  |
1976 | MLB  | AL  | West ^  | 1st  | 90  | 72  | .556  | –  | Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–2  |
1977 | MLB  | AL  | West ^  | 1st  | 102  | 60  | .630  | –  | Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–2  |
1978 | MLB  | AL  | West ^  | 1st  | 92  | 70  | .568  | –  | Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–1  |
1979 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 85  | 77  | .525  | 3  |  |
1980 | MLB  | AL *  | West ^  | 1st  | 97  | 65  | .599  | –  | Won ALCS (Yankees) 3–0
Lost World Series (Phillies) 4–2 *  | George Brett (MVP)
1981 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 5th  | 20  | 30  | .400  | 12  | Lost ALDS (Athletics) 3–0  |
1st ^  | 30  | 23  | .566  | –
1982 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 90  | 72  | .556  | 3  |  |
1983 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 79  | 83  | .488  | 20  |  |
1984 | MLB  | AL  | West ^  | 1st  | 84  | 78  | .519  | –  | Lost ALCS (Tigers) 3–0  |
1985 | MLB †  | AL *  | West ^  | 1st  | 91  | 71  | .562  | –  | Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–3
Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–3 †  | Bret Saberhagen (CYA, WS MVP)
1986 | MLB  | AL  | West  | T–3rd  | 76  | 86  | .469  | 16  |  |
1987 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 83  | 79  | .512  | 2  |  |
1988 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 3rd  | 84  | 77  | .522  | 19½  |  |
1989 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 2nd  | 92  | 70  | .568  | 7  |  | Bret Saberhagen (CYA)
1990 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 6th  | 75  | 86  | .466  | 27½  |  |
1991 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 6th  | 82  | 80  | .506  | 13  |  |
1992 | MLB  | AL  | West  | T–5th  | 72  | 90  | .444  | 24  |  |
1993 | MLB  | AL  | West  | 3rd  | 84  | 78  | .519  | 10  |  |
1994 | MLB  | AL  | Central | 3rd  | 64  | 51  | .557  | 4  | Playoffs canceled | Bob Hamelin (ROY)
David Cone (CYA)
1995 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 2nd  | 70  | 74  | .486  | 30  |  |
1996 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 75  | 86  | .466  | 24  |  |
1997 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 67  | 94  | .416  | 19½  |  |
1998 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 3rd  | 72  | 89  | .447  | 16½  |  |
1999 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 64  | 97  | .398  | 32½  |  | Carlos Beltrán (ROY)
2000 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 77  | 85  | .475  | 18  |  |
2001 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 65  | 97  | .401  | 26  |  |
2002 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 62  | 100  | .383  | 32½  |  |
2003 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 3rd  | 83  | 79  | .512  | 7  |  | Ángel Berroa (ROY)
Tony Peña (MOY)
2004 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 58  | 104  | .358  | 34  |  |
2005 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 56  | 106  | .346  | 43  |  |
2006 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 62  | 100  | .383  | 34  |  |
2007 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 69  | 93  | .426  | 27  |  |
2008 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 75  | 87  | .463  | 13½  |  |
2009 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | T–4th  | 65  | 97  | .401  | 21½  |  | Zack Greinke (CYA)
2010 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 67  | 95  | .414  | 27  |  |
2011 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 71  | 91  | .438  | 24  |  |
2012 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 3rd  | 72  | 90  | .444  | 16  |  |
2013 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 3rd  | 86  | 76  | .531  | 7  |  |
2014 | MLB  | AL *  | Central  | 2nd ¤  | 89  | 73  | .549  | 1  | Won ALWC (Athletics)
Won ALDS (Angels) 3–0
Won ALCS (Orioles) 4–0
Lost World Series (Giants) 4–3 *  |
2015 | MLB †  | AL *  | Central ^  | 1st  | 95  | 67  | .586  | —  | Won ALDS (Astros) 3–2
Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–2
Won World Series (Mets) 4–1 †  | Salvador Pérez (WS MVP)
2016 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 3rd  | 81  | 81  | .500  | 13½  |  |
2017 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 3rd  | 80  | 82  | .494  | 22  |  |
2018 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 58  | 104  | .358  | 33  |  |
2019 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 59  | 103  | .364  | 42  |  |
2020 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 26  | 34  | .433  | 10  |  |
2021 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 4th  | 74  | 88  | .457  | 19  |  |
2022 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 65  | 97  | .401  | 27  |  |
2023 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 5th  | 56  | 106  | .346  | 31  |  |
2024 | MLB  | AL  | Central  | 2nd ¤  | 86  | 76  | .531  | 6½  | Won ALWC (Orioles) 2–0
Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–1  |
Totals  | Wins | Losses | Win% |
4,122  | 4,547  | .475  | All-time regular season record (1969–2024)
42  | 34  | .553  | All-time postseason record
4,164  | 4,581  | .476  | All-time regular and postseason record

## Record by decade

[edit]

The following table describes the Royals' MLB win–loss record by decade.

Decade | Wins | Losses | Pct

|
|
|

1960s | 69 | 93 | .426
1970s | 851 | 760 | .528
1980s | 826 | 734 | .529
1990s | 725 | 825 | .468
2000s | 672 | 948 | .415
2010s | 758 | 862 | .468
2020s | 221 | 325 | .405
All-time | 4122 | 4547 | .475

These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's Kansas City Royals History & Encyclopedia.[5]

## Postseason appearances

[edit]

Year  | Wild Card Game/Series | LDS | LCS | World Series

|
|
|
|

1976 | None (Won AL West)  | New York Yankees | L (2–3)  |
1977 | None (Won AL West)  | New York Yankees | L (2–3)  |
1978 | None (Won AL West)  | New York Yankees | L (1–3)  |
1980 | None (Won AL West)  | New York Yankees | W (3–0)  | Philadelphia Phillies | L (2–4)
1981 | None (Won AL West)  | Oakland Athletics | L (0–3)  |
1984 | None (Won AL West)  | Detroit Tigers | L (0–3)  |
1985 | None (Won AL West)  | Toronto Blue Jays | W (4–3)  | St. Louis Cardinals | W (4–3)
2014 | Oakland Athletics W | Los Angeles Angels
of Anaheim | W (3–0)  | Baltimore Orioles | W (4–0)  | San Francisco Giants | L (3–4)
2015 | None (Won AL Central)  | Houston Astros | W (3–2)  | Toronto Blue Jays | W (4–2)  | New York Mets | W (4–1)
2024 | Baltimore Orioles | W (2–0)  | New York Yankees | L (1–3)  |

## Postseason record by year

[edit]

The Royals have made the postseason ten times, with the first one being in the 1976 season and the most recent being in 2024.

Year  | Finish  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|
|

1976 | AL West Champions  | ALCS | New York Yankees | Lost  | 2  | 3
1977 | AL West Champions  | ALCS | New York Yankees | Lost  | 2  | 3
1978 | AL West Champions  | ALCS | New York Yankees | Lost  | 1  | 3
1980 | American League Champions  | ALCS | New York Yankees | Won  | 3  | 0
World Series | Philadelphia Phillies | Lost  | 2  | 4
1981 | AL West Champions (second half)  | ALDS | Oakland Athletics | Lost  | 0  | 3
1984 | AL West Champions  | ALCS | Detroit Tigers | Lost  | 0  | 3
1985 | World Series Champions  | ALCS | Toronto Blue Jays | Won  | 4  | 3
World Series | St. Louis Cardinals | Won  | 4  | 3
2014 | American League Champions  | Wild Card Game | Oakland Athletics | Won  | 1  | 0
ALDS | Anaheim Angels | Won  | 3  | 0
ALCS | Baltimore Orioles | Won  | 4  | 0
World Series | San Francisco Giants | Lost  | 3  | 4
2015 | World Series Champions  | ALDS | Houston Astros | Won  | 3  | 2
ALCS | Toronto Blue Jays | Won  | 4  | 2
World Series | New York Mets | Won  | 4  | 1
2024 | American League Wild Card  | Wild Card Series | Baltimore Orioles | Won  | 2  | 0
ALDS | New York Yankees | Lost  | 1  | 3
10 | Totals | 10–8 | 43 | 37

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Gershon, Aaron. "Kansas City Royals (1969-Present)". sportsecyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
2. ^ "1980 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
3. ^ "2014 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
4. ^ "2015 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
5. ^ "Kansas City Royals History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Royals Year-By-Year Results at MLB.com
* Royals Postseason Results at MLB.com

* v
* t
* e

Major League Baseball season-by-season team history

American League|

| East Division|

* Baltimore Orioles
* Boston Red Sox
* New York Yankees
* Tampa Bay Rays
* Toronto Blue Jays

|

Central Division|

* Chicago White Sox
* Cleveland Guardians
* Detroit Tigers
* Kansas City Royals
* Minnesota Twins

West Division|

* Houston Astros
* Los Angeles Angels
* Oakland Athletics
* Seattle Mariners
* Texas Rangers

National League|

| East Division|

* Atlanta Braves
* Miami Marlins
* New York Mets
* Philadelphia Phillies
* Washington Nationals

|

Central Division|

* Chicago Cubs
* Cincinnati Reds
* Milwaukee Brewers
* Pittsburgh Pirates
* St. Louis Cardinals

West Division|

* Arizona Diamondbacks
* Colorado Rockies
* Los Angeles Dodgers
* San Diego Padres
* San Francisco Giants

* v
* t
* e

Kansas City Royals

* Established in 1969
* Based in Kansas City, Missouri

Franchise|

* History
* Expansion and draft
* Seasons
* Current roster
* Owners and executives
* Managers
* Opening Day starting pitchers
* All-time roster
* First-round draft picks
* Records
* No-hitters
* Awards and league leaders
* Broadcasters
* Royals Academy
* Bally Sports Kansas City
* Royals Sports Television Network

Ballparks|

Municipal Stadium
Kauffman Stadium
New Royals Stadium (proposed)
Spring training
Terry Park
Baseball City Stadium
Surprise Stadium

Culture|

* Sluggerrr
* Denny Matthews
* Ryan Lefebvre
* George Toma
* American Royal
* "Royals" (song)

Lore|

* Pine Tar Incident
* The Call
* 2014 AL Wild Card Game
* MLB in Omaha
* A drive into deep left field by Castellanos
* Bo Knows

Team Hall of Fame|

* Steve Busby
* Amos Otis
* Dick Howser
* Cookie Rojas
* Paul Splittorff
* Dennis Leonard
* Hal McRae
* Joe Burke
* Larry Gura
* Freddie Patek
* Ewing Kauffman
* George Brett
* Frank White
* Muriel Kauffman
* John Mayberry
* Dan Quisenberry
* Whitey Herzog
* Willie Wilson
* Jeff Montgomery
* Denny Matthews
* Bret Saberhagen
* Mark Gubicza
* Art Stewart
* Kevin Appier
* Mike Sweeney
* Ned Yost

Minor league
affiliates|

Triple-A
Omaha Storm Chasers
Double-A
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
High-A
Quad Cities River Bandits
Single-A
Columbia Fireflies
Rookie
ACL Royals
DSL Royals Fortuna
DSL Royals Ventura

Key personnel|

* Owner: John Sherman
* President of Baseball Operations & General Manager: J. J. Picollo
* Manager: Matt Quatraro

World Series
championships (2)|

* 1985
* 2015

American League
pennants (4)|

* 1980
* 1985
* 2014
* 2015

Division titles|

West
1976
1977
1978
1980
1981 (second half)
1984
1985
Central
2015
Wild Card
2014
2024

Seasons (57)

1960s|

* 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 ·  1969

1970s|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

1980s|

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

1990s|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

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