Kansas City Royals All Time 25 Man Roster

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Center Field – Amos Otis

For those who saw the original Golden Age of the Kansas City Royals, Lorenzo Cain may seem to be a throwback to that era. A player who had combined power and speed with excellent defense during his prime, Otis was a forgotten star in an era when the Royals dominated the landscape of baseball.

Stolen from the New York Mets for the remains of Joe Foy, Otis enjoyed 14 stellar seasons in Kansas City. During his time with the Royals, Otis produced a .280/.347/.433 batting line, hitting 193 home runs and 365 doubles while stealing 340 bases. A five time All-Star, Otis lead the American League in doubles twice, hitting 36 in 1970 and 40 in 1976. In 1971, he lead the league with 52 stolen bases.

Defensively, Otis may have been overshadowed by his fellow outfielder, Willie Wilson. Yet, that did not stop Otis from earning some recognition for his stellar performance with the glove, as he earned three Gold Glove awards of his own. Otis is also had a strong arm, ranking 19th all time in assists as a center fielder and 12th in double plays. A strong defensive outfielder whose prowess with the withstands the test of time, Otis would fit perfectly with today’s incarnation of the Royals.

Amos Otis was a very underrated outfielder during his playing days. Despite that, he was the best center fielder in Kansas City Royals history, and a player worthy of this spot in the lineup.

Next: A position change for a legend