Kansas City Royals: Top Twenty Hitters In Team History

Sep 26, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A glove and bat sit on the field before the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

When one thinks of the great hitters in Kansas City Royals history, George Brett immediately jumps to mind. However, the Royals have had a lot more than just their all time great third baseman at the plate in franchise history.

The Kansas City Royals have had a familiar formula when it has come to offense during their runs of success. They made contact, relied on their speed and had just enough power to keep teams honest. While the teams of the 1970’s and 80’s had more power than the recent Royals squads, the same principles of contact, speed and putting pressure on the opposition applied.

However, the KC Royals have been more than a collection of scrappy contact hitters. There have been a few legitimate power bats to come through Kauffman Stadium, as well as a few players who went on to become stars at other stops in their careers. A few players found the K to be to their liking, putting up their best marks with the Royals, and were unable to replicate that success elsewhere.

Last week, we looked at the top ten pitchers in Royals history. Today, let us take another trip down memory lane and look at the twenty best hitters in the history of the Royals. Keep in mind, this list strictly concerns their time with the Royals, so while Harmon Killebrew was a great hitter and ended his career in Kansas City, only that one year would factor in.

*post by Dave Hill and John Viril*

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Jul 13, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Raul Ibanez (18) at bat against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

20. Raul Ibanez

It is easy to remember Raul Ibanez for what he was back in 2014 when he returned to the Kansas City Royals for his swan song. While his skills had almost completely eroded, he was essentially another coach on the field, and will be best remembered as the man who convinced the Royals that they were a good team. He got the 2014 squad to believe in themselves, catapulting the Royals towards consecutive World Series appearances.

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Yet, it is easy to forget that during his previous stint in Kansas City, Ibanez had gone from a part time player to an excellent hitter. Given his first real chance at age 29, Ibanez became more than the Royals likely would have expected, producing a .291/.347/.492 batting line with 55 home runs and 85 doubles. His career, which had appeared ready to stall out, was rejuvenated by his time in Kansas City.

Allowed to leave as a free agent following the 2003 season, Ibanez went out to find success in Seattle and with the Phillies. He did come back to Kansas City after being released by the Angels, and even though he became the oldest player to hit a home run in Royals history, that was one of his few contributions on the field.

Despite on establishing himself in the game in his late twenties, Ibanez finished his career playing 19 seasons with a solid career .272/.335/.465 slash line with 2035 hits and 305 home runs. He earned his only All-Star nod at age 37 as a member of the Phillies.

Ibanez, who seems destined for a coaching or managerial position in the near future, had been a solid hitter in his first go around with the Royals. In his second, his closed door meeting and speech almost helped push them to a title. That combination of production and leadership are worthy of a spot in the Royals top hitters.

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Apr 3, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Scoreboard announces the postponement of the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

19. Jose Offerman

Jose Offerman has a unique place in Kansas City Royals history. Surprisingly, he is the Royals all time leader in batting average and on base percentage, showing his excellent contact skills and batting eye. A solid second baseman, and a generally underrated player in Royals history, Offerman was better than we may recall between 1996-98.

Indeed, for his time with the Royals, Offerman posted a .306/.385/.419 batting line while displaying his excellent speed. Not only did he steal 78 bases, but Offerman also hit 84 doubles and 27 triples. While Offerman was an All-Star in the seasons surrounding his tenure with the Royals, one could easily argue that he was worthy of a nod during those three years.

After his major league career ended, Offerman became better known for his temper. He was hit by a pitch while playing for the long Island Ducks and charged the mound, hitting pitcher Matt Beech and catcher John Nathans with a bat. He was later sued for damages, and pulled a disappearing act. Offerman was also suspended for punching an umpire during an argument while he was managing in the Dominican Winter League.

While his temper may have overshadowed his accomplishments on the field, Jose Offerman was a good hitter for the Royals. Considering some of the players that have appeared at second base since his time in Kansas City, his tenure was one of the bright spots offensively at the position.

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Oct 28, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Billy Butler hits a RBI double against the San Francisco Giants in the second inning during game six of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

18. Billy Butler

Billy Butler was an interesting player for the Royals. Even though he never developed into the player that he was expected to be, Butler was still a solid first baseman/designated hitter for Kansas City. In fact, one could even argue that his swing, and tendency to hit line drives, were perfect for Kauffman Stadium.

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Even though Butler did not develop into the power hitter that he was expected to be, he still became a double hitting machine. As a Mark Grace or John Olerud style hitter, Butler was more than serviceable, producing a .295/.359/.449 batting line with 295 doubles.

Yet, that production is seen as disappointing. That speaks volumes to the difference between what the reality of who Butler was, and what the Royals had envisioned, became. Maybe he was not the player that would challenge Steve Balboni for the single season home run title, but Butler was still quite a good hitter in his own right.

Sometimes, expectations get set at such a high level that a player seems disappointing, even when they are putting together a solid career. That was the case with Billy Butler and the Kansas City Royals.

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Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain hits a three-run triple against the New York Mets in the 12th inning in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

17. Lorenzo Cain

This rating is, admittedly, a bit of extrapolation. Lorenzo Cain has solid overall numbers with the Kansas City Royals, but has really only come into his own over the past two seasons. However, those past two years have been a tantalizing look into what Cain may very well be.

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While Cain’s career numbers for the Royals, where he has posted a .286/.336/.418 batting line with 94 doubles and 80 steals, are good, it is these past two seasons that show what he is capable of. Finally scratching the surface of his potential, Cain has a .304/.351/.447 batting line with 63 doubles, 21 home runs and 56 stolen bases since the start of 2014.

Cain may never be a 20-20 player, but his blend of gap power, speed and his ability to make contact combine to make him a threat at the plate. Now that his offense game has progressed to an outstanding 126 OPS+ (26% better than a league average hitter), Cain turned into an MVP candidate in 2015. He finished third behind superstars Josh Donaldson and Mike Trout.

Lorenzo Cain could easily move up this list since he will turn 30-years-old during the 2016 season. If his power continues to develop, he could force his way into the top ten.

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Sep 8, 2015; Anaheim, CA, UCA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder David DeJesus before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

16. David DeJesus

David DeJesus earned a full-time job with the Kansas City Royals when they dealt star center-fielder Carlos Beltran to the Houston Astros when KC fell out of contention in 2004 (recall that the team enjoyed an over-.500 miracle in 2003, and GM Allard Baird and manager Tony Pena deluded themselves that their team could build on this success in 2004).

Amid the 58-104 disaster, then 24-year-old David DeJesus was a lonely bright spot. DeJesus slashed a respectable .287/.360/.402 for an almost league average OPS+ of 98 (remember that was a much more prolific run scoring environment, so his .763 OPS was below average), and played good defense in center-field. He finished sixth in Rookie-Of-The-Year voting.

That start kicked off an 8-year KC Royals career that ended in 2010. The team traded him to Oakland the following winter after the 31-year-old DeJesus had compiled a solid  .289/.360/.427 triple slash with 61 home runs and 47 stolen bases, good for an OPS+ (adjusted On Base Plus Slugging) of 108 (8% better than a league-average hitter).

DeJesus might have been the most consistent player on the team during his time with the KC Royals. In the early 2000’s, that made David DeJesus an oasis of competence in a desert of terrible.

Next: Wally World

Apr 3, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers hitting coach Wally Joyner (8) watches batting practice before the start of a spring training baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

15. Wally Joyner

When Wally Joyner burst onto the scene in 1986 as a 24-year-old rookie, he slammed 24 home runs while slashing .290/.348/.457 with 22 home runs and 100 RBI’s on his way to a second place finished in the Rookie-Of-The-Year vote and his only All-Star nod. He helped drive the Angels to the AL West title, earning the knickname “Wally World” after the amusement park in 1982’s iconic comedy “Vacation”.

The name was a perfect fit, because the baby-faced Joyner looked more like a bat boy than player (indeed, on his first day in the bigs, the gate attendant directed him to the bat boy entrance). The weird thing was, this lanky first baseman that looked like a kid followed up his rookie season with a 34-dinger year in 1987.

When he came to Kansas City as a free-agent in 1992, he still looked rather young despite being a 30-year-old veteran. But, the league had figured out how to avoid his power and he became more of a solid all-around bat that hit close to .300 with around 11 home runs—which made him a pretty darn good player.

Joyner was part of a last-ditch attempt by Ewing Kauffman to win a title before his death. While Mr. Kauffman passed away in 1993, Wally-World remained with the KC Royals to play for the last gasp of competent baseball before the long winter of buffoonery that began in 1996.

Wally Joyner played four seasons for the Kansas City Royals from 1992-95, amassing a workman-like slash line of .293/.371/.434 with 44 home runs for an OPS+ of 113 (13% better than a league average hitter). Though he never hit more than 15 home runs in a KC Royals uniform, he was a middle of the lineup presence with his gap power and reliable approach at the plate.

In many ways, with his lanky frame, lefty stance, and smooth defense at first base, Wally Joyner looked a lot like Eric Hosmer in his better seasons with the Royals. Of course, Joyner didn’t play in any championship games.

Wally Joyner went on to play six more seasons, retiring after the 2001 season at age 39 with a solid .289/.362/.440 slash line with 204 home runs and 2060 hits.

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Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) scores the tying run past New York Mets catcher Travis d

15. Eric Hosmer

Soon to be 26, and five years into his KC Royals career, Eric Hosmer has already earned a place among the franchise’s best hitters.

Eric Hosmer’s career .280/.336/.427 triple slash in nice. He’s compiled a career OPS+ of 108 (8% above a league average hitter), with 77 home runs and 151 doubles in five seasons. Yet, he’s accomplished more as a defensive player than with his bat. Hosmer has won three consecutive gold gloves at first base.

FanSided

So, one might ask, how does he rate number 15 in our list?

The short answer is that Eric Hosmer has been freaking ridiculous in the post season. The overall slash line is actually significantly more modest than his regular season line at .276/.333/.398 with 3 home runs in 31 post-season games. But what that line doesn’t tell you is the flurry of clutch hits that he’s delivered for the KC Royals in back-to-back World Series runs in 2014-15.

Eric Hosmer’s extra-inning triple in KC’s four-run comeback against the A’s in the 2014 A.L. Wild Card game set him up to score the tying run at 8-8, after Oakland had seized a one-run lead the top of the 12th inning. It was Hosmer’s two-run home run that sealed Kansas City’s Game 4 win over Houston in the ALDS, which was their SECOND post eighth-inning comeback in an elimination game. Eric Hosmer also doubled in KC’s first run in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series to cut the Met’s lead to 2-1.

Then came his mad dash for home that sent the game to extra innings, and set up the KC Royals to clinch the franchise’s second title.

In Kansas CIty’s mad 2015 playoff run, Hosmer hit .036 with the bases empty and hit .344 with runners on base. In 31 playoff games spread over two seasons, Hosmer has set the franchise record for post-season RBI’s with 29. He broke the team record set by an obscure guy named George Brett (23), except Brett needed 43 games to accumulate that total along with a career post-season OPS of 1.023.

Oh, and Eric Hosmer drove in more runs than any player in baesball history through his first 28 playoff games, except for Lou Gehrig.

Yeah, Eric deserves a place on the list. And the KC Royals control him for at least two more seasons.

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Mar 21, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; MLB and NFL former star Bo Jackson throws out the first pitch before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

13. Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson is on this list not because of objective sabermetric analysis. His career was too short, and too injury filled, to make stat-heads happy. Instead, Bo Jackson is on this list because he’s a freak of nature.

Bo simply oozed greatness every time he stepped into the batter’s box. I’ve never seen a player with better raw tools than Bo Jackson, and that includes Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Bryce Harper, and even Mike Trout. Crazy athletic ability allowed Bo Jackson to achieve Paul Bunyon-like feats at the plate.

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Bo hit the longest home run in Kauffman Stadium history, slamming a 475-foot bomb for his first career dinger. Jackson tried to call time out only to realize the umpire had denied his request, and blasted the pitch out of the park. He homered and stole a base on his way to winning the MVP Award at the 1989 All-Star game.

His overall numbers with the KC Royals ended up with a .250/.309/.474 triple slash with 66 doubles, 14 triples, and 109 home runs in five seasons for an OPS+ of 115 (15% above league average). They really don’t tell the tale. To appreciate Bo Jackson, you have to watch the video.

You can see my favorite Bo highlights in a story I wrote about Bo’s 10 most impressive plays as a Royal that I wrote for KC Kingdom in 2014.

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Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; The outfield scoreboard displays the Kansas City Royals as American League champions after game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals swept the Orioles to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

12. Willie Wilson

Willie Wilson is the best leadoff hitter in team history. His career .289/.329/.382 triple slash and 95 OPS+ (5% worse than a league average hitter) in 15 years with the KC Royals doesn’t really tell you how good he was in his prime.

Willie Wilson wrecked havoc on the bases, with a franchise-record 612 stolen bases—including a league-leading 83 in 1979. Aside from his base-running, Wilson hit over .300 for four consecutive seasons from 1979-82 and five times in six years. He won the batting crown by hitting .332 in 1982 and regularly posted OBP over .350.

Wilson possessed little to no power, hitting a career-high nine home runs in 1986. Triples were Willie’s game. He smacked 133 three-baggers for the Kansas City Royals, which is second in franchise history to George Brett’s 137. He led the league in triples five times in his career.

Willie Wilson, however, got caught up in the 1983 cocaine use scandal along with KC Royals teammates Vida Blue and Willie Mays Aikens. He really was never quite the same player after the scandal, though he played 12 more season.

After his 15 years with the Kansas City Royals, he finished up with two season in Oakland and two years with the Cubs.

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Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) waves to the crowd at the World Series parade. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

11. Darrell Porter

Darrell Porter went to three straight All-Star games from 1978-80 after arriving in a trade from Milwaukee in 1977, mostly because he was one of the best hitting catchers in the game during his four years in Kansas City.

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His 1979 seasons is one of the great years for a position player in KC Royals history, which included an outstanding .291/.421/.485 triple slash with 23 doubles, 10 triples (from a catcher!), and 20 home runs, 112 RBI’s, and an astounding 121 walks. His OPS+ was a terrific 142 (42% better than league average) and his 7.6 WAR in ’79 has only been exceeded by one position player in team history: George Brett.

Along with his offensive prowess, Porter possessed a cannon arm and excellent defensive skills behind the plate.

Overall, Darrell Porter hit .271/.375/.435 with an .809 OPS, which was good for a 121 OPS+ (21% better than league average). Porter missed time during the 1980 season for drug rehab due to cocaine addiction. Though he played five more seasons in St. Louis, and two more in Texas, he never was really the same player.

Next: Big Willie

Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view as Kansas City Royals fans celebrate the team

10. Willie Mays Aikens

Big Willie Aikens arrived in Kansas City at age 25 after a 1980 trade with the California Angels. The team had parted ways with long-time first baseman John Mayberry three years before and needed to add a thumper to the lineup.

And, boy, did Wille Mays Aikens deliver.

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Aikens hit .278/.356/.433 with 20 home runs and 98 RBI’s as Kansas City’s cleanup hitter on a team that lost the 1980 World Series to the Phillies. He became the first player to hit two home runs in two different World Series games.

Aikens hit for a .282/.362/.469 career slash line with the KC Royals and slamming 77 home runs despite struggling with a stutter that made interviews painful. He hit .302 in 1983 with a .912 OPS, good for an excellent 149 OPS+ (49% better than league average). Aikens got caught in a federal cocaine use in baseball inquiry after the 1983 season.

Willie Aikens turned out to have a serious addiction problem and only managed to play two more big league seasons. He has, however, returned to the game in 2011 as a minor league coach at the Kansas City Royals complex in Surprise, Arizona.

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Oct 28, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon hits a RBI double against the New York Mets in the 8th inning in game two of the 2015 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

8. Alex Gordon

Alex Gordon grew up a KC Royals fan in Nebraska, and the team made him the no. 2 overall draft choice in 2005 after he starred at Nebraska.

Call to the Pen

Gordon was expected to become a big time major-league hitter. Many touted him as the next franchise savior since he played third base just like Hall-Of-Famer, and Kansas Ctiy Royals icon, George Brett.

Didn’t work that way. After struggling through four tough seasons at third base, the KC Royals converted him to left-field. Both his bat and glove came alive, and he’s been the best position player on the team ever since.

Alex Gordon hit a nifty .303/.376/.502 in 2011, with 23 home runs and 87 RBI’s. He won a gold glove for his defense in left, basically turning from a bust to star at age 27. Oddly enough, however, his real hallmark is defense. Alex Gordon is a very good, not great hitter. Even so, he’s still one of the best in franchise history.

In nine seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Gordo has slashed .269/.348/.435 with 134 home runs and a 112 OPS+ (12% better than league average). Alex Gordon is a guy that can help a team with his bat, glove, arm, and legs, including 81 stolen bases.

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Sep 24, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran (36) bats against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

7. Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran came to the Kansas City Royals in 1999 and won the Rookie-Of-The-Year award in the AL at age 22. He hit .293/.337/.454 with 22 home runs, 27 stolen bases, and 108 RBI’s. In addition, he played terrific defense in center-field.

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In short, Carlos Beltran was an instant star. He, along with fellow outfielders Jermaine Dye and Johnny Damon, combined to form a terrific young outfield trio that many hoped would bring back the glory days in Kansas City. Alas, horrible pitching doomed that hope.

Beltran is still one of the most gifted hitters to ever put on a KC Royals uniform. In seven Kansas City seasons, he slashed .287/.352/.483 with 123 home runs and 164 stolen bases. His career 111 OPS+ (11% better than league average) with KC doesn’t really indicate the all-around force he was at the plate.

Carlos Beltran is still active at age 39, and has amassed close to Hall-Of-Fame numbers in 18 major-league seasons with a .280/.355/.490 triple slash, 392 home runs, 311 stolen bases, and a 121 OPS+ (21% better than league average).  He’s earned seven All-Star appearances and three gold gloves in a storied career.

Next: Danny The Bull

Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A Kansas City Royals fans shows support while waiting on players to arrive at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

6. Danny Tartabull

The KC Royals traded for second-year player Danny Tartabull to add some youthful pop to an aging lineup in 1987. The 24-year-old Tartabull gave them everything they could have hoped for.

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Danny Tartabull slashed .309/.390/.541 with 34 home runs and 101 RBIs as a right fielder in his first Kansas City Royals season. Along with Bo Jackson, he added some serious bicep power to the KC lineup—though both were disappointing defenders in the field.

Tartabull played during a difficult time in Kansas City, as the team was transitioning from the core that had won the 1985 title to a series of still competitive teams that fell short of the post-season. Still, Danny Tartabull produced at the plate in five years in Kansas City. He slashed .290/.376/.518 for an OPS+ of 144 (44% better than league average) with 124 home runs.

Danny Tartabull was a three true outcomes player before sabermetrics came of age, regularly striking out more than 100 times a season, slamming home runs, and drawing walks.  His final year in KC featured one of the best slash lines in club history at .316/.397/.593 with 31 home runs and in OPS+ 171.

The Bull moved on to the Yankees as a free agent in 1992, and he played for Oakland, the White Sox, and Phillies before retiring at age 34 after the 1997 season.

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Aug 15, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Former Kansas City Royals player Mike Sweeney (29) throws out the ceremonial first pitch during his induction ceremony into the Royals Hall of Fame before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mike Sweeney

Mike Sweeney arrived in camp in 2000 as a 26-year-old former catcher trying to stick with the team. The KC Royals converted him to first base, and a player who looked long in the tooth to earn a job in the major leagued transformed into a hitting star.

The position change unlocked Sweeney’s bat to the tune of a .322/.387/.520 slash line with 22 home runs, 102 RBI’s, and a 129 OPS+ (29% better than league average).

Mike Sweeney was part of a young, prolific offense that included Jermaine Dye, Johnny Damon, and Carlos Beltran that tried to score enough runs to make up for a staff filled with batting practice pitchers. As the young guns matured, the destitute KC Royals traded off their stars as they drew near to free-agency in a series of ill-considered deals that got GM Allard Baird fired.

The one exception was Mike Sweeney, who signed a team-friendly deal to stay in Kansas City for the long term. Unfortunately, his loyalty was rewarded with a series of losing teams. Even so, Sweeney earned five All-Star berths with the Kansas City Royals. In 13 KC Royals seasons between 1995-2007, Sweeney slashed .299/.369/.492 with 197 home runs and an OPS+ of 120 (20% better than a league average hitter).

Sadly, Sweeney struggled with back problems in the latter years of his Kansas City career. His performance suffered and he bounced between the active roster and the disabled list with a myriad of injuries. Frustrated home fans turned on him, berating Mike Sweeney for his declining production and large contract.

Next: Big John

Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals fans cheer at the World Series parade. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

4. John Mayberry

First baseman John Mayberry was the first true slugger in Kansas City Royals history. Acquired in trade from the Houston Astros in 1972 by GM Cedric Tallis, Mayberry became the team’s cleanup hitter.

The then 23-year-old Mayberry paid immediate dividends, slashing .298/.394/.507 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI’s in the KC Royals’ final season in Municipal Stadium. John Mayberry’s best Kansas City Royals season came in 1975 at age 26 when he hit .291/.416/.547 with a then franchise record 34 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 119 walks. Mayberry finished second in AL MVP voting behind Boston rookie Fred Lynn.

Overall, Mayberry spent six seasons in Kansas City from 1972-77. He slashed .261/.374/.448 with 143 home runs and on OPS+ 132 (32% better than league average) and two All-Star nods. He finished his career with five years in Toronto, followed by a partial season with the Yankees.

The numbers don’t tell the true impact of John Mayberry. He was the first Kansas City Royals hitters that teams truly feared.

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Oct 27, 1985; Kansas City, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Royals fans celebrate after the game 7 win beating the St. Louis Cardinals 11-0 during the 1985 World Series at Royals Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Hal McRae

Twenty-seven year-old Hal McRae arrived in Kansas City after a trade with the Cincinnati Reds in 1973. Unable to crack a talented Reds lineup that would later become known as the “Big Red Machine” for back-to-back titles in 1975-76, McRae became something of a mentor for a young Kansas City Royals team trying to find its way.

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McRae’s KC Royals career started slowly with a .234/.313/.385 slash line that was sub-par even in an era dominated by pitching—especially for an outfielder. McRae’s career, however, did not really take off until he embraced the newfangled role of designated hitter that the American League had instituted in 1973.

In 1974, McRae slashed .310/.375/.475 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI’s. He earned All-Star nods in 1975-76. Hal McRae even dueled teammate George Brett for the 1976 batting title in a contest that went down to the last day of the season. Brett prevailed by finishing at .333 to McRae’s .332.

Hal McRae spent 15 seasons in Kansas City, and became the quintessential designated hitter in the early years of the position. McRae hit .293/.356/.458 in his Kansas City Royals career, with 169 home runs, 1924 hits, and an OPS+ of 125 (25% better than league average).

But, forget about the numbers. Hal McRae was the guy that taught the Kansas City Royals how to play aggressive, National League-style baseball that fit KC’s massive new ballpark.

Next: An Under-Appreciated All-Star

Nov 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A Kansas City Royals fans shows support while waiting on players to arrive for the World Series victory celebration at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2. Amos Otis

Amos Otis had a terrific career. He played 17 years, earning five All-Star berths (all with KC) and three gold gloves. Yet, fans and pundits paid far more attention to George Brett, Hal McRae,and John Mayberry.

A.O. as he was called, was simply one of those all-around good players like Alex Gordon and Ben Zobrist that people didn’t really appreciate until sabermetrics came along. Kansas City’s first great center-fielder could do everything well.

He arrived in Kansas City after a trade from the New York Mets (another Cedric Tallis steal) at age 23 in 1970. He immediately moved into center, and hit .284/.353/.424 with 11 home runs and 33 stolen bases.

Otis’s best season came in 1978 at age 31, when he slashed .298/.380/.525 with 22 home runs, 96 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases in a mere 486 at bats. For his 14 years with the Kansas City Royals, Otis hit .280/.347/.433 with 193 home runs and 340 stolen bases. After the 1983 season, he joined Pittsburgh for one final season before retiring at age 37.

Next: The Franchise

Oct 22, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals former player George Brett throws out the ceremonial first pitch before game two of the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

George Brett

What Kansas City Royals fan hasn’t heard of George Brett? Even if you were born after he retired in 1993, his legend looms over the entire franchise 22 years after he called it quits.

His name is all over the Kansas City Royals record book. Most home runs in franchise history with 305, most hits with 3154, most RBI’s with 1596. George Brett has the highest single season batting average in club history when he made his famous run at .400 in 1980 (finishing at .390).

George Brett was named to 13 straight AL All-Star teams between 1976-88. He won three batting titles (the only player in MLB history to do so in three different decades), three silver sluggers, one gold glove, and one AL MVP. His career numbers are an overwhelming .305/.369/.487 with 3154 hits, 317 home runs, and an OPS+ of 135 (35% above league average).

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All of that doesn’t even begin to tell the tale, because Brett made his reputation with playoff heroics. In  nine playoff series spread over seven seasons, Brett slashed an astounding .337/.397/.627 for an outrageous OPS of 1.023 against stiff, post-season competition.

He hit three home runs on one playoff game against the Yankees in 1978. He slammed a three-run home run to pull the Royals in an 8th inning tie in deciding Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS against New York. George Brett willed his team to victory in Game 3 of the 1985 ALCS against Toronto with two home runs, one double, while going 4-4 with a game-saving defensive play at third base. Then there’s the Pine Tar game that is a baseball legend (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, Google it and watch the video. You’ll thank me).

Brett debuted with the KC Royals in 1973 as a 20-year-old, and retired in 1993 as a 40-year-old. In those 21 seasons, he defined Kansas City baseball.

Next: Candidates To Replace Alex Gordon

His statue sits in front of Kauffman Stadium. Need I really say any more?