Kansas City Royals all-time top 50 players: No. 50 to No. 31

The Kansas City Royals will be entering their 50th season in existence in 2018. We’ve decided to count down the top 50 players in a three-part series.

There have been plenty of tantalizing players that have called Kansas City home since 1969 — a total of 858 players in all. In honor of the franchise’s 50th season, the Kansas City Royals are asking fans to determine the all-time team and name the top 50 players in franchise history.

Naturally, we had to give our input. Our breakdown will be broken up into a three-part series. I will discuss players 50-31, Cody Leonard will present players 30-11 and Michael Testa will reveal our top 10 all-time Kansas City Royals.

The top-50 list was determined by the three of us ranking our own 50 best players. Then came assigning points for landing spots on each list. It led to what we’ll call a consensus top-50 list. First, in alphabetical order, here are the players who received votes but do not appear on our list:

Willie Aikens, Tim Belcher, Dick Drago, Jim Eisenreich, Alcides Escobar, Jeff Francouer, Gary Gaetti, Jeremy Guthrie, Luke Hochevar, Raul Ibanez, Ed Kirkpatrick, Whit Merrifield, Jose Offerman, Cookie Rojas, Paul Schaal, Jeff Suppan, UL Washington and John Wathan.

Now, onto the countdown.

No. 50) Yordano Ventura, starting pitcher, 2013-16

No Kansas City Royals tribute will ever be complete without mention of Yordano Ventura. We watched our little brother throw fire at the big-league level for the first time on Sept. 17, 2013, against Cleveland. It was only three years later that we unknowingly watched him perform for the last time, also on a cool September evening at Kauffman Stadium, and also against Cleveland. His career 3.89 ERA is not was he is remembered for. Rather, it is his flair, his tenacity and his competitiveness that we all knew and adored.

Ventura never backed down and always had the backs of his teammates. The most notable example of this was Game 6 of the 2014 World Series. The Royals were facing elimination, and Ventura’s good friend and young standout Oscar Taveras had recently passed away. Ventura delivered to the tune of seven shutout innings with “OT” written on his cap.

No. 49) Danny Jackson, starting pitcher, 1983-87

Although his best year may have come as a Cincinnati Reds pitcher, Danny Jackson spent his first five major league seasons with the Royals. (Jackson was an All-Star and the Cy Young runner-up in 1988.) He held his own in those five seasons, sporting a 3.69 ERA over 119 appearances with the team.

His advanced statistics don’t necessarily jump off the page, but he was extremely reliable during the 1985 championship season and the following years. He went 2-1 in the 1985 postseason. Twice, the Kansas City Royals took the field facing a 3-1 series deficit that October; and twice, Jackson answered the call in Game 5.

No. 48) Jermaine Dye, outfielder, 1997-2001

The Kansas City Royals acquired Jermaine Dye right before the 1997 season, and his breakout season in 1999 put the league on notice. Dye’s All-Star campaign in 2000 was his best of all, however. He slugged 33 home runs that season, to go with a .951 OPS and his only gold glove.

Dye was known for racking up the assists from right field during his time in Kansas City. To the dismay of Royals fans everywhere, he was dealt to Oakland in the middle of the 2001 season in the infamous Neifi Perez deal. Dye enjoyed a lengthy career, highlighted by a 2005 world championship, in which he knocked in the game-winning run in the decisive Game 4. *SPOILER* Perez, meanwhile, didn’t appear on our list.

No. 47) James Shields, starting pitcher, 2013-14

Speaking of trades, there haven’t been many bigger in club history than the James Shields acquisition. The team acquired Shields, Wade Davis and later Elliot Johnson for Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery, Patrick Leonard and, of course, Wil Myers. Shields was not a Cy Young winner, but the team desperately needed what he brought to the table.

The Kansas City Royals needed a workhorse who could eat up innings, develop young talent and show up at the big moments. Shields averaged 228 innings in his two seasons in Kansas City. More than anything, he was a symbol that the club was ready to win. His performance in the 2014 playoffs left plenty to be desired, but the trade is considered an overall success for more reasons than one.

No. 44) David DeJesus, outfielder, 2003-10

After the Carlos Beltran trade, David DeJesus stepped into a full-time role with the Kansas City Royals. Many fans were hostile at first, voicing their displeasure with the direction of the team. Over time, though, DeJesus became a beloved player. He was a bright spot during the dark years.

DeJesus compiled nearly 1,000 hits as a Royal, and he had almost 1,500 in his career. One could describe him accurately as a role model. Although the team wasn’t successful, kids around Kansas City wanted to be like DeJesus. He never quit, was a team-oriented player and holds a ton of respect from the community. After the 2010 season, DeJesus was traded to Oakland and eventually bounced around the league, spending time with the Athletics, Cubs, Nationals, Rays and Angels.

No. 43) Al Fitzmorris, starting pitcher/relief pitcher, 1969-76

A member of the original 1969 Royals, Al Fitzmorris served an important part in team history. He posted a 3.46 ERA over his eight seasons with the club and helped transform the team into a force in the American League. Towards the back half of his tenure in Kansas City, Fitzmorris became a workhorse for the Kansas City Royals, averaging 220 innings pitched over his last three seasons. Unfortunately, Fitzmorris didn’t appear in the team’s first playoff run in 1976; yet, he remains a vital part of Royals history.

No. 42) Kelvin Herrera, relief pitcher, 2011-present

At the turn of the decade, the Royals were overwhelmed with relief pitching prospects. The names included Greg Holland, Aaron Crow, Tim Collins and Kelvin Herrera. The latter dazzled onlookers by lighting up the radar gun and coming through in the most important of situations. Despite tailing off as the closer in 2017, he has had a very respectable career. From 2012 to 2016, Herrera had a 2.62 ERA and averaged 70 appearances per season. Even more, Herrera is the proud owner of a 1.26 career playoff ERA.

In case you want another ERA statistic, this one is incredible: No team in the history of baseball has had more than one reliever with at least 60 innings pitched and a sub-1.50 ERA. That was, until H-D-H existed. Herrera, Davis and Holland gave the 2014 Royals THREE such pitchers. Kansas City Royals fans will never forget the bullpen dominance we have seen in recent seasons, and perhaps no one has been steadier during that dominance than Herrera.

No. 41) Lou Piniella, outfielder, 1969-73

Sweet Lou Piniella was known for his intensity and flare. Originally drafted by the Seattle Pilots, Piniella was traded to the Kansas City Royals and broke through with the team. In fact, Piniella is both the first batter and the holder of the first hit in franchise history. He was the American League Rookie of the Year in that inaugural season of 1969 and was named an All-Star in 1972.

The Yankees went on to acquire Piniella. After his 11-year playing stint in New York, he began his coaching career there. The two-time AL Manager of the Year coached for the better part of two decades, highlighted by his 1990 World Series win with the Reds and his 116-win season in 2001 with the Mariners.

No. 40) Darrell Porter, catcher, 1977-80

The late Darrell Porter was a native of Joplin, Missouri, and was a star for the Kansas City Royals over his four-year tenure (1977-1980). Over those four seasons, he knocked in 300 runs and walked an astounding 318 times, while appearing in the All-Star game three times. Porter was also the Rookie of the Year in 1973 with Milwaukee.

His incredible eye took his on-base percentage through the roof. Porter went on to rival St. Louis, where he won a World Series and the World Series MVP in 1982. He returned to face Kansas City as a member of the opposition in the 1985 World Series. Otherwise, Porter was a pioneer in terms of players admitting to and being open about their substance abuse.

No. 39) Gil Meche, starting pitcher, 2007-10

Prior to the 2007 season, Gil Meche inked a five-year, $55 million contract with the Kansas City Royals. This was, at the time, the biggest contract in team history. In his first two seasons, Meche lived up to the hype. He led the league both seasons with 34 starts and was named an All-Star in the 2007 season.

For the rest of his tenure in Kansas City, however, Meche was oft-injured and not himself. His 2009 and 2010 campaigns were disappointing, and Kansas City Royals fans had focused their attention on a stud by the name of Zack Greinke. Meche, notably and respectably, forfeited his salary for 2011 and retired, releasing the rest of the contract’s money back to the team.

No. 38) Mike Macfarlane, catcher, 1987-94 and 1996-98

During his 13-year career, Mike Macfarlane spent parts of 11 seasons in Kansas City. While with the Royals, Macfarlane appeared in over 1,000 games, hitting 118 home runs. Defensively, he caught 265 runners stealing over the course of his career, accounting for 33 percent of attempted base-stealers.

No. 37) Kevin Seitzer, third baseman, 1986-91

Kevin Seitzer was quite the accomplished hitter during his playing career. Notching nearly 1,600 career hits, he spent his first six seasons as a Kansas City Royal. 1987 was his career season, however. As a rookie, he led the league with 207 hits. His .399 season on-base percentage is incredible, considering he also led the league with 725 plate appearances. If not for Mark McGwire, Seitzer would have been named Rookie of the Year. Seitzer returned to the club as the hitting coach from 2009-12.

(Those who played youth baseball or have had kids play youth baseball might also recognize Mac-N-Seitz Baseball and Softball, pioneered by the previous two players on our list, Mike Macfarlane and Kevin Seitzer.)

No. 36) Bud Black, starting pitcher, 1982-88

Bud Black spent part of seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals, and he was an integral part of the 1985 club. First, Black had an outstanding 1984 campaign, starting 35 games, pitching 257 innings and leading the league in WHIP. The next year, Buddy made a measly 33 starts and was the Game 4 starter in the World Series.

After retiring, Black managed the Padres for nine seasons and recently completed his first season as the manager of the Rockies, who appeared in the National League Wild Card Game. He was the NL Manager of the Year in 2010.

No. 35) Steve Balboni, first baseman/designated hitter, 1984-88

Steve Balboni was another important piece of the 1985 World Series club. Over his five seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Balboni smashed 119 home runs and piled up plenty of strikeouts to go with them. In fact, Balboni’s 36 home runs in 1985 stood as the club record until Mike Moustakas notched 38 in 2017.

No. 34) David Cone, starting pitcher, 1986 and 1993-94

David Cone is a Kansas City native and Rockhurst High School alum. It was the Royals who drafted Cone. But after a short stint on the big-league roster, Cone was off to the Mets. He returned to Kansas City for two seasons, both of which were memorable. In those two seasons, Cone had a 3.17 ERA and won the 1994 Cy Young Award.

He is one of only three Royals to win that prestigious award. In 1999, as a member of the Yankees, Cone pitched the 16th perfect game in MLB history. He was a five-time All-Star and also a five-time World Series champion (one with Toronto, four with the Yankees).

No. 33) Joe Randa, third baseman, 1995-96 and 1999-2004

Joe Randa came up as a Royal in 1995 and returned to town in 1999. Over the course of his career, Randa appeared in over 1,000 games for the franchise. Randa was a fan favorite and a constant in the lineup during his main stint with the team (1999-2004). In 2004, he famously collected six hits in a single game, as the Royals trounced the Tigers, 26-5.

No. 32) Billy Butler, first baseman/designated hitter, 2007-14

Billy Butler was quite the polarizing figure during his tenure in Kansas City. While he fell off towards the end of his career, he ranks among the best in nearly every single offensive category for the club … except, of course, for stolen bases.

During his seven full seasons, you may as well have penciled Butler in for over 150 games and a .300 batting average. His most notable campaign came in 2012. He notched a career-high 29 home runs, won the AL Silver Slugger as a designated hitter and appeared in the All-Star game, which was held at Kauffman Stadium.

No. 31) Larry Gura, starting pitcher/relief pitcher, 1976-85

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Residing in the top 10 in all-time wins, strikeouts and innings pitched, Larry Gura has a special place in the history of the Kansas City Royals. The 1980 season was a special one for Gura. Not only was he named to his only All-Star game but also he started Games 2 and 5 of the World Series — the first one the Kansas City Royals reached.

He finished in the top 10 for the Cy Young voting three times over the course of his career. Gura spent parts of 10 seasons with the Boys in Blue and is a member of the team’s Hall of Fame.

Next: Top 50 players Nos. 30-11

Next up, Cody Leonard will take us all the way up to the top 10 players to ever don a Kansas City Royals uniform. What are your thoughts so far? Who should we include in the top 30? Let us know your thoughts.