The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are in the Central Division of the American League.

Franchise history

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Birth of the Royals

When the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland after the 1967 season, Kansas City was left without professional baseball for the first and only time since 1883. An enraged Senator Stuart Symington threatened to introduce legislation removing baseball's antitrust exemption unless Kansas City was granted a team in the next round of expansion. MLB complied during the 1967 winter meetings, awarding one of four expansion teams to Kansas City to start play in 1971. Pharmaceutical executive Ewing Kauffman won the bidding for the new Kansas City team, which he named the Royals after the American Royal Livestock Show, which has been held in Kansas City every year since 1899.

However, Symington was not satisfied and pressured MLB to allow the new teams to start play in 1969. Symington's intervention may have contributed to the collapse of one of the Royals' expansion brethren, the Seattle Pilots, who moved to Milwaukee as the Brewers after only one season.

Taking Off

Early Royals stars included 1969 Rookie of the Year Lou Piniella, Amos Otis, Paul Splittorff, Cookie Rojas and Hal McRae. In 1971, the Royals had their first winning season, with manager Bob Lemon guiding them to a second-place finish.

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Kansas City Royals News

What will 2010 bring for Royals?
Dick Kaegel Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:00:00 -0400
What will 2010 bring for Royals?
Greinke provided many highlights in 2009
By Rustin Dodd and Dick Kaegel Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:00:00 -0400
Greinke provided many highlights in 2009
Royals salute military, families for holidays
Dick Kaegel Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:00:00 -0400
Royals salute military, families for holidays
B. Anderson reaches deal with Royals
Scott Merkin Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:15:00 -0400
B. Anderson reaches deal with Royals
Cast a vote for Royals' All-Time 9
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:57:11 -0400

TYIB voters honor Greinke as top starter
Scott Merkin Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:01:00 -0400
TYIB voters honor Greinke as top starter

Kansas City Star: Royals

Royals sign two to minor-league deals
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:15:00 -0600
The Royals signed two players Wednesday to minor-league contracts: left-handed pitcher <strong>Nelson Payano </strong>and outfielder <strong>Jorge Bonifacio</strong>. Payano, 27, spent six minor leagues seasons in the Braves and Mariners organizations before pitching in Japan last year, where he was 0-2 with a 2.68 ERA with 16 strikeouts and five walks in 13 2/3 innings.
Royals sign two to minor-league deals
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:54:00 -0600
The Royals signed two players to minor-league contracts: left-handed pitcher Nelson Payano and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio.
Royals add Brian Anderson to outfield
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:15:00 -0600
The Royals and outfielder <strong>Brian Anderson </strong>agreed to a one-year contract worth $700,000 on Tuesday. Anderson hit .243 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 86 games for the Red Sox and White Sox last year. He figures to compete with <strong>Mitch Maier </strong>to be starting center fielder. <strong>Willie Bloomquist </strong>could also get some time in center.
Royals sign outfielder Anderson
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:58:00 -0600
The Royals and outfielder Brian Anderson agreed to a one-year contract worth $700,000 on Tuesday.
Coco Crisp reportedlty to sign with A's
Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:15:00 -0600
A former Royal is about to sign with another American League team. Outfielder <strong>Coco Crisp</strong> has reportedly been plucked from the crop of available free agents. The Oakland Athletics were closing in on a deal Sunday with him on a one-year contract with a club option for the 2011 season. Crisp provided Kansas City with solid early returns before shoulder surgery ended his season, Crisp&rsquo;s first with the Royals, prematurely.
Another honor for Greinke
Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:15:00 -0600
The Royals&rsquo; <strong>Zack Greinke</strong> prevented San Francisco&rsquo;s <strong>Tim Lincecum</strong> from taking a second consecutive This Year in Baseball Top Starter honor. Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young winner, edged Lincecum with 19.8 percent of the vote, compared with 19.6 percent for Lincecum. The Yankees&rsquo; <strong>CC Sabathia</strong> was third (12.9 percent), followed by the Tigers&rsquo; <strong>Justin Verlander</strong> at 11.8 percent Subscribe to Kansas_City_Royals RSS feed