1980 Kansas City Royals season


The 1980 Kansas City Royals season was their 12th in Major League Baseball. The Royals, under new manager Jim Frey, finished first in the American League West with a record of 97-65. Kansas City finally broke through in the postseason, sweeping the New York Yankees 3-0 in the 1980 American League Championship Series after falling to the Yankees in the ALCS in 1976, 1977 and 1978. The Royals lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in the World Series.
George Brett had one of the best seasons in Major League Baseball history. Brett became the first Royals player to win a Most Valuable Player award, and his league-leading.390 batting average was the highest in the majors since Ted Williams hit.406 in 1941. Brett also led the team in home runs and set a single-season franchise record with 118 runs batted in.

Offseason

On September 30, while pitching for the Seattle Mariners against the Royals, Rick Honeycutt taped a thumbtack to his finger to cut the ball. Royals baserunner Willie Wilson spotted the tack from second base. The umpires investigated and not only found the tack, but also a gash in Honeycutt's forehead. Honeycutt was ejected from the game, suspended for 10 games, and fined.

Opening Day starters

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases
PosPlayerGABRH2B3BAvg.HRRBISB
C11841851104142.2497511
1B15154370151240.27820981
2B15456070148234.26476019
3B11744987175339.3902411815
SS153549791501611.27365320
LF1617051332302815.32634979
CF1073945699163.251105316
RF13039550116312.29410600
DH12448973145395.297148310

Other batters

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases
PlayerGABRHAvg.HRRBISB
12645357138.30565817
691671942.2511201
621631345.2765213
1141561432.2051181
51721012.167031
3654814.259060
2553818.340050
202628.308171
142301.043010
221641.063000
121512.133020
71012.200000
3400.000000
7030----000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERABBSO
36283.118102.9576113
38280.120113.7980155
3420414114.154353
32190.21393.927897

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLSVERABBSO
32137.1101024.397068
1142.11306.171912
34.201011.5752

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLSVERABBSO
75128.1127333.092737
37894043.642340
2431.13015.171816
1322.12106.0479
14220105.3285
813.10010.0054
59.10106.7553
110000.0010

Postseason

ALCS

Game 1

October 8 Royals Stadium

Game 2

October 9 Royals Stadium

Game 3

October 10 Yankee Stadium

World Series

Awards and honors

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GCL Royals Blue