1983 Kansas City Royals season


The 1983 Kansas City Royals season was their 15th in Major League Baseball. The Royals finished second in the American League West at 79-83, 20 games behind the Chicago White Sox. Dan Quisenberry's league-leading 45 saves also set a single-season franchise record.

Offseason

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

The Pine Tar Game refers to a controversial incident that took place in an American League baseball game played between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees on July 24, 1983.
Playing at New York's Yankee Stadium, the Royals were trailing 4-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth and U L Washington on first base. In the on deck circle, George Brett was heard remarking to a teammate, "Watch this baby fly" as he shook his bat. He then came to the plate and connected off Yankee reliever Rich "Goose" Gossage for a two-run home run and a 5-4 lead. As Brett crossed the plate, New York manager Billy Martin approached home plate umpire Tim McClelland and requested that Brett's bat be examined. Earlier in the season, Martin and other members of the Yankees had noticed the amount of pine tar used by Brett, but Martin had chosen not to say anything until the home run.
With Brett watching from the dugout, McClelland and the rest of the umpiring crew inspected the bat. Measuring the bat against the width of home plate, they determined that the amount of pine tar on the bat's handle exceeded that allowed by Rule 1.10 of the Major League Baseball rule book, which read that "a bat may not be covered by such a substance more than from the tip of the handle."

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
3BGeorge Brett123464144.3102593
SSU L Washington144547129.236541

Other batters

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

Farm system