Examines the history, players, and future of the Kansas City Royals baseball team.

The history of the Kansas City Royals professional baseball team from its inaugural 1969 season to today, spotlighting the team's greatest players and most memorable moments.

Amos Otis, Frank White, George Brett, Hal McRae, Dan Quisenberry, Bret Saberhagen, Paul Splittorff—one mention of any of those names can bring about visions of great baseball, determination, and winning. However, one vision outweighs all others: the boys in blue… the Kansas City Royals. The Kansas City Royals, an expansion club in the American League in 1969, struggled during their early existence. It didn't take long, however, before the Royals established themselves as one of the most successful franchises in baseball. That success culminated with the winning of the 1985 World Series. Since 1969, the Royals have developed great players that have had fun. Along the way, they also have developed a winning tradition. Although the Royals have received the "small-market" tag in recent years, the organization still boasts a proud heritage. In this reissue of Tales from the Kansas City Royals Dugout, longtime Royals radio broadcaster Denny Matthews relives the club’s great moments and proud tradition. Sit back and enjoy never-before-told anecdotes, including from the team’s great rivalries with the New York Yankees, Oakland A’s, and the remarkable players who have helped form the legend of the Kansas City Royals. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

The New York Times bestseller—“a rollicking account” (The Kansas City Star) of the infamous baseball game between the Yankees and Royals in which a game-winning home run was overturned and set off one of sports history’s most absurd and entertaining controversies. On July 24, 1983, during the finale of a heated four-game series between the dynastic New York Yankees and small-town Kansas City Royals, umpires nullified a go-ahead home run based on an obscure rule, when Yankees manager Billy Martin pointed out an illegal amount of pine tar—the sticky substance used for a better grip—on Royals third baseman George Brett’s bat. Brett wildly charged out of the dugout and chaos ensued. The call temporarily cost the Royals the game, but the decision was eventually overturned, resulting in a resumption of the game several weeks later that created its own hysteria. The game was a watershed moment, marking a change in the sport, where benign cheating tactics like spitballs, Superball bats, and a couple extra inches of tar on an ash bat, gave way to era of soaring salaries, labor strikes, and rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs. In The Pine Tar Game acclaimed sports writer Filip Bondy paints a portrait of the Yankees and Royals of that era, replete with bad actors, phenomenal athletes, and plenty of yelling. Players and club officials, like Brett, Goose Gossage, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, Sparky Lyle, David Cone, and John Schuerholz, offer fresh commentary on the events and their take on the subsequent postseason rivalry. “A sticky moment milked for all its nutty, head-shaking glory” (Sports Illustrated), The Pine Tar Game examines a more innocent time in professional sports, and the shifting tide that resulted in today’s modern iteration of baseball. Some watchers of the Royals’ 2015 World Series win over New York’s “other baseball team,” the Mets, may see it as sweet revenge for a bygone era of talent flow and umpire calls favoring New York.

A revised Team Spirit Baseball edition featuring the Kansas City Royals that chronicles the history and accomplishments of the team. The Team Spirit series paints an engaging, detailed yet accessible picture of professional sports teams. By focusing on the history, great victories and memorable personalities, the books have an enduring quality that will not go out of date quickly. The text is enhanced with plenty of full color photographs as well as reproductions of vintage trading cards and team memorabilia. Once you have the books, be sure to check out the new EXTRA INNINGS website to go along with the reading material! This site will be continuously updated with all new information on every baseball team – the perfect source for up-to-date statistics and player information for young sports fans. Each website includes: • Achievement Updates, More Go-To Guys, More Fun Facts, League Leaders, and more!

Although baseball has passionate fans in Canada, Japan and many other countries, it will always be known as America’s pastime. In this updated version of the bestselling series, readers will learn the full history of each team, from the storied Boston Red Sox to the perennial powerhouse New York Yankees. Side panels and “All-Time Team” profiles enhance the historical narrative, spotlighting famous players and memorable moments, while spectacular photos capture all the hard-hitting, base-stealing action. The history of the Kansas City Royals professional baseball team from its inaugural 1969 season to today, spotlighting the team’s greatest players and most memorable moments.

Since their founding in 1969, the Kansas City Royals have provided memorable moments to generations of fans in America’s heartland and beyond. Miracle Moments in Kansas City Royals History is the ultimate tribute book for die-hard fans of the team from the City of Fountains. Jeff Deters recounts the most memorable moments in Royals history, including: Steve Busby’s throwing two no-hitters in each of his first two season, a first for a big-leaguer; George Brett’s hitting .333 to win his first batting title while leading the Royals to the AL West championship in 1976; Brett’s second batting title in 1980 as he just misses batting .400 for the season; Dick Howser’s firing by the Yankees and revenge five years later as he manages the Royals to a championship in 1985; Bo Jackson’s electrifying but brief career as a Royal while starring for the Los Angeles Raiders; The Royals’ sweep of the Orioles in the 2014 ALCS to return to the World Series in 29 years; The magnificent 2015 season capped by a World Championship. Miracle Moments in Kansas City Royals History is much more than just a comprehensive resource. It recounts the hidden stories behind one of the most successful franchises in baseball..