1973 Kansas City Royals season


The 1973 Kansas City Royals season was their fifth in Major League Baseball. Jack McKeon replaced the fired Bob Lemon as manager and the Royals finished second in the American League West with a record of 88-74, six games behind the Oakland Athletics. Kansas City's 88 wins were the most in franchise history. Paul Splittorff became the first Royals pitcher to win 20 games in a season.

Offseason

On April 10, the Royals open their new park, Royals Stadium, with a 12–1 rout of the Texas Rangers. The game is attended by 39,464 fans braving 39-degree weather.
On April 16, Steve Busby threw the first no-hitter in Royals history. The Royals beat Detroit by a score of 3–0.
On May 15, in a game against the Royals, Nolan Ryan of the California Angels threw the first no-hitter of his career.
On August 2, George Brett made his major league debut.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

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
C9527977.276634
DH10633879.234950

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
10423259.254224
6914533.228016
5113931.22305
13405.12500
9257.28016
892.22203

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
37238.116154.23174

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
1659.2345.7329

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
5444202.9983
90006.8513
60015.404
70014.913

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Kingsport, Billings