KC Royals: Ten Facts All Royals Fans Should Know

Kansas City Royals former pitcher Bret Saberhagen – Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

7) The Turning Point In Franchise History

As fans, we should know the turning point in franchise history. While many would say the 1985 World Series championship was the turning point, it was the biggest moment more than anything.

From 1969 through 1991, almost exactly half way through the history of the Kansas City Royals, the team was 1903-1753, for a winning percentage of .521. From 1992 through the early parts of 2017, the Royals are just 1817-2203, a winning percentage of .452.

Only the Rays, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Marlins have won fewer games. All of these teams joined the Majors in the 1990’s/

So, what was that turning point?

In December of 1991, the Royals traded Cy Young winner and two-time 20-game winner Bret Saberhagen and Bill Pecota to the New York Mets for Kevin McReynolds, Greg Jefferies, and Keith Miller.

Jefferies played just one season in Kansas City, McReynolds just two (and only 219 games), and Miller played parts of four seasons (but only in 157 games total). Saberhagen pitched in 147 more games, won 57, and put up a 3.58 ERA and a 1.154 after the Royals traded him.

The Kansas City Royals never recovered.

Did You Know?

The Royals flipped Greg Jefferies after a year for Felix Jose. The outfielder played three seasons for the KC Royals, in only 257 games, hit 17 total home runs, and put up a .269 batting average.

He had one decent year for the Royals in 1994 when he hit .303 and had 12 homers. His career was over after he played nine games in 1995 for Kansas City.

Greg Jefferies went on to hit .296 the rest of his career, including hitting over .300 in each of the three seasons after the Royals traded him.

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