Top Five Kansas City Royals Managers Of All-Time

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Bobby Cox (l); Dick Howser (r) (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Record: 404-365

Division titles: 3

Playoff appearances: 3

Playoff record: 8-12

World Series appearances/wins: 1/1

No matter what happens with the Royals in the future, Dick Howser always will be known as the guy who led the franchise to its first World Series championship.

Howser was a third base coach for the Royals’ nemesis, the New York Yankees, for ten seasons prior to taking the job with the Royals.

All he did was win 90 games in his first full season as manager. After a down 1983 season, Howser won his first division championship with the team.

While it ended in disappointment with a 3-0 sweep at the hands of the eventual World Series champion Detroit, it was setting the stage for bigger and better achievements.

1985 resulted in a second-straight AL West title, followed by a seven-game ALCS win against Toronto.Of course, the next step for the Royals is ingrained in every fans’ memory.

The Royals overcame a 3-1 World Series deficit to the Cardinals, before winning the final three games to earn their first crown.

Controversy or not, the Royals were the 1985 World Series Champions, and Howser was the leading man. It wasn’t just that year however where he found success.

The Royals won three divison crowns under the manager, and never finished worst than third. His 404 wins are third all-time in team history, as well as his .525 winning percentage.

Unfortunately, Howser’s last game he ever managed was the 1986 all-star game. He felt sick after the game, and left the team after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

He tried a comeback in the spring of 1987, but passed away three months later.

Howser is one of only three Royals, and the only manager, to have his jersey number retired.

Next: Ten Greatest Moment In Royals' History

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