Kansas City Sports Bracketology: Top 64 Seasons, Round One, Part One
By Mike Norris
Kansas State Wildcats coach Bill Snyder – Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
(5) 1997 Kansas State Football vs. (12) 1971 KC Royals
Could this be the first 5/12 upset?
It was a rough go early on for Kansas State as they were crushed by Nebraska, 56-26, in the opening game of Big 12 play.
The season ended on a good note though with quarterback Michael Bishop leading the team to a 35-18 Fiesta Bowl victory over Donovan McNabb and Syracuse.
The 1971 Royals aren’t remembered as one of the best KC teams ever, but it was the first to finish with a winning record. In just their third season in franchise history, the Royals were second in the AL West at 85-76, although they finished 16 games behind the Oakland A’s.
It was the fastest any expansion team reached the .500 mark or better and lasted until the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks accomplished the feat in their second season.
Center fielder Amos Otis led the team in batting average (.304), home runs (15), RBI (79) and stolen bases (52).
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