Kansas City Royals: Top 15 Pitchers in Wins All-Time

Kansas City Royals all-time wins leaders: 15. Dan Quisenberry (51 wins)

Coming in at number 15 on this list is long-time Kansas City Royal Dan Quisenberry. Quisenberry pitched for the Royals from 1979-1988 and could be considered the best closer in team history.

In ten years with the Royals, Quisenberry had 238 saves including a career-high 45 saves in 1983. He pitched 920.1 innings through the span of 573 games. His career ERA was 2.55 and he will be a tough closer to top for future Royals closers.

Even though he didn’t spend his entire career as a Royal, he’ll always be regarded as one of the best closers in franchise history.

Kings of Kauffman did a list of the ten best pitchers of all-time in Kansas City, and Quisenberry appeared on their list at number seven. David Hill and John Viril (the two who compiled the list) had this to say about Quisenberry,

"Arguably the best closer in baseball from 1980 to 1985, Quisenberry made three All-Star games, finished in the top five of the Cy Young balloting five times, and finished as high as third in the 1984 MVP vote. He set what was then a major league record with 45 saves in 1983, frustrating the opposition as his submarine style had opponents hammer the ball into the ground."

Quisenberry was on the 1985 World Series champion team and also won the AL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award five times (1980, 1982-1985). He was the American League leader in saves during those same years.

After signing a big contract with the Royals, Quisenberry began to struggle in the 1988 season and was eventually moved out of the closer role. He was then released by the team and was signed by the Cardinals shortly after, where he pitched for a year and a half. He finished his career as a member of the San Francisco Giants bullpen.

Even though he didn’t spend his entire career as a Royal, he’ll always be regarded as one of the best closers in franchise history.