Kansas City Royals: Top 15 Pitchers In Losses All-Time
By Scott Dillon
Kansas City Royals All-Time Loss Leaders – Number 6: Larry Gura (78 Losses)
Larry Gura was a member of the Kansas City Royals for parts of ten seasons. He posted double digit win totals in seven straight seasons from 1998 through 1994.
He had a number of seasons that stand out in terms of great seasons, but only made the All-Star game in 1980.
In 1978, he went 16-4 during the regular season and posted a 2.72 ERA. He would also win game two of the ALCS against the Yankees that season. It was the Royals only win of the series for the Royals who would lose the the Yankees in the ALCS for a third straight year.
In 1980, Gura had a record of 18-10 with a 2.95 ERA across over 283 innings. The win total ties a career high that would be set with an ERA of 4.03 a few seasons later.
1980 was the year the Royals finally broke through against the Yankees. Gura pitched game one of the ALCS and didn’t disappoint. He threw a complete game shutout in game one of the series and the Royals would go on to win in three games.
Gura pitched well enough to win two games in the World Series that year. Dan Quisenberry would relinquish a lead in both of those instances and the Royals would go on to lose the series in six games.
An article on Bleacher Report had this to say about the former Royals’ pitcher:
"This might have been the most lopsided trade in Royals’ history. Plugged into the starting rotation in 1978, Gura would go on to win 111 games with 78 losses during the Royals’ glory decade."
The only reason he beat, or I guess lost, to Bret Saberhagen on this list was the fact that while they both lost 78 games, Gura beat out Saberhagen by one ‘W’ in the win column.
Next: Another Great Bret