KCKingdom
Fansided

Best Opening Day starts in Kansas City Royals history

By Leigh Oleszczak

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: A detailed view of the ceremonial Opening Day logo home plate used during the pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 4, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Royals 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: A detailed view of the ceremonial Opening Day logo home plate used during the pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 4, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Royals 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 13
Next
Pitcher Kevin Appier #17 of the Kansas City Royals -Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport
Pitcher Kevin Appier #17 of the Kansas City Royals -Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /

Kansas City Royals Best Opening Day Starts – No. 1: Kevin Appier (1995)

The best Opening Day performance in Kansas City Royals history goes to Kevin Appier, who is making his second appearance on this list. In total, Appier started a total of seven Opening Days for the Royals, including six straight.

One of those six straight starts came in 1995, which wasn’t just Appier’s best Opening Day performance, but the best in franchise history. Appier dazzled through 6.2 innings without surrendering a run or a hit. He recorded seven strikeouts in the 5-1 Royals victory over the Orioles.

The Royals were competitive in 1995 but ultimately finished the season under .500. Appier had another top-notch season that year and even made it to the All-Star Game. He finished with a 3.89 ERA through 201.1 innings and while the numbers were good, 1995 wasn’t anywhere close to being his best season.

No Royals fan who followed the team in the 90s should be all that surprised to see Appier at the top of this list. He truly was one of the best Royals of the decade and continues to be one of their more impressive players to this day.

Must Read. Best Free Agent Signings Under Dayton Moore. light

Who did you think would be No. 1 on this list when you first started reading?

Home/Royals All-Time Lists