On April 1, 1969, the Seattle Pilots trade little-known minor league outfielder Lou Piniella to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Steve Whitaker and pitcher John Gelnar. Piniella will hit .282 with 11 home runs and 68 RBIs-good enough to win American League Rookie of the Year honors…
Kansas City Royals trade pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm to the California Angels
1968 – One of the two American League expansion teams announces its nickname. The Kansas City franchise, now known as the “Royals”, will begin play in 1969. Kansas City’s last major league franchise, the Athletics, moved to Oakland after the 1967 season. The name evokes the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs and the annual “American Royal” Horse Show, held in Kansas City.
On October 18, 1967, The American League owners grant Charlie Finley permission to move the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland, California, in time for the start of the 1968 season. Kansas City is promised a new team by 1971, but when Senator Stuart Symington and Kansas City Mayor Ilus Davis threaten action against the move, AL President Joe Cronin reopens talks. The expansion deadline is moved forward to 1969, and will award new franchises to Kansas City and Seattle, the Pilots, will play in Seattle, an ill-advised decision given the fact that new owners will prove to be under-financed.
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