After his request for time-out isn’t granted by the home plate umpire Mike Reilly, Bo Jackson recovers in time to hit a home run despite not being set in the batter box when the pitch is delivered. The Royals left fielder’s fourth-inning three-run poke off Jeff Ballard contributes to Kansas City’s 6-3 victory over Baltimore at Memorial Stadium.
Pat Borders becomes the first player in American League history to drive in five runs in his major league debut when he collects two singles and a triple in the Blue Jays’ 11-4 victory over Kansas City at Royals Stadium. The 24 year-old rookie catcher joins Walter Mueller (1922 Pirates) and Joe Cunningham (1954 Cardinals), who both accomplished the feat in the Senior Circuit.
On April 4, 1988, George Bell of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on Opening Day. Bell’s home runs, all coming against Kansas City Royals ace Bret Saberhagen, help the Jays to a 5-3 win…
test On November 6, 1987 — The Cincinatti Reds trade right-handed pitcher Ted Power and shortstop Kurt Stillwell to the Royals for shortstop Angel Salazar and left-hander Danny Jackson. The southpaw, 9-18 for KC this year, will be the runner-up for the National League’s Cy Young Award next season, compiling a 23-8 record along with…
1987 – The Royals fire manager Billy Gardner, who replaced Dick Howser in spring training, and replace him with John Wathan, the former Kansas City catcher who was managing the club’s Triple A Omaha affiliate. In Wathan’s major league managerial debut, the Royals win, 3 – 2, on George Brett’s 10th-inning home run to move within three games of first-place Minnesota.
On June 17, 1987, former Kansas City Royals manager Dick Howser dies from brain cancer at the age of 51. The popular Howser, who led the Royals to the 1985 World Championship, fell ill during the 1986 season. He attempted to return to managing in the spring of ’87, only to give up the comeback…
Three days into spring training, Dick Howser’s attempted comeback after undergoing brain tumor surgery comes to an end when the frail-looking Royals manager finds he is physically too weak to continue. Third base coach Billy Gardner replaces the ill skipper, who will die three months later at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City.
Dennis Leonard announces his retirement
1986 – For the second time in his career, Reggie Jackson belts three homers in a game in an 18 – 3 laugher over Kansas City. At the age of 40 years, four months, Reggie joins Stan Musial and Babe Ruth as the only players to accomplish the feat after turning 40. Reggie scores four times and has seven RBIs
On June 21, 1986, Bo Jackson, the former Auburn running back who won the Heisman Trophy last season and was the No. 1 pick in the National Football League draft, signed with the Kansas City Royals today, reportedly shunning a $7 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a contract worth less than a…
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