List of Kansas City Royals managers

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The Kansas City Royals are a franchise based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are members of the Central division of Major League Baseball's American League. [1] The Royals franchise was formed in 1969.

Contents

There have been 20 managers for the Royals. Joe Gordon became the first manager of the Kansas City Royals in 1969, serving for one season. Bob Lemon became the first manager who held the title of manager for the Royals for more than one season. Ned Yost has managed more games than any other Royals manager and as many seasons as Dick Howser and Tony Muser. Whitey Herzog, Jim Frey, Howser, and Ned Yost are the only managers to have led the Royals into the playoffs. Three Royals managers—Gordon, Lemon, and Herzog—have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; [2]

In 1970, Gordon was replaced with Charlie Metro. The Royals made their first playoff appearance under Herzog. Four managers have led the Royals into the postseason. Dick Howser led the Royals to their first World Series Championship in 1985. Ned Yost led the Royals into two World Series appearances, in the 2014 World Series, and a Win in the 2015 World Series. Frey, led the Royals to One world series appearance in the 1980 World Series. The highest winning percentage of any manager who managed at least one season was Herzog, with a percentage of .574. The lowest percentage was Bob Schaefer in 2005, although he managed for only 17 games. The lowest percentage of a manager with at least one season with the Royals was Buddy Bell, the manager from 2005 through the 2007 season with a percentage of .399.

The highest win total for a Royals manager is held by Yost, [3] who also holds the record for losses. Tony Peña became the first Royals manager to win the Manager of the Year award, in 2003. Ned Yost was hired on May 13, 2010, after Trey Hillman was fired. Yost retired from coaching following the 2019 season, ending a 10-year tenure with Kansas City. Mike Matheny was hired as the new manager for the 2020 season in October 2019. [4] [5]

Table key

WPct
Winning percentage: number of wins divided by number of games managed
PA
Playoff appearances: number of years this manager has led the franchise to the playoffs
PW
Playoff wins: number of wins this manager has accrued in the playoffs
PL
Playoff losses: number of losses this manager has accrued in the playoffs
WS
World Series: number of World Series victories achieved by this manager
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame [6]

Managers

Statistics current through October 5th, 2022

# [a] ImageManagerSeasonsWinsLossesWPctPAPWPLWSReference(s)
1 Joe Gordon 1961.jpg Joe Gordon 1969 6993.426 [7]
2 Charlie Metro Royals.jpg Charlie Metro 1970 1933.365 [8]
3 Bob Lemon.jpg Bob Lemon 19701972 207218.487 [9]
4 Jack McKeon Padres.jpg Jack McKeon 19731975 215205.512 [10]
5 Whitey Herzog ca 1989.jpg Whitey Herzog 19751979 410304.5743590 [11] [12] [13] [14]
6 Jim Frey (manager) - Kansas City Royals.jpg Jim Frey 19801981 127105.5471540 [15] [16]
7 Dick Howser 1985.jpg Dick Howser 19811986 404365.52538121 [17] [18] [19] [20]
8 Mike Ferraro Royals.jpg Mike Ferraro 1986 3638.486 [21]
9 Billy Gardner 1957.jpg Billy Gardner 1987 6264.492 [22]
10 John Wathan Royals.jpg John Wathan 19871991 287270.515 [23]
11 Bob Schaefer Royals.jpg Bob Schaefer 1991 101.000 [24]
12 Hal McRae - Kansas City Royals.jpg Hal McRae 19911994 286277.508 [25]
13 2012 08 11 010 Bob Boone.JPG Bob Boone 19951997 181206.468 [26]
14 Tony Muser 1977.jpg Tony Muser 19972002 317431.424 [27]
15 John Mizerock 2002 58.385 [28]
16 Tony Pena April 2012.jpg Tony Peña 20022005 198285.410 [29]
Bob Schaefer Royals.jpg Bob Schaefer 2005 512.294 [24]
17 Buddy Bell - Cleveland Indians.jpg Buddy Bell 20052007 174262.399 [30]
18 Trey Hillman (2011).jpg Trey Hillman 20082010 152207.423 [31]
19 NedYost.jpg Ned Yost 20102019 687736.48322291 [32]
20 2015 -WinterMeetings- Mike Matheny (23640046755) (cropped).jpg Mike Matheny 20202022 165219.4300000 [32]
21 Matt Quatraro 2023–present56106.3460000
Totals37233974.484940342

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas City Royals</span> MLB franchise

The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team was founded as an expansion franchise in 1969, and have made four World Series trips, winning in 1985 and 2015, and losing in 1980 and 2014. Outside of a dominant 10-year stretch between 1976 and 1985, and a brief, albeit dominant, resurgence from 2013 to 2015, the Royals have combined for a bottom-ten all time winning percentage in MLB history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Howser</span> American baseball player and manager (1936-1987)

Richard Dalton Howser was an American Major League Baseball shortstop, coach, and manager who was best known as the manager of the Kansas City Royals during the 1980s and for guiding them to the franchise's first World Series title in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award</span> Award

In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to two outstanding managers, one each in the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner is voted on by 30 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Each submits a vote for first, second, and third place among the managers of each league.[a] The manager with the highest score in each league wins the award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitey Herzog</span> American baseball player and manager (1931–2024)

Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog was an American professional baseball outfielder and manager, most notable for his Major League Baseball (MLB) managerial career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale Sveum</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1963)

Dale Curtis Sveum is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager. He most recently served as the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals. As a player, Sveum saw action in 12 major league seasons between 1986 and 1999. He was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees. Following his playing career, Sveum managed in minor league baseball for several seasons before becoming an MLB coach. Sveum briefly served as manager of the Brewers in 2008 during his tenure as hitting coach for the team. He was later named manager of the Cubs after the 2011 season and served for two seasons. His cousin is former Blue Jays All-Star John Olerud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Frey</span> American baseball manager (1931–2020)

James Gottfried Frey was an American professional baseball manager, coach, general manager, and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) outfielder. In 1980, Frey led the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB) to their first American League (AL) championship, in his first year with the team. In the World Series, they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, who won their first World Series championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ned Yost</span> American baseball manager and former player

Edgar Frederick “Ned” Yost III is an American former Major League Baseball catcher and manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. He played for the Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Montreal Expos.

The following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Royals, a Major League Baseball team that began play in 1969 in Kansas City, Missouri. The team is currently in the American League Central Division. The franchise has won one wild card berth, seven division titles, four league championships, and two World Series titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Wakamatsu</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1963)

Wilbur Donald Wakamatsu is an American former professional baseball player, scout, coach, and manager. Wakamatsu was drafted in the 11th round of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox. He served as the bench coach of the Texas Rangers from 2018 through 2021. He was hired as bench coach of the Kansas City Royals for the 2014 season. He was the manager of the Seattle Mariners for the 2009 season, as well as the majority of the 2010 season. He was the Toronto Blue Jays' bench coach for 2011 and 2012, after which he was replaced by DeMarlo Hale. During the 2013 season he worked as a scout for the New York Yankees in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He is currently the first-ever executive vice president of baseball operations with the Oakland Ballers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trey Hillman</span> American baseball coach

Thomas Brad "Trey" Hillman is an American professional baseball coach. He has also served as the manager of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan's Pacific League, the Kansas City Royals in the American League and the SK Wyverns in the KBO League. Therefore, he is the only person to have served as manager in these three countries. He has also been a coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and the Miami Marlins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Burke (baseball executive)</span>

Joseph Roy Burke was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball who served as general manager or club president of the Kansas City Royals for almost 18 years during the most successful period in that expansion team's early history.

The Kansas City Royals' season of 2010 was the 42nd for the Royals franchise. It was also the 25th anniversary of their first World Series championship (1985).

References

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