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Sports Facts, Heroes, Mascots, Stadiums, Ballparks & Arenas





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All Time Kansas City Sports Team Nicknames
(Alphabetical listing)
Team Name
 Baseball
 Football
 Basketball
 Hockey
 Soccer
 Rugby
 Other
All-Nations
 1912-1918





All-Stars



1996-1997

Americans


1940-1942


Antelopes
 1860's





Athletics
 1955-1967





Attack



1991-2001

Blades


1990-2001


Blue Diamonds

1920-1931



Blues
 1886-1889
1902-1954
 1924
 1947-1948
1951-1952
 1968-1972
1976-1977
1966-present
Blue Stockings
 1902-1903





Brass



1997-present

Brigade
2006-2008




Bulldogs
1993-?




Chiefs
1963-present




Comets



1981-1991
2001-2004

Cowboys
 1884-1903
 1925-1926




Explorers





Tennis-1993-present
Flying Mokey





Lacrosse-1982-present
Greyhounds


1932-1940


Hi-Spots

1947-1948
1950-1951



Jazz
1992-2008


1993-present
Kaycees

1957-1958



Kings

1972-1985



Knights

2000-2005



Krunch
2003-2005




Legacy

2001-2003



Lightning

1997


Volleyball-1997-1998
Maroons
 1890





Mavericks


2009-present


Mohawks


1949-1951


Monarchs
 1920-1962





Mustangs

1993-1995



Mystics



2001-2002

Outlaws


2004-2005


Packers
 1914-1915





Panthers
1997-present




Pla-Mors


1927-1933
1945-1949


Power





Australian Rules Football-1999-present
Redwings


1977-1979


Rogues




2008-present
Royals
 1969-present

1950-1951


Royal Giants
 1909-1915





Scouts


1974-1976


Select





Lacrosse-present
Shockers
2004-present




Sizzlers

1985-1986



Spartans
2010-present
 2008-2009



Spurs



1968-1970

Stars
 1948-1950
1946
2009-present


Bowling-1961
Steers
1967-1971
 1961-1963
2003-?



Storm
2004-present




Thunderstorm
2006




T-Bones
 2003-present





Tribe
2007-present




Unions
 1884





Wiz



1996

Wizards



1997-present

 
Kansas City   
Stadiums, Ballparks and Arenas
(There's no place like home...)
Post your comments about history of Kansas City Stadiums, Ballparks and Arenas
Name and Location 
Years
Kansas City 
Home Teams
Notes
Exercise Field
14th & McGee, Kansas City, MO
 1866
 Antelopes
Athletic Park (or called Athletic Field)
Southwest Boulevard and Summit Street
Kansas City, MO		 1884-1885 Unions of the Union Association.
Games were played in Cook's pasture.  The park was a mile from downtown and was served only by the Rose Street car line.  First game played on June 7, 1884 between Kansas City and Chicago, with Chicago winning 6-5.
Pastime Park
Southwest Boulevard and Broadway,
Kansas City, MO
 1885-?
 Cowboys of the Western League

League Park
Independence Ave. & Lydia
Kansas City, MO
 1886-1889
 Cowboys teams in three leagues.
The field was called "The Hole", built on the site of Ransons pond, with a high hill surrounding area, and often muddy fields since no grass on the infield.  The field was 25 feet below street level. After a rain, the park would become a pond.  Fans arrived in carriages and looked down on the field of play. 

Please don't shoot the umpire. 
He is doing the best he can.
An outfield sign at League Park, with violence towards umpires the order of the day.

Association Park
19th & Olive
Kansas City, MO		 1886-1922 Unions, Cowboys, Monarchs, Blues
Built in 1903.
Associaton Park was used by the Blues from 1903 to 1922.  The Monarchs used it from 1920-22. Association Park was destroyed by fire on Sept. 22, 1912.
Association Park
20th & Prospect
Kansas City, MO
 1920-22
 Monarchs
Exposition Park
15th & Montgall (now Truman Road)
Kansas City, MO
 1888-1902 Maroons, Blues, Cowboys, Packers Built in 1893. This place was a popular playing field for baseball as well as area football teams.  The Kansas Jayhawks football team first played and beat the Missouri Tigers 22-8, here on Oct. 31, 1891 with a fan attendance of about 3,000. (Kansas University and Missouri University is the oldest football rivalry west of the Mississippi River) Exposition Park was the center of outdoor sporting activity in Kansas City at the time.  Crowds of up to 10,000 would come to the city's sporting event of the year, "The Thanksgiving Game in Kansas City" between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks Football Teams.
Sportsmans Park (later known as Recreation Park)
17th & Indiana, Kansas City, MO
1902-? Blues and Blue Stockings
Elm Ridge Race Track and Club House
a block east of the Paseo
between 59th & 63rd Streets
Kansas City, MO		 April 28, 1904 Horse Racing, Athletic events, motor car and motorcycle racing.  The track operated only for 2 years when the sport was outlawed by the State of Missouri. In the following years it was used for athletic events, motor car and motorcycle racing.  In 1912 became the Blue Hills Golf Club.  Today the site is the Metro Plaza Shopping Center.
Shelly Park
Independence Ave. & Oak
Kansas City, MO
 1910-15
 Royal Giants
Gordon & Koppel Stadium
48th & Tracy, Kansas City, MO
 1914-15
 Packers
 Gordon and Koppel was a clothing store who paid for improvements to the park.  Also called Federal League Park.  Home runs to left field landed in Brush Creek!
Pla-Mor Arena (Ice Palace)
3127 Wyandotte Street
Kansas City, MO
Phone Number: Westport 9000		 January 28, 1928 Pla-Mor's Pla-Mor Arena
(Kansas City's Ice Palace!)
The Pla-Mor Arena opened January 28, 1928 with the Kansas City Pla-Mors winning 2-1 over the Winnipeg Maroons for a crowd of 4,000.  The arena wasn't completely finished, but the Pla-Mors had played their first 8 games of the season on the road. So, on that night, they played in an arena where the east wall was not finished, the heater failed, and scaffolds and ladders were obstacles. Thus, that's how professional hockey got started in Kansas City. 
Parade Park
17th & Paseo
Kansas City, MO
 1930-1940's
 Monarchs
Muehlebach Field
22nd & Brooklyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO		 July 3, 1923 to 1936 Blues, Monarchs
Built in 1923 by Kansas City Blues (AA) owner George Muehlebach, the single-decked Muehlebach Field at an unheard of cost of $400,000.  The first game with 18,000 in attendance saw the Kansas City Blues beating the Milwaukee Home Brew, 10-7.  Located near the Jazz district, the stadium often featured performers like Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday.  Muhlebach Field was the site of games 5, 6, and 7 of the inaugural Negro League World Series in 1924.  Blues games were segregated, but anybody could sit anywhere at Monarchs games.  It has an electric scoreboard and could seat 16,000 not counting the bleachers.  Mr. Muehleback was owner of a local brewery and famous Muehlebach hotel.  In 1930 portable lighting was installed for a Monarchs night game, while permanent lighting was first used on July 6, 1932. Charles Lindbergh made an appearance on Aug 17, 1927. Seating capacity: 17,476
Ruppert Stadium
22nd & Brookyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO		 1937 to 1942 Blues, Monarchs
When the New York Yankees acquired the Blues in 1937 for their farm system, they renamed Muehlebach Field to Ruppert Stadium.  Col. Jacob Ruppert was the owner of the Yankees at the time.
Blues Stadium
22nd & Brooklyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO
1943-1954  Blues, Monarchs Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert died in 1939, and in 1943 the stadium name was changed to Blues Stadium.  Blues Stadium was home to both the American Association Kansas City Blues, and the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs. Formerly a frog pond, swimming hole, and ash heap, the site opened as a baseball field in 1923. J. Leslie Wilkinson, the field's first owner, had a portable lighting system built to illuminate the field at night for Negro League games.   Jackie Robinson played for the Monarchs in Blues Stadium briefly in 1945.
Municipal Auditorium
13th & 14th Wyandotte
and Central Streets
Kansas City, MO

Auditorium Photo

 April 5, 1936 to present Kings, UMKC Basketball, NCAA College Basketball Tournaments, Explorers
Born: Dec. 1, 1935 at a cost of $6.5 million.
Seating capacity 10,500, for basketball 9,929. 
Home Court: University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos Basketball Team
Municipal Stadium
22nd & Brooklyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO
Stadium Photo
Stadium Details
 
 
 
 
1955 to Oct. 4, 1972 Spurs, Athletics, Royals, Chiefs Opened July 3, 1923. 
Reopened April 12, 1955, as the first game of the KC Athletics. 
Last game October 4, 1972.
Demolished: 1976
Seating Capacity: 17,476 (1923); 30,296 (1955); 35,561 (1971) for baseball and for football 47,000. 
One of the greatest moments of the stadium: August 7, 1930, in one of the first professional NIGHT games ever played, the Homestead Grays Smokey Joe Williams and the Monarchs Chet Brewer pitch one for the ages, with Brewer striking out 19 and Williams fanning 27 and the Grays win the game 1-0 in twelve innings.
Cost: $400,000 (1923); $2.5 million (1955)   When the Athletics announced their move from Philadelphia to Kansas City in November 1954, the stadium was completely rebuilt, financed with the proceeds of an August 1954 bond issue. By opening day of the 1955 season, a roofed second deck was added and the name was changed to Municipal Stadium. A small children's petting zoo located in foul territory down the left field line featured pheasants, monkeys, rabbits and the A's mascot, "Charlie O," a Missouri mule that often traveled with the team.  The mule was added to replace the old elephant mascot.  There were green-and-gold-dyed sheep and goats grazing on the grass hill over the right field outfield wall.  There was picnic grounds and a petting zoo beyond the left field fence.  Owner Charlie Finley painted the stadium bright colors: field seats citrus yellow, reserved seats and bleachers desert turquoise, beams yellow orange, and foul lines fluorescent pink. Finley had a "Pennant Porch" built in 1964 to ridicule the New York Yankees 296 ft short right field fence, but the American League later forced Finley to remove the Pennant Porch.  Finley also wanted Major League baseball to adopt orange colored baseballs. 



A mechanical rabbit, named "Harvey" rose out of the ground with new baseballs for the umpire and a compressed-air device blew dirt off the plate.

There was a "pitchers clock" on the scoreboard, to show pitchers who took longer than the 20 seconds to make the next pitch when there was no runners on base.  Prior to the Athletics moving into Kansas City Municipal Stadium, the city purchased the old scoreboard (at a cost of $100,000) from Boston Braves Field and installed it at the stadium. 
Charley Finley paid a then record $150,000 for the Beatles to perform in concert (for 30 minutes) at Municipal Stadium on Sept. 17, 1964.   
In the summer of 1967, Jackson County voters approved a $43 million bond issue for a new sports complex, which would have stadiums for the Athletics and Chiefs.  After the 1967 season, owner Charles O. Finley moved the A's to Oakland.  The expansion Kansas City Royals moved in in 1969 and played their first four seasons in Municipal Stadium, before moving to Kauffman (then Royals) Stadium.  The Chiefs' last-ever home game at Municipal Stadium was played on Christmas Day in 1971. The double-overtime playoff contest (a loss to the Miami Dolphins) remains the longest game in NFL history.The stadium was demolished in 1976 and the site is now a community garden.
Yearly statistics for games played here
American Royal Building Complex
and Hale Arena
1701 American Royal Court 
Kansas City, MO		 November 19, 1922 to present Blues, Explorers, American Royal Events, Horse Shows, Rodeos, American Royal Barbecue Contest and more
Cost to build the original American Royal Arena in 1922 was $650,000.  The New American Royal Arena was built in 1991 at a cost of $33.4 million.  Hale Arena was built in 1992, with a capacity of 5,000.  Hale Arena is used for basketball, tennis and rodeos.
Kansas City International Raceway
8201 Noland Road
Kansas City, MO		 1967 Motor sports racing
Satchel Paige Stadium
49th & Slope Parkway
Kansas City, MO
 1981- present
 Amateur baseball


Harry S. Truman Sports Complex
 built in 1972
 Kansas City was the first city with two specific use sports stadiums built side by side, instead of both teams sharing the same stadium.

The original plans had a "Rolling Roof" that could be moved on tracks between Royals Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium, as needed. 
Royals Stadium
One Royal Way
Kansas City, MO
at the Truman Sports Complex		 April 10, 1973 to July 1, 1993 Royals
The first game played on April 10, 1973, with a crowd of 39,464 seeing the Royals beat the Texas Rangers 12-1.  Seating capacity 40,625. Turf originally, then changed to grass. Cost to build $69 million, which included Arrowhead.  All Star Game played at Royals Stadium on July 24, 1973.  In one of the greatest moments of the stadium, 21 year old Bret Saberhagen pitches an 11-0 shutout in Game 7 of the World Series against St. Louis, and the Royals are CROWNED Baseballs's World Champions for the first time!  
Kaufman Stadium
One Royal Way
Kansas City, MO
at the Truman Sports Complex		 July 2, 1993 to present Royals
On July 2, 1993, Royals Stadium renamed to Kaufman Stadium to honor the Kaufman owners. Kauffman Stadium is the only stadium in the American League to honor a person.  Kauffman Stadium was the sole, baseball only facility built in MLB between 1962-1991.  Seating capacity 40,793.  In 1995, the artificial turf is replaced with grass.  The new Crown Vision HD Videoboard is added in 2008.  In 2009 renovation of the stadium is complete.
The Woodlands
Kansas City, KS		 September 14, 1989 to August 23, 2008 Horse & Greyhound racing
Cost to build $70 million.
Arrowhead Stadium
One Arrowhead Drive
Kansas City, MO
at the Truman Sports Complex		 August 12, 1972 to present Chiefs, Wiz, Wizards
First game on Sept. 17, 1972 with a crowd of 79,829 seeing the Chiefs loose to the Miami Dolphins 20-10.  Seating capacity 78,097.  Turf originally, changed to grass.  Cost to build $43 miillion part of the $69 million which included Royals Stadium.  Renovation for improvements done 2008-2010. 
Kemper Arena
1800 Genessee
Kansas City, MO
Arena Photo
(located in the former 
livestock stockyards 
and next to the
American Royal Complex)		 November 2, 1974 to present Kings, Scouts, Comets, Red Wings, Blades, College Basketball Big 8 and Big 12 Tournaments, Explorers, Brigade and Knights.
Kemper Arena opens on Nov. 2, 1974 with the KC Scouts Hockey team losing to the Chicago Blackhaws 4-3. The KC Kings Basketball Team play their first game at Kemper on Nov. 10, 1974 and loose to the Boston Celtics 102-99.  Elvis played in his last concert in Kansas City at Kemper Arena on June 18, 1977.  Seating capacity for basketball 16,785 and for hockey 16,300. Cost to build $22 million. In 1997 an expansion project of the arena cost $23 million. The arena has hosted 1983, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 1997 NCAA Regional, the NAIA Tournament from 1975 - 1993, the Big VIII Basketball Tournament from 1979 to 1996, The Big XII Basketball Tournament from 1997 to 2002, the 1988 Men's Final Four and the 1998 Women's Final Four.
Kemper Arena Facts
Kansas City Plaza Tennis Center
Country Club Plaza
4747 J.C. Nichols Parkway
Kansas City, MO		 1925 Explorers, Big  8 and Big 12 Tournaments, USTA Leagues, NCAA Tournaments Explorers Home: 1993-2006
Barney Allis Plaza
12th & Wyandotte
Kansas City, MO		 1984 Explorers, Kansas City Sports Walk of Stars, Boxing Explorers Home: 2006 to present
Seating capacity for tennis: 2,600
Court surface: Hardcourt DecoTurf
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
1616 E. 18th St.
Kansas City, MO
 1990
 Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
 The museum preserves the rich history of the Kansas City Monarchs and the Negro League Baseball League. 
Kansas Speedway
Kansas City, KS
June 2, 2001 to present Motor sports racing Cost to build $200 million. Track size 1.5 mile
Seating Capacity: 80,000, with phase two: 150,000 
Speedway facts
CommunityAmerica Ballpark
Kansas City, KS		 June 6, 2003 to present T-Bones, Wizards Wizards home field: 2008-2009
Seating capacity: 7,000
The Sprint Center
14th & Grand 
Kansas City, MO		 October 13, 2007 to present  Brigade, NCAA Big 12 Basketball Tournaments, Concerts and Special Events.  Potential for a NEW NBA or NHL Team to call the Sprint Center Home. 
Cost to build $276 million. 
Seating capacity for basketball is 18,500 and for hockey 17,200. 
Occupant: National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
Wizards Soccer Stadium
 (near the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, KS)
 est. 2011
 Wizards
 a new 11 acre Wizards stadium project is under construction.  It will include an 18 field complex for amateur soccer.  The stadium will seat 18,000, which will be available for other sports and events including football, lacrosse and rugby as well as concerts. 
Independence Events Center (IEC)
19100 East Valley View Parkway| Independence, MO		 Nov. 7, 2009
 Mavericks
 Cost to build $68 million.
Seating capacity for hockey 7,000.
First hockey game, the Missouri Mavericks beat the Wichita Thunder 3-2 on 11/13/09.
 
Kansas City Sports Mascots
Mascot Name
 Mascot Pic
 Team
 Mascot Type
 Year Born
to End
 Mascot Fun Facts



Warpaint
Chiefs
 Pinto Horse
 1963-1989
 Warpaint would be ridden around the stadium by Bob Johnson in full headdress Chiefs attire after each Chiefs touchdown.  Warpaint lead the Chiefs victory parade after their win of Super Bowl IV.  Warpaint was riden bareback by Bob Johnson who wore a full Native American headdress.  Warpaint was kept at Benjamin Stables during the off season.  Warpaint was replaced by KC Wolf.



Charley O
 Athletics
 Mule
 1963-1967
 Owner Charley Finley named the team Mule after himself, Charley O.  Charley O replaced the former A's Elephant Mascot.  The mule is the state animal of Missouri.  Finley took his five foot tall mule around the country with him, walking him into cocktail parties and hotel lobbies and on one occassion into the press room after a large feeding to annoy reporters.



KC Wolf
Chiefs
 Wolf
 1989 to current
 KC Wolf replaced Warpaint in 1989.  He has 85 inch hips.  KC Wolf was named after the Chiefs Fan Group, the Wolfpack.  KC Wolf is in the Mascot Hall of  Fame.  KC Wolf has been played by Dan Meers. 



Fuzzy
Attack
 Cat
 1991-2001



Sluggerrr
Royals
 Lion
 April 5, 1996 to current
 Height: 6' 9".  Favorite Song: "The Lions Sleeps Tonight".



Dynamo
Wizards
 Dragon
 1996 to current
Captain Max Runway
Brigade
 B-2 Bomber Pilot
 June 2007 to 2008.




Sizzle
T-Bones
 Bull
 Mar. 18, 2003 to current



Quarter Pounder
T-Bones
 Bull
2004 to current
 Quarter Pounder is a real, miniature bull, about 1/4 the size of a full size bull.





Warpaint
Chiefs
 Pinto Horse
 Sept. 20, 2009 to current
the New Warpaint Horse and rider was introduced during the home opener on Sun. Sept. 20th vs. the Oakland Raiders Game.




Mac
Mavericks
 Horse
 2009
 top
Kansas City Sports History
JACKIE ROBINSON
In 1945, Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Negro League shortstop Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs. Robinson would be recognized as the first African-American in the modern era to play on a white professional team.  On Oct. 23, 1945, Jackie Robinson, a shortstop for the Kansas City Monarch's was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers to play at their farm club, the Montreal Royals.  He hit .387 for the KC Monarchs in the 1945 season.  Jackie was the first UCLA athlete to earn letters in four different sports: track, basketball, football and baseball, which he liked the least.  In 1944, he left the Army to join the Kansas City Monarchs baseball team at $400 a month.
WILD BILL HICKOK
Wild Bill Hickok frequented Marble Hall on Main Street, gambling with lawman Wyatt Earp. Once he umpired a baseball game between the Kansas City Antelopes and the archrival Pomeroys of Atchison.
KANSAS CITY COWBOYS
Kansas City Cowboys Baseball Team Stars: Hall of Famer, Billy Hamilton, who batted .344 over fourteen seasons. Henry Porter who threw a no-hitter on 6/6/1888. Sam Barkley hit for the cycle on 6/13/1888.
LAWN TENNIS
In 1887 the Lawn Tennis Club of Kansas City is the first organized black athletic team in Kansas City. 
ROYAL DRAFT CHOICES
Players in the National Football League, who have been drafted by the Kansas City Royals baseball team:
John Elway, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson (Bo DID play for the Royals Baseball Team AND Oakland Raiders Football Team), Dan Marino, Russ Francis, Archie Manning, Steve Bartowski. The Royals drafted John Elway in the 18th round of the 1979 draft, the same year they chose Dan Marino in the 4th round!
CHIEFS DRAFT CHOICE
In 1965, the Kansas City Chiefs made Gale Sayers their #1 draft choice, but lost him in a bidding war to the Chicago Bears.
LAMAR HUNT
In 1963, owner Lamar Hunt, moved the Dallas Texans to Kansas City. The teams name was changed to the Kansas City Chiefs, after Kansas City mayor, H. Roe Bartle, whose nickname was 'Chief'. Chiefs owner, Lamar Hunt, organized and developed the American Football League in 1959. The AFC Championship Trophy bears the name of the Lamar Hunt Trophy today.
PAINTED END ZONES
In 1963, the Kansas City Chiefs were the first professional football team to decorate the playing field, with painted grass (the end zones)
CHIEFS CHRISTMAS GAMES
On Christmas Day in 1971, the Chiefs played the last game in Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, which against the Miami Dolphins. That game stands today, as the longest game in NFL history, (82:40) lasting into double overtime, as the Dolphins outlasted the Chiefs 27-24.
On Christmas Day in 2004, the Chiefs played the only Christmas game at Arrowhead Stadium, beating the Oakland Raiders 31-30 with Chiefs kicker, Lawrence Tynes kicking a field goal to win the game with only 22 seconds remaining on the clock.
KC WOLF
You've seen Kansas City Chiefs mascot, called K.C. Wolf. Do you know how the "Wolfpack" got started? The term was invented in the 60's in an effort to sell season tickets. Lamar Hunt - "Well at some point in the mid 60's fans who were set up in the bleachers in the left field, right behind the Chiefs bench, would do a lot of howling and somehow the term, they howled like wolves attached to them and the Chiefs glommed on to this with a marketing strategy and said 'Join the Wolfpack and buy a season ticket." By the end of the 60's the team sold out home games easily and then capped off the decade with a Super Bowl win in January of 1970.
FIRST ROYAL IN COOPERSTOWN
George Brett became the first member of the Kansas City Royals to become a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, on July 25, 1999.
SATCHELL PAIGE
In a publicity stunt, Satchel Paige who stared 25 years earlier with the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs starts one game for the Kansas City Athletics. In his one appearance old Satchel goes 3 innings allowing 1 hit (to Carl Yazstremski), and no runs.   The oldest baseball player in history is Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige (1906-1982) who pitched for the Kansas City A's at 59 years 80 days on September 25th, 1965.  He had 4 different wind ups, one a hesitation or hiccup delivery, which was banned by Major League Baseball.  Satchel was the first player from the Negro Leagues elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.  Satchel Paige, pitcher from the Kansas City Monarchs, became the first black man to pitch in the World Series, in 1948 with the Cleveland Indians.
BUCK O'NEILL
On July 18, 2006, Buck O'Neill (former Nego Leagues Baseball player for the Kansas City Monarch's) at 94 years old became the oldest player to step into the batter's box in a professional game.  Buck signed a one-day contract with the Kansas City T-Bones Baseball Team.  But before the first pitch, Buck was traded to the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks.   O'Neill ended up walking.  Buck became the FIRST African American coach in Major League Baseball, for the Chicago Cubs in 1962.  Buck O'Neil was posthumously awarded the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, the nation's highest civilian honor from the White House in December 2006.
ROYAL BO
Bo Jackson as a member of the Kansas City Royals, is believed to be the only athlete selected to the All-Star game in two professional sports. He was the MVP of the 1989 baseball classic and was selected for the 1990 NFL Pro Bowl.  Bo was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucaneers as the first pick in 1986, but chose to play with the KC Royals.  The New York Yankees drafted Bo four years earlier as a higher school player, but he chose to go to college.  Bo slammed the LONGEST HOME RUN in ROYALS STADIUM HISTORY, a 475 foot blast off Seattle's Mike Moore in 1987.  Typical of Bo's dramatic moments, it was his also his FIRST major league homer!  In 1989 one of the memorable moments in KC sports history, Kansas City Royal's Bo Jackson runs into the left-field corner of Seattle's Kingdome, fields Scott Bradley's liner cleanly, turns and fires a strike to catcher Bob Boone that nails Harold Reynolds at home plate. 
On 8/26/1990, powerful two-sport star Bo Jackson of the Kansas City Royals returns from a six-week stay on the disabled list for a separated shoulder by unleashing a 450-foot homer on the first pitch he sees from Randy Johnson of the Seattle Mariners.  Added to the three in a row he hit before being injured at Yankee Stadium on July 17, the prodigious clout gives Jackson an MLB record-tying four homers in four at bats. The 1985 Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn also has a double and a single in four at bats as K.C. rips Seattle, 8–2.
FIRST NIGHT BASEBALL GAMES
In 1930, it was the Kansas City Monarchs who FIRST introduced night baseball to the world when they innovated a portable lighting system. A fleet of specially fitted flatbed trucks made night games possible for the Monarchs.  Each truck doubled as the base for telescoping, fifty-foot poles that held batteries of lights, powered by a noisy generator set up in center field.  It was five years later that the majors installed a system of lights for night games.  The Monarchs had night baseball six years before the major leagues.
GOALIE SCORES
The first professional hockey goalie to score a goal was Michel Plasse of the Kansas City Blues (Central Hockey League) on February 21, 1971.
TINY KING
In the 1972-73 season, Kansas City King's point guard, Nate "Tiny" Archibald becomes the only player to lead the NBA in both scoring (34.0 points) and assists (11.4) in the same season. Nate Archibald became the only KC King to be in the NBA Hall of Fame.
RETIRED KING NUMBERS
Kansas City Kings:  Retired numbers of Kansas City Kings are Nate Archibald, #1 and Sam Lacey, #44.  NBA Rookie of the Year; KC King, Phil Ford in 1979.
KANSAS CITY ATHLETES
Famous Athletes with ties to Kansas City: Marcus Allen (Chiefs football), Nate "Tiny" Archibald (Kings basketball), George Brett (Royals baseball), Len Dawson (Chiefs football), Catherine Fox (Olympic swimmer), Maurice Green (olympic track and field), Willie Lanier (Chiefs football), Satchel Paige (Monarch's baseball), Derrick Thomas (Chiefs football), "Handsome" Harley Race (wrestling), Tom Watson (golf), Lynette Woodard (basketball).  Masten Gregory (aka: "The Kansas City Flash" or the original "Kansas Comet"). He was a Formula One/sports car driver from Kansas City who won Le Mans in 1965 and also was the first American to ever score a podium finish (top three) in a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.
PLAY NINE POSITIONS
Kansas City Athletics shortstop Bert Campanaris became the first player in modern times to play all 9 positions in one game there on September 8, 1965 in a 5-3 loss to the California Angels, the same season the A's fell to an all time low of 690 fans in attendance at one afternoon game.
BAD A'S DAY
At KC's Municipal Stadium, the Kansas City A's lost to the Chicago White Sox on April 22, 1959 where the White Sox scored 11 runs in ONE INNING, on just ONE HIT.  The Sox fall behind 6-1 before roaring back and taking an 8-6 lead after six innings.  The came the big 11-run inning.  The A's make three errors, give a near-record 10 walks and hit a batter. The A's loose 20-6.
MAE ARBAUGH
Kansas City native Mae Arbaugh, a professional softball player in the first 30 years of the 20th century, surpassed Lou Gehrig’s achievement of 2,130 career games played—hers numbered 6,486.
TONI STONE
Toni Stone played 2nd base for the Kansas City Monarch's in 1954.   She was the first woman in the Negro Leagues.  She batted .243 in the Negro Leagues.  Toni was inducted into the Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.   Toni was one of 3 women that played in the Negro Leagues Baseball, including Mamie  "Peanut" Johnson and Connie Morgan, both of which played for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1954-55.   Mamie "Peanut" Johnsn was the only woman pitcher to ever play in the Negro Leagues, compiling a 33-8 record in 3 years with the Clowns.
MAJOR MONARCHS
The Kansas City Monarchs sent the most players into Major League Baseball after the color barrier was broken. Some players from this elite group were Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks, Elston Howard, Hank Thompson and Willard "Home Run" Brown. 
ATHLETICS FAREWELL GAME
The Last Kansas City A's Game.  The A's lost to the Yankees in New York on October 1, 1967. Mel Stottlemyre out-dueled Catfish Hunter 4-3. In 1968 the A's left Kansas City and headed west to Oakland. 
NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum opens in Kansas City on Sept. 5, 1997 in the 18th & Vine District.   In July 2006, Congress grants the museum status as "America's National Negro Leagues Museum". 
KC NASCAR
NASCAR racing comes to Kansas City on Oct. 1, 2001 to the new Kansas Speedway, drawing 100,000 fans.
KANSAS CITY COLORED SHOES
From the all-leather baseball shoe in the 1880s, baseball shoes remained black or dark brown through the mid-1960s. The Kansas City A’s broke this long standing tradition in 1967 when they introduced white shoes to their already revolutionary kelly green and gold uniforms. Though club members were derided by opposing players for the new look, the A’s have worn white shoes ever since. Clubs began adopting shoes of other colors starting in the late 1960s, with solid red and solid blue being the favored hues.  The team experimented with a variety of color changes between pants, jerseys and hats, between green, yellow and white.  With the popularity of color televisions coming into households in the 1960's, other teams followed the A's wild splash of colors!
KC SPORTS CITY
The National Association of Collegiate Atheletes annual men's basketball tournament has roots in Kansas City, MO, going back to 1938.  The N.A.I.A. headquarters is also located in the greater Kansas City area in Olathe, KS.
WORLD SERIES NIGHT GAMES
1985 World Series- Royals vs. Cardinals. 
The first World Series in which ALL games were played at night. This was also the first year the American League Championship series (Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays) had gone from the best of five to the best of seven games.  This series was also called the I-70 series since that interstate connected the two Missouri cities.
THREE STRIKE OUT INNING
9 Pitches, 3 Strike Outs, 1 Inning-
Jeff Montgomery is the only member of the Royals to have pitched a nine pitch, three strike-out inning. 
AMOS OTIS
Amos Otis became the first Kansas City Royal to appear in an All Star Game.  A.O. made a rare accomlishment by homering in his first World Series at bat when the Royals played in the 1980 Series against the Phillies.  He wore #26. In the 1970 mid summer's classic, A.O. became the answer to the trivia question: Who made the throw which was part of that famous collision between Pete Rose and Ray Fosse? A.O.
ROYAL STADIUM DEBUT
Opening day for the Kansas City Royals, to play at their new stadium, Royals Stadium was on April 10, 1973.  The Royals had played since their start in the old Kansas City Municipal Stadium before the new stadium was built at the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex.  Before a crowd of 39,464 with an ice fishing temperature of 39 degrees, the hot Royals bats battered the Texas Rangers 12-1.  Paul Splitorff was the starting and winning pitcher for the Royals.  The Royals first home was Kansas City Municipal Stadium, with real grass.  Royals Stadium was the FIRST  stadium in the American League with all artificial turf field.  The Royals players had not even practiced on artificial turf before their first home game on the unique new turf.  Hometown Kansas Citian, Frank White who would in later years make the Royals team, worked with the construction crew that built Royals Stadium.  Royals firstbaseman, John Mayberry hit the FINAL home run at Municipal Stadium hit the FIRST home run at the new Royals Stadium.  The Royalettes dancing troupe performed in a pregame ceremony. 
ROYALS STADIUM WATER FOUNTAIN SWIM
When Royals Stadium first opened, Kansas City Royals secondbaseman, Cookie Rojas and shortstop Freddie Patek promised they'd jump into the Royals Stadium water fountains when the Royals won a pennant.   Then, when the Royals won their first pennant in 1976, they enjoyed their once in a lifetime pennant swim.  The water fountains had lights in the water to show the spectacular water displays.   Electricity had to be turned off quickly before Cookie and Freddie jumped in to water full of volts.  Freddie even carried a little umbrella for his teammates amuseument.
BUCK O'NEILL BASEBALL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Kansas City Monarchs Negro League baseball veteran Buck O'Neil was posthumously honored on Oct. 25, 2007 by the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award named in his memory. Buck will be the first receipant of the award.  Buck was the first black coach in MLB history, when he coached the Chicago Cubs from 1962-65. A statue of Buck was erected inside the museum in Cooperstown, New York on July 26, 2008, and the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to a worthy recipient no more than every three years.
KANSAS CITY HAMMER
Fred Williamson played defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs 1965-67.  His nickname came from the karate style blows he gave to opposing team receivers. After his football career, he went into acting and starred in several movies and TV shows.  Fred acted parts in M.A.S.H., Black Caesar, Hammer, an episode of Star Trek, Bronx Warriors, Starsky & Hutch, and more. 
NEW ROYAL SCOREBOARD, April 8, 2008.
The Royals usher in a new era of Royals baseball at Kauffman Stadium with the debut of CrownVision - a high definition video board that is 84 feet by 105 feet. CrownVision is the largest HD videoboard in the world!
ROYALS TRADE A HALL OF FAMER
The Kansas City Royals make their very first trade on December 12, 1968 by sending Hoyt Wilhelm (future MLB Hall of Famer) to the California Angels for Ed Kirkpatrick and Dennis Paepke. 
ROYALS PINE TAR GAME
On July 24, 1983, with the Kansas City Royals playing the New York Yankees, George Brett hit a ninth-inning, two-out, two-run homer off Goose Gossage that gave the Royals a 5-4 lead. Yankees manager Billy Martin came out to talk to umpire Tim McClelland. As they examined Brett's bat, McClelland ruled that Brett used excessive pine tar and called him out. An enraged Brett stormed out of the dugout to argue. The Yankees ended up winning the game 4-3. The Royals did protest, and the game was replayed on August 18, 1983, from the point of Brett's home run.  There were only about 1,200 fans in attendance.  Billy Martin protested by having Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry play center field and first baseman Don Mattingly play second base.  Billy Martin was ejected from the game after arguing.  The Royals ended up winning the Pine Tar Game 5 to 4. 
ROYAL BUCKS
In 1990, the Royals $29.8 milllion payroll is the highest in baseball!  George Brett's $1.8 million salary is just fourth highest on the team, behind Bob Boone, Mark Gubicza and Mark Davis. 
TWO KC BASEBALL TEAMS
Kansas City had two pro baseball teams from 1902-1903, the Blue Stockings and Blues, and from 1913-1915 the Blues and Packers.
MONARCHS OF BASEBALL
The Kansas City Monarchs had a record of 62-17 in 1929.  The .785 winning percentage that year is the highest of any Negro Leagues Baseball Team! In 1924, the first Negro World Series was played between the Kansas City Monarchs and Hilldales of Philadelphia, with the Monarchs winning in ten games.
ATHLETICS PROMOTIONS
In an effort to increase ticket sales, the Kansas City A's owner, Charlie Finley had special promotions called "Farmers Night" and "Hot Pants Night" at KC A's games. 
MONARCHS PROMOTIONS
To increase ticket sales, the KC Monarchs has promotions called "Kids Day" or "Knothole Day" (free admission for kids under 15) and "Ladies Day" or "Fannettes Day" (free admission for all ladies)
ROYALS PROMOTIONS
In the 1970's the Kansas City Royals had "Halter Top Night".
COWBOYS CONCESSIONS
Kansas City Cowboys Concession Stand Favorites
In 1886, the favorite items at the concession stands at a Cowboys baseball game was pink lemonade and Hokey-Pokey's (small, flat cakes of ice cream that sold for a nickel)
RECORD NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN A GAME
The Kansas City Royals used a Major League Record 27 players in one game on Sept. 23, 1969 in a game against the Minnesota Twins.
BASEBALL ALL STAR GAMES PLAYED IN KANSAS CITY
The 28th Major League All Star game was played in Kansas City in Municipal Stadium, on July 11, 1960, with 100 degree heat, 30,619 in attendance, with the National League winning 5 to 3.    The 44th Major League All Star game was played in Kansas City in Royals Stadium, on July 24, 1973, with 40,849 in attendance, the National League won 7 to 1.
1968- NO BASEBALL IN KANSAS CITY  :(
In 1968, the year after the Athletics left Kansas City to play in Oakland, and before the Kansas City Royals were formed, Kansas City did not have a baseball team, the first time since 1883!  That year was also the year of the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.  It was considered the year of the pitcher in MLB, with the Tigers Mickey Lolich winning 30 games.  It was the Athletics first year in Oakland, having just moved from Kansas City, when Catfish Hunter pitched a perfect game!  The A's finished at 82-80 in their first year in Oakland, the A's first winning season since when they were in Philadelphia in 1952!  It was also the last year before DIVISIONAL play in MLB. (in 1969 when the Kansas City Royals joined the league, NL and AL teams were arranged into East and West divisions)
FIRST SEMI-PRO BASEBALL GAME IN KANSAS CITY
The first recorded game between two semi-pro black teams in Kansas City happened on Aug. 27, 1890, between the St. Louis Mohawks and the Kansas City Maroons at Exposition Park, with KC winning 12-2.
KANSAS CITY HORSE WINS THE DERBY
On May, 8 1938 - A longshot horse from Kansas City wins the Kentucky Derby. Lawrin, owned by clothier Herbert Woolf, was raised at Woolford Farm, where he was trained by the noted Ben Jones. The jockey, Eddie Arcaro, said after the race that Lawrin was "the best horse I've ever ridden." He won the Derby by a length.
KANSAS CITY SPEED
On September 24, 2000, Maurice Greene from Kansas City, Kansas, wins the men's 100-meter dash at the Olympic Games in Australia.
KANSAS CITY STRONG MAN
Ted Strong a switch hitting shortstop and outfielder for the Kansas City Monarchs in the 1940's was one of the great players of the Negro Leagues.  Mr. Strong was also a star for the Harlem Globetrotters!
SPORTS STARS IN KANSAS CITY SPOTLIGHT
International, World Class Athletes that have played in Kansas City are:
  • David Beckham, British Soccer superstar at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept 13, 2008 against the Kansas City Wizards;
  • Pele one of the greatest ever soccer stars played in an exhibition match on July 4, 1968, against the Kansas City Spurs at Municipal Stadium;
  • Muhammad Ali fought in an exhibition at Kemper Arena on Nov. 16, 1974;
  • Jack Nicklaus played in Watson's Children's Mercy Classic on June 27, 1989;
  • Mia Hamm played with the US women's national team for exhibition games in Kansas City in 1999, 2000 and 2004;
  • Anna Kournikova played on the Kansas City Explorers in 2003-2004;
  • Billie Jean King played some tennis matches in KC in the late 1970's and 1990's and
  • Michael Jordan, while a rookie of the Chicago Bulls played baskeball at Kemper Arena in 1985 against the Kansas City Kings.
KANSAS CITY SLAM DUNK
On Nov. 13, 1979, Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins of the Philadelphia 76'ers, while playing against the Kansas City Kings at Kemper Arena, hits a massive dunk so hard that the backboard shatters into a thousand pieces!  This is the first known shattered backboard dunk shown on television, when ESPN was a "new" 23-hour sports network.  The Kings sent a $295 bill to the 76'ers for the backboard replacement.  Three weeks later, Dawkins broke another backboard in Philadelphia.  NBA Commissioner announced that going forward anyone who broke a backboard would be fined and suspended.  Not long after, the collapsable rim was invented. 
KANSAS CITY FINAL FOUR
On March 23, 1957, Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain lose 54-53 in three overtimes in the NCAA title game to North Carolina in KC's Municipal Auditorium. 
On April 4, 1988, Kansas and Oklahoma play to a 50-50 halftime tie, with Danny Manning of the Jayhawks leading their team to an 83-79 NCAA Basketball Tournament Victory at KC's Kemper Arena.  There have been more Final Fours played in Kansas City than any city in the country.  John Wooden won his first NCAA championship in KC.
AFL Champions
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders on 1/4/1970 17-7 to win the AFL championship and go to play the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.  It was the final game in AFL history.  The Chiefs were the AFL's only three-time champion.  Then the Chiefs went to upset the two touchdown favorite Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl 23-7.   The Chiefs played in the LAST game by an AFL team.  The next season, the AFL merged with the NFL.  Len Dawson, quarterback of the Chiefs was the Super Bowl MVP. 
TD Pack Band- Tony DiPardo "Mr Music"
Tony DiPardo's band starting playing music live at Kansas City Chiefs games when they arrived in 1963.  They were originally called the Zing Band.  They had a special band section in the end zone to play special music before, during and after the game.  By 2008 the band was the only band playing live music in the NFL.  The TD Pack Band ended after the 2008 season. 
SUPER BOWL
Kansas City Chiefs founder, Lamar Hunt coined the term, "Super Bowl".  Lamar picked the word "super" for the important NFL Championship Bowl game after he noticed the fantastic bounce and fun his children were having with a "super ball".
RETIRED CHIEFS
Both Joe Montana and Marcus Allen retired from the NFL as Kansas City Chiefs.
FOUR STRIKE OUTS IN ONE INNING
Kevin Appier of the Kansas City Royals recorded the rare feat of 4 strike outs in one inning (during the fourth inning!) on Sept 3, 1996
HOME RUN WITH FIRST AT BAT
Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City Athletics hit a home run in his first MLB at bat on July 23, 1964, while Jon Nunnally of the Kansas City Royals also hit a homer in his first at bat on April 29, 1995.
SIX HIT GAME
The following members of the Kansas City Royals have collected six hits in one game: Bob Oliver on May 4, 1969, Kevin Seitzer on Aug. 2, 1987, and Joe Randa on Sept 9, 2004.
Kansas City Athletics and Royals Connection
Pitcher, Moe Drabowsky became known as one of the few players that played for both the Kansas City Atheltics and Kansas City Royals won the FIRST game in Royals history when the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 in 12 innings on Opening Day in 1969. In that same game, another Athletics/Royals player, Dave Wickersham, got the save.  Aurelio Monteagudo and Ken Sanders are the other pitchers that played for the A's and Royals.  That day was also Billy Martin's (former Yankee player and manager) managerial debut.  The Royals were managed by Joe Gordon, who had also previously managed the Kansas City Athletics.  (The Royals played two exhibition games at Municipal Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals before this first ever game) MLB Hall of Famer, Whitey Herzog played in 1958-60 with the Kansas City A's and later, was manager of the Kansas City Royals from 1975-79.
THE ROAD TO SUPER BOWL
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 31-7 on Jan. 1, 1967 (the SAME day that future Chiefs star linebacker Derrick Thomas was born!) for the AFL Championship.  The Chiefs lost by the score 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers in the NFL-AFL Championship Game, which was later called Super Bowl I.
MONDAY NIGHT MAGIC
On Monday, Oct. 17, 1994, the Kansas City Chiefs played the Denver Broncos in Mile High Stadium. It was one of the greatest Monday Night Football games ever.  It stared future Hall of Fame Quaterbacks, Joe Montana and John Elway.  Elway lead the Broncos with the go ahead score late in the game.  Joe Montana of the Chiefs threw a pass to Willie Davis in the end zone with 8 seconds remaining to defeat the Broncos 31-28. 
SACK ATTACK CHIEF
On Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 1990, inspired by a military flyover, Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs payed tribute to his deceased father who served our country in the Air Force. DT set a single game record NFL record by sacking Seattle's Dave Kreig SEVEN times!  On 9/6/98 he got 6 sacks against Oakland and got his club-record third safety of his career, which was a "called shot".   On 10/7/91, he got four sacks and two forced fumbles to beat Buffalo on Monday Night Football 33-6.  Derrick had a career 126 1/2 sacks, a Chiefs career record.  He had 20 sacks in the 1990's, the most by any player that decade.  He's caused 45 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, 4 fumble return TD's and made 3 safeties.  DT joined the NFL Hall of Fame on Aug. 8, 2009.
KICK RETURN TD RECORD
In 2003, the Kansas City Chiefs Dante Hall became the first player in NFL history to return a kick or punt for a touchdown in four consecutive games!  Dante (the X-Factor) set another record that season by becoming the first player in NFL history to return FIVE kicks or punts for touchdowns in the SAME season, when including the playoffs.
KANSAS CITY RESTAURANT AND SPORTS MUSEUM
For some good food and to see a large collection of Kansas City sports collection, uniforms, helmets, pennents, trophies, baseballs and other memorabilia, check out Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum in North Kansas City, MO.
ACADEMY FRANK
Frank White grew up in Kansas City and went to Lincoln High School, which was next to Municipal Stadium, home of the Kansas City Athletics and later Kansas City Royals. Frank was selected to join the Royals Baseball Academy at 19 yrs old.  As the first and best to graduate the Academy, he became a member of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, won eight gold gloves and had his number 20 retired from the team!
LARGEST TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX ATTENDANCE
The largest onsite attendance at the Truman Sports Complex was on Oct. 2, 2000, with 82,893 in attendance for the Monday Night Football Game.  That day 78,542 persons watched the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Seattle Seahawks 24-17 at Arrowhead Stadium, while at the same time, 4,351 fans watched a simulcast of the Chiefs game at nearby Kauffman Stadium!
WORLD SERIES BROTHER DUO
Who is the brother duo that includes a baseball hall of famer who played in two World Series and his brother, the youngest pitcher to ever play in a World Series game?
That's George Brett of the Kansas City Royals who played in the World Series in 1980 and 1985.  George's brother, Ken Brett of the Boston Red Sox, was 19 years and three weeks old, pitching in the World Series for Boston in 1967 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
HURRICANE CHANGES CHIEFS SCHEDULED GAME
With the approaching Hurricane Wilma headed towards South Florida in 2005, the NFL was forced to move the scheduled Sunday game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins to an earlier Friday game.  The Chiefs beat the Dolpins 30-20, then quickly flew back to Kansas City. 
ATHLETICS TRADES WITH YANKEES
The New York Yankees seemed to get the best of any trades with the Kansas City Athletics.  On December 11, 1959, Kansas City traded Roger Maris to the New York Yankees. In addition to Maris, the Yankees received Joe DeMaestri and Kent Hadley. Kansas City got Norm Siebern, Don Larsen, Hank Bauer, and Marv (soon to become "Marvelous") Throneberry. Roger Maris as a Yankee was the League MVP in 1960 and 1961 when he broke Babe Ruth's home run record.
OLDEST ROOKIE
In 1948, Satchel Paige, former pitcher from the Negro Leagues, Kansas City Monarchs is signed by the Cleveland Indians and becomes baseball's all-time oldest "rookie" at the age of 42.
KANSAS CITY WIZARD IN HALL OF FAME
Preki was the first player from the Kansas City Wizards to be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010.  He helped the Wizards to the MLS Cup Championship in 2000, he won the League MVP twice in 1997 and in 2003 when he was 40 years old.  He was the first person to reach the 50 goal, 50 assist mark.  He finished his career with 79 goals and 112 assists in regular season play.  Preki also played for the USA National Team, scoring 4 goals, including one that beat Brazil in the 1998 Gold Cup.  He appeared in two World Cup Matches.  The only other player with the Wizards in the Hall of Fame is defender Alexi Lalas, who spent 1999 with the club.

ESPN BOTTOMLINE
Notable Kansas Citians 
in the National Baseball Hall of FameCooperstown, NY
Name Team Year Inducted Notes
Joe Gordon
 Kansas City Royals
 2009
 In 1969, Joe became the first manager of the Kansas City Royals.  He was a nine-time All-Star with the Yankees and Indians.
Buck O'Neil Kansas City Monarchs 2008 He was a first baseman, hitting .281 in twelve seasons, mostly with the Kansas City Monarch's.  Buck was the first black coach in MLB, for the Cubs in 1962.  Buck worked as a scout for the Kansas City Royals.  He was a beloved ambassador to baseball and spokesman for the Negro Leagues Baseball and it's museum.  He was awarded the first Baseball Lifetime Achievement Award, named in his memory. 
George Brett Kansas City Royals 1999 Primarily a Third baseman. He helped the Royals to the 1980 and 1985 World Series.  He was the first KC Royal inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Royal. 
Denny Matthews Kansas City Royals broadcaster 2007 Radio Voice of the Royals since 1969. 
Joe McGuff Kansas City Star Newspaper Writer 1984 He was instrumental in securing an expansion franchise for Kansas City that became the Royals. 
Satchel Paige Kansas City Monarchs and Kansas City A's 1971 Pitcher, who played for the Monarchs 12 years.  Probably the best pitcher of his time.  He played one game with the A's. 
Casey Stengel New York Yankees 1966 Born and raised in Northeast Kansas City as Charles Dillon Stengel, playing baseball at Central High School and the semi-professional teams of the Kansas City Red Sox and the Kansas City Blues, etc. before gaining his nickname as a member of the Major League Brooklyn Dodgers in 1912 and going on to manage the New York Yankees to 10 pennants and a record 7 world championships in 12 years through the early 1960s.
J.L. Wilkinson Kansas City Monarchs 2006 Monarchs Team Owner and helped found the Nego Leagues Baseball League. 
"Bullet" Joe Rogan Kansas City Monarchs 1998 Pitcher and manager in the 1920's and 30's. 
Hilton Smith Kansas City Monarchs 2001 Pitcher (often relieving Satchel Paige)
Charles "Kid" Nichols Kansas City Blue Stockings
 1949 He pitched in 1888-1903.  Retired in KC, where he gave up pitching for bowling
Orlando Cepada Kansas City Royals
Played 33 games for KC in 1974
Harmon Killebrew Kansas City Royals
Played for KC in 1975
Gaylord Perry Kansas City Royals 
Pitched his final 14 games with KC before retiring in 1983. 
Bob Lemon Kansas City Royals
Hall of Fame Pitcher.  Royals manager 1970-72.
Enos Slaughter Kansas City A's 
He played parts of two seasons in KC.
Reggie Jackson Kansas City A's 
Mr October started in KC in 1967.
Catfish Hunter Kansas City A's in 1965

Mickey Mantle Kansas City Blues in 1951
He was later called up to the NY Yankees
Lou Boudreau Kansas City A's
He managed the A's in 1955-57. 
Phil Rizzuto Kansas City Blues 
Shortstop. Former New York Yankee's shortstop and announcer.  He payed two seasons with the Kansas City Blues (1939, 1940) and in 1940 was the minor-league player of the year. 
Whitey Ford Kansas City Blues 
Pitcher.  He was later called up to the NY Yankees
Ernie Banks Kansas City Monarchs 
Played for KC in 1950 and 1953.  Later played for the Cubs
Jackie Robinson Kansas City Monarchs
Played for KC in 1945. He later broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. 
Cool Papa Bell Kansas City Monarchs
Center fielder. 
Willard Brown Kansas City Monarchs
Center fielder.
Andy Cooper Kansas City Monarchs
Pitcher and manager. 
Bill Foster Kansas City Monarchs
Pitcher
Jose Mendez Kansas City Monarchs
Player and manager
Turkey Stearnes Kansas City Monarchs
Center fielder
Cristobal Torriente Kansas City Monarchs
Center fielder
Willie Wells Kansas City Monarchs
Shortstop
Tracy Ringolsby Kansas City Star Newspaper Writer

"Sliding" Billy Hamilton Kansas City Cowboys
He hit .301, had 77 RBI's and stole 117 bases with the KC Cowboys in 1889. 

 
Triple Plays by Kansas City Baseball Teams, Games Played in Kansas City
Date
 Teams
 Ballpark
July 7, 1888
 Kansas City Blues vs. Baltimore Orioles
 Association Park
July 24, 1915
 Kansas City Packers vs. Buffalo Blues
 Gordon & Koppel Field
Sept. 4, 1966
 Kansas City Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox
 Municipal Stadium
July 4, 1988
 Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox
 Royals Stadium
May 14, 1994
 Kansas City Royals vs. Oakland Athletics
 Kauffman Stadium
 

All Time Kansas City Baseball Team
For persons who were born or grew up in the Kansas City area. 
From the book "Unions to Royals: The Story of Professional Baseball in Kansas City".
Manager: Casey Stengal
Firstbase: George Stoval
Secondbase: Frank White
Thirdbase: Ken Boyer
Shortstop: Glenn Wright
Leftfield: Bob Allison
Centerfield: Brian McRae
Rightfield: Zack Wheat
Catcher: Johnny Kling
Pitcher: Joe Wood



The Greatest Moments in Kansas City
Sports History
Examiner's Sports Monthly- January 2005
1. Royals win 1985 I-70 World Series
2. Chiefs win Super Bowl IV
3. Chiefs appear in Super Bowl I against Green Bay Packers
4. Royals win the pennant in 1980
5. Maurice Greene, World's Fastest Man
6. Tom Waton's winning shot at the U. S. Open in 1982
7. Lamar Hunt moves the AFL franchise to Kansas City in 1963
8. Royals awarded franchise in 1968
9. Buck O'Neil's contributions
10. KU wins 1988 NCAA
11. Truman Sports Complex completed in 1973
12. George Brett inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame
13. Kansas Speedway opens in 2001
14. Tom Watson's 1977 British Open
15. Kansas City Monarch's win 1942 Negro League World Series
16. Kansas City Wizards win 2000 Major League Soccer title
17. Kansas City Kings make conference finals in 1981
18. 1975- final year Kansas City had all four major league sports
19. Royals pennant race in 1976
20. Tommy Morrison wins WBO heavyweight title in 1993
21. Terin Humphrey earns two silver medals at 2004 Olympic Games
22. Kansas City Attack wins 1993 professional indoor soccer title
23. Catherine Fox helps U.S. swimmers to gold in the 1996 Olympics
24. Chiefs beat Oilers behind Joe Montana's comeback in 1993-94
25. Tom Waton wins two Masters titles in 1977 and 1981
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Post your comments about Kansas City sports champions.


Kansas City's Sports Champions
Championship YEAR
Kansas City TEAM
LEAGUE
1923
 Monarchs
 Negro National League Baseball
1924
Monarchs
Negro National League Baseball
1925
 Monarchs
 Negro National League Baseball
1929 Pla-Mors American Hockey Association
1929
 Monarchs
 Negro National League Baseball
1933 Greyhounds American Hockey Association
1934
Greyhounds
American Hockey Association
1936
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1937
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1939
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1940
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1941
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1942
Monarchs
Negro Leagues Baseball
1945-46 Pla-Mors United States Hockey League
1946
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1950
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1953
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1955
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1957
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1958
 Monarchs
 Negro American League Baseball
1962-1963
Steers
American Basketball League
1969
Spurs 
North American Soccer League
1969
Chiefs 
National Football League
1976-77
Blues
Central Hockey League
1985
Royals
Major League Baseball
1991-1992
Blades
International Hockey League
1993
Attack
National Professional Soccer League
1997
Attack
National Professional Soccer League
2000
Wizards
Major League Soccer
2001-2002
Knights
American Basketball Association
2008 T-Bones Northern League Baseball

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Who's Currently is the BEST Team in Kansas City?
   Latest Season Record
Rank
Team
Latest Complete Year
Win-Loss-Tie
Winning Percentage
1
 Kansas City Tribe Football
 2009
 10-1
 .909
2
 Kansas City Blues Rugby
 2009
 7-6
 .538
3
 Kansas City T-Bones Baseball
2009
46-50
.479
4
 Kansas City Explorers Tennis
 2009
 6-8
 .429
5
 Kansas City Shockers Football
 2009
 5-7
 .416
6
 Kansas City Royals Baseball
2009
65-97
.401
7
 Kansas City Panthers Football
 2008
 4-6
 .400
8
 Kansas City Wizards Soccer
2009
8-13-9
.267
(.490 IF you count each tie as half a win)
9
 Kansas City Chiefs Football
 2009
 4-12
 .250
9
 Kansas City Storm Football
 2009
 2-6
 .250
10
 Kansas City Power Australian Rules Football
 2009
 1-4
 .200
12
 Flying Monkey Lacrosse (Kansas City Lacrosse Club)
 2009
 1-11
 .083

Kansas City Stars Basketball
 2010


Missouri Mavericks
 2010


Kansas City Spartans Football
 2010

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TOP THIRTY THREE Kansas City Best Sports Teams of All Time-- Season Records
Rank
Team
Year
Win-Loss-Tie
Winning Percentage
1
 Kansas City Tribe Football
 2009
 10-1
 .909
2
Kansas City Knights Basketball
2001-02
35-5
.875
3
Kansas City Chiefs Football
1968
12-2
.857
4
Kansas City Chiefs Football
1997
13-3
.813
5
Kansas City Chiefs Football
2003
13-3
.813
6
Kansas City Chiefs Football
1966
11-2-1
.786
7
Kansas City Chiefs Football
1969
11-3
.786
8
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1929
 62-17
 .785
9
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1926
 57-21
 .731
10
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1925
 62-33
 .729
11
Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
1953
56-21
.727
12
Kansas City Knights Basketball
2003-04
23-9
.719
13
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1924
 55-22
 .714
14
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1950
 52-21
 .712
15
Kansas City Steers Basketball
1962-63
22-9
.710
16
Kansas City Blues Baseball
1939
107-47
.695
17
Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
1924
60-27
.689
18
Kansas City Blades Hockey
1991-92
56-22-4
.682
19
Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
1957
96-45
.680
20
Kansas City Knights Basketball
2004-05
17-8
.680
21
Kansas City Blues Baseball
1923
112-54
.675
22
 Kansas City Blues Baseball
 1890
 78-39
 .667
23
Kansas City Blues Baseball
1929
111-56
.665
24
Kansas City Wizards Soccer
1997
21-11
.656
25
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1927
 54-29
 .651
26
 Kansas City Blues Baseball
 1901
 80-44
 .645
27
 Kansas City Blues Baseball
 1888
 76-22
 .644
28
 Kansas City Blues Baseball
 1898
 88-51
 .633
29
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1923
 57-33
 .633
30
 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball
 1948
 43-25
 .632
31
Kansas City Royals Baseball
1977
102-60
.630
32
Kansas City Pla-Mors Hockey
1945-46
35-17-4
.625
33
 Kansas City Blues Baseball
 1940
 95-57
 .625
  

If any corrections or additions click here:






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Last updated: January 22, 2010