1976 Kansas City Royals season

The 1976 Kansas City Royals season was their eighth in Major League Baseball. The Royals won their first division title, taking the American League West with a record of 90–72 in the first full season as manager for Whitey Herzog. Kansas City was defeated 3-2 by the New York Yankees in the ALCS. George Brett (.333) became the first Royals player to win a league batting title.

1976 Kansas City Royals
American League West champions
League	American League
Division	West
Ballpark	Royals Stadium
City	Kansas City, Missouri
Record	90–72 (.556)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	Ewing Kauffman
General managers	Joe Burke
Managers	Whitey Herzog (first full season)
Television	KBMA–TV 41 (Denny Matthews, Fred White)
Radio	WIBW–AM 580 KMBZ–AM 980 (Denny Matthews, Fred White)
← 1975 Seasons 1977 →

Offseason

• September 29, 1975: Harmon Killebrew was released by the Royals.^[1]
• November 12, 1975: Nelson Briles was traded by the Royals to the Texas Rangers for Dave Nelson.^[2]
• March 3, 1976: Roger Nelson was signed by the Royals as a free agent.^[3]

Regular season

A game at Royals Stadium on Sunday, September 19, 1976. The pitcher is Chris Knapp and the batter is Tom Poquette. The Royals would beat the White Sox 6 to 5.

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

AL West

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Kansas City Royals	90	72	.556	—	49‍–‍32	41‍–‍40
Oakland Athletics	87	74	.540	2½	51‍–‍30	36‍–‍44
Minnesota Twins	85	77	.525	5	44‍–‍37	41‍–‍40
Texas Rangers	76	86	.469	14	39‍–‍42	37‍–‍44
California Angels	76	86	.469	14	38‍–‍43	38‍–‍43
Chicago White Sox	64	97	.398	25½	35‍–‍45	29‍–‍52

Record vs. opponents

1976 American League record v t e Sources:
Team	BAL	BOS	CAL	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIL	MIN	NYY	OAK	TEX
Baltimore	—	7–11	8–4	8–4	7–11	12–6	6–6	11–7	4–8	13–5	4–8	8–4
Boston	11–7	—	7–5	6–6	9–9	14–4	3–9	12–6	7–5	7–11	4–8	3–9
California	4–8	5–7	—	11–7	7–5	6–6	8–10	4–8	8–10	5–7	6–12	12–6
Chicago	4–8	6–6	7–11	—	3–9	6–6	8–10	7–5	7–11	1–11	8–9	7–11
Cleveland	11–7	9–9	5–7	9–3	—	6–12	6–6	11–6	9–3	4–12	4–8	7–5
Detroit	6–12	4–14	6–6	6–6	12–6	—	4–8	12–6	4–8	9–8	6–6	5–7
Kansas City	6–6	9–3	10–8	10–8	6–6	8–4	—	8–4	10–8	7–5	9–9	7–11
Milwaukee	7–11	6–12	8–4	5–7	6–11	6–12	4–8	—	4–8	5–13	5–7	10–2
Minnesota	8–4	5–7	10–8	11–7	3–9	8–4	8–10	8–4	—	2–10	11–7	11–7
New York	5–13	11–7	7–5	11–1	12–4	8–9	5–7	13–5	10–2	—	6–6	9–3
Oakland	8–4	8–4	12–6	9–8	8–4	6–6	9–9	7–5	7–11	6–6	—	7–11
Texas	4–8	9–3	6–12	11–7	5–7	7–5	11–7	2–10	7–11	3–9	11–7	—

Opening Day lineup

• Dave Nelson, DH
• Amos Otis, CF
• George Brett, 3B
• John Mayberry, 1B
• Hal McRae, LF
• Al Cowens, RF
• Fran Healy, C
• Freddie Patek, SS
• Frank White, 2B

Notable transactions

• May 16, 1976: Fran Healy is traded by the Royals to the New York Yankees for Larry Gura.^[4]
• June 8, 1976: 1976 Major League Baseball draft
  • Bill Paschall was drafted by the Royals in the 3rd round.^[5]
  • Ken Phelps was drafted by the Royals in the 15th round.^[6]

Roster

1976 Kansas City Royals
Roster
Pitchers 29 Doug Bird 35 Tom Bruno 40 Steve Busby 46,49 Jerry Cram 39 Al Fitzmorris 37 Larry Gura 42 Tom Hall 16 Andy Hassler 22 Dennis Leonard 17 Mark Littell 32 Bob McClure 23 Steve Mingori 35 Roger Nelson 33 Marty Pattin 37 Ray Sadecki 28 Ken Sanders 34 Paul Splittorff		Catchers 16 Fran Healy 21 Buck Martinez 15 Bob Stinson 12 John Wathan Infielders  5 George Brett  7 John Mayberry  3 Dave Nelson  2 Freddie Patek  9 Jamie Quirk  1 Cookie Rojas  8 Tony Solaita 20 Frank White		Outfielders 18 Al Cowens 30 Ruppert Jones 11 Hal McRae 26 Amos Otis 25 Tom Poquette 19 Willie Wilson  6 Jim Wohlford Other batters 29 Tommy Davis		Manager 24 Whitey Herzog Coaches 14 Steve Boros 36 Galen Cisco  4 Chuck Hiller 27 Charley Lau

Game log

Regular season

1976 regular season game log: 90–72 (Home: 49-32; Away: 41–40)
April: 5–7 (Home: 3–4; Away: 2–3) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 1 April 9 1:15 p.m. CST @ White Sox L 0–4 Wood (1–0) Splittorff (0–1) – 2:25 40,318 0–1 L1 — April 11 @ White Sox Postponed (Cold) (Makeup date: August 6) — April 11 @ White Sox Postponed (Cold) (Makeup date: September 13) 2 April 13 7:30 p.m. CST Angels W 7–4 Fitzmorris (1–0) Hassler (0–1) Pattin (1) 3:05 25,516 1–1 W1 3 April 14 7:30 p.m. CST Angels L 6–7 Monge (1–0) Pattin (0–1) Brewer (1) 3:16 9,043 1–2 L1 4 April 15 7:30 p.m. CST Angels L 1–5 Ryan (1–1) Splittorff (0–2) – 2:13 7,657 1–3 L2 5 April 16 7:30 p.m. CST Indians W 5–3 Mingori (1–0) Peterson (0–1) Pattin (2) 2:21 12,219 2–3 W1 6 April 17 7:30 p.m. CST Indians W 5–3 (5) Fitzmorris (2–0) Eckersley (0–2) – 1:32 9,799 3–3 W2 7 April 18 1:30 p.m. CST Indians L 0–6 Dobson (1–1) Busby (0–1) – 2:41 10,466 3–4 L1 8 April 20 6:30 p.m. CST @ Brewers L 4–5 Broberg (1–0) Leonard (0–1) Rodríguez (3) 2:46 4,902 3–5 L2 — April 21 @ Brewers Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: April 21) 9 April 22 6:30 p.m. CST @ Brewers W 2–1 Bird (1–0) Colborn (1–1) – 2:36 5,196 4–5 W1 10 April 23 7:00 p.m. CST @ Yankees W 3–2 Splittorff (1–2) Hunter (1–3) Mingori (1) 2:32 35,116 5–5 W2 11 April 24 1:15 p.m. CST @ Yankees L 8–9 (11) Lyle (2–0) Pattin (0–2) — 3:53 16,034 5–6 L1 — April 25 @ Yankees Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 6) — April 27 Red Sox Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 15) — April 28 Red Sox Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 16) 12 April 30 7:30 p.m. CDT Yankees L 3–5 Hunter (2–3) Splittorff (1–3) — 2:11 11,368 5–7 L2
May: 20–10 (Home: 11–2; Away: 9–8) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 13 May 1 7:30 p.m. CDT Yankees W 4–1 Busby (1–1) Figueroa (1–1) — 2:25 18,703 6–7 W1 14 May 2 1:30 p.m. CDT Yankees W 2–1 (11) Bird (2–0) Lyle (1–1) — 3:23 13,404 7–7 W2 15 May 4 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Red Sox W 7–5 Fitzmorris (3–0) Lee (0–3) Bird (1) 2:47 16,274 8–7 W3 16 May 5 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Red Sox W 8–4 Splittorff (2–3) Jenkins (1–4) Littell (1) 2:52 17,596 9–7 W4 17 May 7 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Orioles L 3–4 Garland (2–0) Pattin (0–3) — 2:35 7,310 9–8 L1 18 May 8 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Orioles W 6–3 Leonard (1–1) Holtzman (2–2) Bird (2) 2:33 51,195 10–8 W1 19 May 9 1:00 p.m. CDT @ Orioles W 7–4 Littell (1–0) Palmer (4–4) — 2:47 7,590 11–8 W2 20 May 10 7:30 p.m. CDT Twins L 4–5 (10) Burgmeier (2–0) Pattin (0–4) Luebber (2) 3:26 12,526 11–9 L1 21 May 11 7:30 p.m. CDT Twins W 6–3 Bird (3–0) Luebber (0–1) Littell (2) 2:33 9,652 12–9 W1 22 May 12 7:30 p.m. CDT Twins W 17–5 Pattin (1–4) Decker (2–3) — 3:04 9,601 13–9 W2 23 May 13 7:30 p.m. CDT White Sox W 13–2 Leonard (2–1) B. Johnson (1–4) – 2:39 13,657 14–9 W3 24 May 14 7:30 p.m. CDT White Sox W 7–1 Fitzmorris (4–0) Vuckovich (0–1) – 2:09 12,990 15–9 W4 25 May 15 7:30 p.m. CDT White Sox W 2–1 (12) Littell (2–0) Gossage (1–3) – 3:00 14,693 16–9 W5 26 May 16 1:30 p.m. CDT White Sox L 3–4 Carroll (1–1) Bird (3–1) Hamilton (1) 2:49 28,413 16–10 L1 27 May 17 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers W 8–7 (12) Hall (1–0) Foucault (3–1) – 3:57 18,936 17–10 W1 28 May 18 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers W 3–1 Fitzmorris (5–0) Umbarger (3–3) – 2:07 14,116 18–10 W2 29 May 19 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics W 5–2 Splittorff (3–3) Torrez (4–4) Pattin (3) 2:49 22,483 19–10 W3 30 May 20 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics W 8–4 Bird (4–1) P. Mitchell (1–2) Littell (3) 2:46 25,682 20–10 W4 31 May 21 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Twins W 5–1 Leonard (3–1) Hughes (0–4) — 2:37 8,619 21–10 W5 32 May 22 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Twins L 3–5 Goltz (3–2) Fitzmorris (5–1) — 2:00 6,812 21–11 L1 33 May 23 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Twins L 1–3 Blyleven (4–3) Splittorff (3–4) Campbell (4) 2:10 24,716 21–12 L2 34 May 24 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Rangers W 14–11 Mingori (1–0) Barr (1–3) – 3:10 12,751 22–12 W1 — May 25 @ Rangers Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: May 26) 35 (1) May 26 5:00 p.m. CDT @ Rangers W 14–2 Leonard (4–1) Perry (4–4) – 2:54 – 23–12 W2 36 (2) May 26 8:29 p.m. CDT @ Rangers L 4–5 (10) Foucault (4–1) Pattin (1–5) – 3:07 16,510 23–13 L1 37 May 27 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Rangers L 4–6 Singer (4–1) Splittorff (3–5) Hoerner (3) 2:44 14,755 23–14 L2 38 May 28 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Angels W 3–0 Bird (5–1) Ryan (3–6) – 2:07 15,777 24–14 W1 39 (1) May 29 7:00 p.m. CDT @ Angels L 2–3 Monge (2–1) Littell (2–1) – 2:26 – 24–15 L1 40 (2) May 29 10:01 p.m. CDT @ Angels L 2–7 Ross (2–6) Fitzmorris (5–2) – 2:43 28,415 24–16 L2 41 May 30 3:00 p.m. CDT @ Angels W 3–2 (14) Mingori (3–0) Drago (1–4) – 4:43 14,193 25–16 W1 42 May 31 10:00 p.m. CDT @ Athletics L 1–10 Torrez (6–5) Splittorff (3–6) — 2:32 31,842 25–17 L1
June: 19–10 (Home: 12–4; Away: 7–6) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 43 June 1 10:00 p.m. CDT @ Athletics W 5–2 Bird (6–1) Bahnsen (2–2) Pattin (4) 2:29 3,860 26–17 W1 44 June 2 10:00 p.m. CDT @ Athletics W 4–3 (12) Littell (3–1) Fingers (2–5) Mingori (2) 3:57 2,628 27–17 W2 45 June 4 7:30 p.m. CDT Brewers W 4–3 (10) Leonard (5–1) Slaton (7–2) – 2:34 16,899 28–17 W3 46 (1) June 5 5:00 p.m. CDT Brewers W 5–4 Fitzmorris (6–2) Broberg (1–5) Littell (4) – 2:51 29–17 W4 47 (2) June 5 8:26 p.m. CDT Brewers W 7–2 Splittorff (4–6) Champion (0–1) – 2:26 35,817 30–17 W5 48 June 6 1:30 p.m. CDT Brewers L 3–4 (14) Augustine (1–1) Pattin (1–6) – 3:53 15,508 30–18 L1 52 June 10 7:30 p.m. CDT Orioles W 7–0 Splittorff (5–6) Palmer (6–7) — 2:28 12,210 33–19 W2 53 June 11 7:30 p.m. CDT Orioles W 4–0 Bird (7–1) Cuellar (2–7) Littell (6) 2:00 25,883 34–19 W3 54 June 12 1:15 p.m. CDT Orioles W 7–6 Busby (3–1) Alexander (3–4) Pattin (5) 2:39 19,693 35–19 W4 55 June 13 1:30 p.m. CDT Orioles W 8–4 Leonard (6–2) Flanagan (0–2) — 2:34 23,751 36–19 W5 59 June 18 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Indians W 5–3 Leonard (7–2) Thomas (0–1) – 2:42 14,170 39–20 W1 60 June 19 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Indians L 0–3 Dobson (8–5) Fitzmorris (8–3) Kern (3) 2:20 17,389 39–21 L1 61 June 20 1:00 p.m. CDT @ Indians L 8–11 Bibby (3–2) Littell (3–2) Thomas (3) 2:55 13,295 39–22 L2 62 June 21 7:30 p.m. CDT White Sox L 1–2 (11) Hamilton (3–3) Hall (1–1) – 3:00 28,918 39–23 L3 63 June 22 7:30 p.m. CDT White Sox L 8–14 Jefferson (2–2) Busby (3–2) – 2:44 18,125 39–24 L4 64 June 23 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Rangers L 5–7 Foucault (6–3) Leonard (7–3) – 2:52 21,336 39–25 L5 65 June 24 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Rangers L 2–5 Hargan (2–2) Fitzmorris (8–4) Hoerner (5) 2:56 14,455 39–26 L6 66 June 25 7:30 p.m. CDT Angels W 6–3 Splittorff (7–6) Ross (5–9) Littell (7) 2:14 25,522 40–26 W1 67 June 26 7:30 p.m. CDT Angels W 3–0 Pattin (2–7) Ryan (6–8) Mingori (4) 2:28 30,125 41–26 W2 68 June 27 1:30 p.m. CDT Angels W 5–4 (11) Bird (8–1) Drago (1–6) – 3:22 37,960 42–26 W3 69 June 28 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Twins L 3–4 Campbell (8–2) Littell (3–3) — 2:47 6,170 42–27 L1 70 June 29 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Twins W 1–0 (10) Fitzmorris (9–4) Goltz (7–6) — 2:40 6,201 43–27 W1 71 June 30 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Twins W 4–2 Splittorff (8–6) Bane (0–1) — 2:40 7,471 44–27 W2
July: 17–12 (Home: 8–7; Away: 9–5) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 72 July 1 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics L 2–5 Fingers (4–5) Pattin (2–8) — 2:46 23,175 44–28 L1 73 July 2 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics W 8–5 Littell (4–3) Blue (6–7) — 3:05 25,723 45–28 W1 74 July 3 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics W 7–5 Leonard (8–3) Todd (6–7) Mingori (5) 3:03 33,586 46–28 W2 75 July 4 1:30 p.m. CDT Athletics L 0–6 Norris (2–2) Fitzmorris (9–5) — 2:42 24,647 46–29 L1 76 July 5 1:00 p.m. CDT @ Yankees W 2–1 Splittorff (9–6) Alexander (4–5) Mingori (6) 2:50 28,041 47–29 W1 77 July 6 (1) 4:30 p.m. CDT @ Yankees W 3–1 Bird (9–1) Figueroa (9–6) Mingori (7) 2:17 — 48–29 W2 78 July 6 (2) 7:22 p.m. CDT @ Yankees L 4–7 Lyle (6–5) Busby (3–3) — 2:25 35,370 48–30 L1 79 July 7 7:00 p.m. CDT @ Yankees W 2–1 Littell (5–3) Hunter (10–8) Mingori (8) 2:22 23,172 49–30 W1 47th All-Star Game in Philadelphia, PA 83 July 15 (1) 5:00 p.m. CDT Red Sox W 12–5 Leonard (10–3) Pole (4–5) — 2:32 — 52–31 W1 84 July 15 (2) 8:07 p.m. CDT Red Sox L 1–2 Jones (3–0) Bird (9–2) Willoughby (4) 2:12 24,720 52–32 L1 85 July 16 (1) 5:00 p.m. CDT Red Sox W 5–1 Splittorff (10–6) Murphy (2–4) — 2:04 — 53–32 W1 86 July 16 (2) 7:39 p.m. CDT Red Sox W 2–1 Fitzmorris (11–5) Wise (7–7) — 2:25 35,600 54–32 W2 87 July 17 2:15 p.m. CDT Red Sox W 2–1 Littell (6–3) Tiant (10–7) — 2:39 24,411 55–32 W3 88 July 18 1:30 p.m. CDT Red Sox W 6–3 Pattin (3–8) Cleveland (4–5) — 2:34 29,267 56–32 W4 89 July 19 7:30 p.m. CDT Orioles L 3–4 Palmer (13–8) Leonard (10–4) Martinez (6) 2:30 39,355 56–33 L1 90 July 20 7:30 p.m. CDT Orioles L 3–10 Garland (12–1) Bird (9–3) — 2:29 16,145 56–34 L2 91 July 21 7:30 p.m. CDT Brewers L 0–5 Travers (11–7) Fitzmorris (11–6) Frisella (5) 2:24 15,445 56–35 L3 92 July 22 7:30 p.m. CDT Brewers W 3–1 Splittorff (11–6) Colborn (6–11) Littell (9) 2:20 16,133 57–35 W1 93 July 23 10:00 p.m. CDT @ Athletics L 0–2 Blue (8–9) Pattin (3–9) — 2:25 9,173 57–36 L1 94 July 24 3:30 p.m. CDT @ Athletics W 6–5 Leonard (11–4) Todd (6–8) Mingori (9) 3:14 42,592 58–36 W1 95 July 25 3:30 p.m. CDT @ Athletics L 2–9 Abbott (2–2) Bird (9–4) — 2:23 10,237 58–37 L1 96 July 26 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Angels W 4–0 Fitzmorris (12–6) Ryan (7–13) – 2:32 18,753 59–37 W1 97 July 27 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Angels L 1–2 Tanana (12–7) Splittorff (11–7) – 2:02 8,342 59–38 L1 98 July 28 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Angels W 3–2 (15) Gura (1–0) Kirkwood (4–8) – 4:04 9,947 60–38 W1 99 July 30 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers W 2–1 Leonard (11–5) Briles (7–7) Littell (10) 2:48 28,411 61–38 W2 100 July 31 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers L 2–4 Blyleven (8–12) Fitzmorris (12–7) – 2:41 35,786 61–39 L1
August: 17–14 (Home: 8–5; Away: 9–9) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 101 August 1 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers L 4–8 Perry (10–8) Hassler (0–7) – 3:15 24,732 61–40 L2 102 August 3 7:30 p.m. CDT Twins W 7–1 Pattin (4–9) Bane (4–3) — 2:28 16,939 62–40 W1 103 August 4 7:30 p.m. CDT Twins W 4–2 Fitzmorris (13–7) Goltz (9–10) Littell (11) 2:32 15,932 63–40 W2 104 August 5 7:30 p.m. CDT Twins W 6–4 Leonard (12–4) Singer (8–8) Mingori (10) 2:44 14,544 64–40 W3 105 (1) August 6 5:30 p.m. CDT @ White Sox W 9–2 Hassler (1–7) B. Johnson (9–10) – 2:29 – 65–40 W4 106 (2) August 6 8:34 p.m. CDT @ White Sox W 8–3 Bird (10–4) Gossage (6–11) – 2:00 13,824 66–40 W5 107 August 7 7:00 p.m. CDT @ White Sox L 3–5 Barrios (3–4) Mingori (3–2) – 2:16 30,382 66–41 L1 108 (1) August 8 12:30 p.m. CDT @ White Sox L 2–5 Forster (2–8) Pattin (4–10) Gossage (1) 2:55 – 66–42 L2 109 (2) August 8 4:00 p.m. CDT @ White Sox W 7–1 Fitzmorris (14–7) Jefferson (2–5) – 2:31 15,997 67–42 W1 110 August 9 7:30 p.m. CDT Yankees W 8–2 Leonard (13–4) Holtzman (9–8) — 2:10 40,435 68–42 W2 111 August 10 7:30 p.m. CDT Yankees L 1–2 (11) Ellis (12–6) Mingori (3–3) Lyle (19) 2:46 25,173 68–43 L1 112 August 11 7:30 p.m. CDT Yankees L 3–5 Alexander (7–8) Bird (10–5) Lyle (20) 2:19 23,394 68–44 L2 116 August 16 7:30 p.m. CDT Indians W 6–1 Pattin (5–10) Brown (7–8) – 2:08 18,797 71–45 W3 117 August 17 7:30 p.m. CDT Indians W 4–3 (10) Littell (7–3) LaRoche (1–4) – 3:09 14,836 72–45 W4 118 August 18 7:30 p.m. CDT Indians L 1–4 Eckersley (8–10) Fitzmorris (14–9) Kern (11) 2:44 15,095 72–46 L1 119 August 19 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Brewers L 4–6 Augustine (6–8) Leonard (15–5) Frisella (8) 2:39 10,554 72–47 L2 120 August 20 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Brewers W 3–0 Hassler (3–7) Travers (14–10) – 2:19 15,043 73–47 W1 121 August 21 1:30 p.m. CDT @ Brewers W 6–2 Pattin (6–10) Colborn (7–13) Littell (12) 2:50 17,725 74–47 W2 122 August 22 1:20 p.m. CDT @ Brewers W 7–4 Bird (11–5) Frisella (4–2) Littell (13) 2:30 16,596 75–47 W3 123 August 23 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Indians L 3–4 Eckersley (9–10) Mingori (3–4) – 2:35 9,581 75–48 L1 124 August 24 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Indians L 1–2 Rick Waits (6–5) Leonard (15–6) – 2:10 6,615 75–49 L2 125 August 25 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Indians W 2–1 Hassler (4–7) Kern (8–7) Littell (14) 2:55 7,113 76–49 W1 126 August 26 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Red Sox W 7–6 (15) Bruno (1–0) Willoughby (2–11) — 4:46 24,199 77–49 W2 127 August 27 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Red Sox L 4–9 Jenkins (12–11) Bird (11–6) — 2:33 24,940 77–50 L1 128 August 28 1:00 p.m. CDT @ Red Sox W 8–3 Fitzmorris (15–9) Lee (2–5) Littell (15) 3:16 27,058 78–50 W1 129 August 29 1:00 p.m. CDT @ Red Sox L 6–15 Wise (10–10) Leonard (15–7) — 2:50 26,747 78–51 L1 130 August 30 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Orioles L 2–3 May (11–9) Hassler (5–7) — 2:29 6,249 78–52 L2 131 August 31 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Orioles L 3–4 Palmer (19–11) Pattin (6–11) Miller (6) 2:49 8,661 78–53 L3
September: 12–16 (Home: 6–7; Away: 6–9) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 132 September 1 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Orioles L 1–7 Flanagan (1–4) Bird (11–7) — 2:30 8,007 78–54 L4 133 September 3 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers L 1–4 Boggs (1–4) Fitzmorris (15–10) – 2:54 17,748 78–55 L5 134 September 4 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers W 7–0 Leonard (16–7) Umbarger (9–11) – 2:18 31,541 79–55 W1 135 September 5 1:30 p.m. CDT Rangers L 1–3 Blyleven (11–15) Hassler (5–8) – 2:36 22,025 79–56 L1 136 September 6 7:30 p.m. CDT Rangers L 4–5 Hargan (6–6) Bird (11–8) Hoerner (7) 2:41 27,008 79–57 L2 137 September 7 7:30 p.m. CDT Angels L 1–2 Kirkwood (6–10) Pattin (6–12) – 2:26 9,225 79–58 L3 138 September 8 7:30 p.m. CDT Angels L 0–2 Drago (6–7) Fitzmorris (15–11) – 3:07 11,939 79–59 L4 139 September 9 7:30 p.m. CDT Angels W 6–5 (10) Mingori (4–4) Overy (0–2) – 3:03 10,897 80–59 W1 140 September 10 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Twins L 3–18 Hughes (8–12) Hassler (4–10) — 3:37 8,912 80–60 L1 141 September 11 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Twins W 8–6 Littell (8–3) Campbell (15–5) — 2:29 8,955 81–60 W! 142 September 12 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Twins W 16–6 Pattin (7–12) Redfern (5–8) — 2:51 8,101 82–60 W2 143 (1) September 13 5:30 p.m. CDT @ White Sox L 3–4 Knapp (3–1) Leonard (16–8) Hamilton (10) 2:33 – 82–61 L1 144 (2) September 13 8:38 p.m. CDT @ White Sox L 4–5 Brett (10–9) Mingori (4–5) – 2:31 5,327 82–62 L2 145 September 14 7:30 p.m. CDT @ White Sox W 2–1 Hassler (5–10) Forster (2–11) – 2:08 2,762 83–62 W1 146 September 15 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Angels L 1–2 Ryan (14–17) Bird (11–9) – 2:22 6,350 83–63 L1 147 September 16 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Angels W 2–0 Pattin (8–12) Tanana (16–10) – 2:25 7,440 84–63 W1 148 September 17 7:30 p.m. CDT White Sox W 3–2 Leonard (17–8) Gossage (9–15) – 2:38 15,087 85–63 W2 149 September 18 7:30 p.m. CDT White Sox W 6–5 Gura (2–0) Brett (10–10) – 2:35 24,955 86–63 W3 150 September 19 1:30 p.m. CDT White Sox W 6–5 Mingori (5–5) Forster (2–12) – 2:43 39,797 87–63 W4 151 September 21 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics W 3–1 Bird (12–9) Bahnsen (8–7) — 2:30 28,869 88–63 W1 152 September 22 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics L 1–11 Blue (17–12) Pattin (8–13) — 2:21 36,064 88–64 L1 153 September 23 7:30 p.m. CDT Athletics L 1–8 Torrez (15–11) Leonard (17–9) — 3:01 34,077 88–65 L2 154 September 24 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Rangers W 2–1 (14) Gura (3–0) Foucault (8–8) Littell (16) 4:35 6,949 89–65 W1 155 September 25 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Rangers L 0–1 Blyleven (13–16) Hassler (5–11) – 2:12 9,001 89–66 L1 156 September 26 2:00 p.m. CDT @ Rangers L 1–3 Briles (11–9) Bird (12–10) Hargan (1) 2:53 4,650 89–67 L2 157 September 27 10:00 p.m. CDT @ Athletics L 3–8 Blue (18–12) Leonard (17–10) — 3:08 37,914 89–68 L3 158 September 28 10:00 p.m. CDT @ Athletics L 0–1 Torrez (16–11) Pattin (8–14) — 2:05 9,464 89–69 L4 159 September 29 10:00 p.m. CDT @ Athletics W 4–0 Gura (4–9) Mitchell (9–7) — 2:15 19,631 90–69 W1
October: 0–3 (Home: 0–3; Away: 0–0) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 160 October 1 7:30 p.m. CDT Twins L 3–4 Campbell (17–5) Littell (8–4) — 2:46 38,482 90–70 L1 161 October 2 1:30 p.m. CDT Twins L 2–3 Singer (13–10) Hassler (5–12) Campbell (20) 2:06 14,087 90–71 L2 162 October 3 1:30 p.m. CDT Twins L 3–5 Hughes (9–14) Splittorff (11–8) — 2:15 15,665 90–72 L3
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement Bold = Royals team member

Postseason Game log

1976 Postseason game log: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Away: 1–2)
AL Championship Series: vs. New York Yankees 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Away: 1–2) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/ Streak 1 October 9 12 Noon CDT Yankees L 1–4 Hunter (1–0) Gura (0–1) — 2:09 41,077 NYY 1–0 L1 2 October 10 7:15 p.m. CDT Yankees W 7–3 Splittorff (1–0) Figueroa (0–1) — 2:45 41,091 Tied 1–1 W1 3 October 12 7:15 p.m. CDT @ Yankees L 3–5 Ellis (1–0) Hassler (0–1) Lyle (1) 3:00 56,808 NYY 2–1 L1 4 October 13 2:15 p.m. CDT @ Yankees W 7–4 Bird (1–0) Hunter (1–1) Mingori (1) 2:50 56,355 Tied 2–2 W1 5 October 14 7:15 p.m. CDT @ Yankees L 6–7 Tidrow (1–0) Littell (0–1) — 3:13 56,821 NYY 3–2 L1
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement Bold = Royals team member

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

= Indicates league leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Buck Martinez	95	267	61	.228	5	34
1B	John Mayberry	161*	594	138	.232	13	95
2B	Frank White	152	446	102	.229	2	46
3B	George Brett	159	645	215	.333	7	67
SS	Freddie Patek	144	432	104	.241	1	43
LF	Tom Poquette	104	344	104	.302	2	34
CF	Amos Otis	153	592	165	.279	18	86
RF	Al Cowens	152	581	154	.265	3	59
DH	Hal McRae	149	527	175	.332	8	73

• Tied with Rusty Staub (Detroit) and Robin Yount (Milwaukee) for league lead

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Jim Wohlford	107	293	73	.249	1	24
Bob Stinson	79	209	55	.263	2	25
Dave Nelson	78	153	36	.235	1	17
Cookie Rojas	63	132	32	.242	0	16
Jamie Quirk	64	114	28	.246	1	15
Tony Solaita	31	68	16	.235	0	9
Ruppert Jones	28	51	11	.216	1	7
John Wathan	27	42	12	.286	0	5
Fran Healy	8	24	3	.125	0	1
Tommy Davis	8	19	5	.263	0	0
Willie Wilson	12	6	1	.167	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Dennis Leonard	35	259.0	17	10	3.51	150
Al Fitzmorris	35	220.1	15	11	3.06	80
Paul Splittorff	26	158.2	11	8	3.97	59
Andy Hassler	19	99.2	5	6	2.89	45
Steve Busby	13	71.2	3	3	4.40	29

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Doug Bird	39	197.2	12	10	3.37	107
Marty Pattin	44	141.0	8	14	2.49	65

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Mark Littell	60	8	4	16	2.08	92
Steve Mingori	55	5	5	10	2.32	38
Tom Hall	31	1	1	1	4.45	25
Larry Gura	20	4	0	1	2.30	22
Tom Bruno	12	1	0	0	6.75	11
Bob McClure	8	0	0	0	9.00	3
Jerry Cram	4	0	0	0	6.23	2
Roger Nelson	3	0	0	0	2.08	4
Ray Sadecki	3	0	0	0	0.00	1
Ken Sanders	3	0	0	0	0.00	2

ALCS

Main article: 1976 American League Championship Series

Game 1

October 9, 1976, at Royals Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	12	0
Kansas City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	2
W: Catfish Hunter (1–0)   L: Larry Gura (0–1)
HR: None

Game 2

October 10, 1976, at Royals Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	12	5
Kansas City	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	7	9	0
W: Paul Splittorff (1–0)   L: Ed Figueroa (0–1)
HR: None

Game 3

October 12, 1976, at Yankee Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	6	0
New York	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	0	X	5	9	0
W: Dock Ellis (1–0)   L: Andy Hassler (0–1)   S: Sparky Lyle (1)
HR: NYY: – Chris Chambliss (1)

Game 4

October 13, 1976, at Yankee Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	0	3	0	2	0	1	0	1	0	7	9	1
New York	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	11	0
W: Doug Bird (1–0)   L: Catfish Hunter (1–1)   S: Steve Mingori (1)
HR: NYY: – Graig Nettles 2 (2)

Game 5

October 14, 1976, at Yankee Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	6	11	1
New York	2	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	1	7	11	1
W: Dick Tidrow (1–0)   L: Mark Littell (0–1)
HR: KCR: – John Mayberry (1), George Brett (1)   NYY: – Chris Chambliss (2)

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Omaha Royals	American Association	Billy Gardner
AA	Jacksonville Suns	Southern League	Bill Scripture
A	Waterloo Royals	Midwest League	John Sullivan
Rookie	GCL Royals	Gulf Coast League	José Martínez

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Waterloo