Whenever anyone brings up Royals’ history, George Brett, Willie Wilson and Hal McRae dominate the conversation. But, righty swinging CF Amos Otis was one of the best players in team history and the numbers prove it. His best year came back in 1978 when he finished 4th in the voting for the A.L. MVP Award. Otis played in 141 games in 1978 and he was 145 for 486 (.298 avg, .905 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 22 homers, 96 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. Otis was a very consistent player both in the field and at the plate. He played in 1,891 games in 14 years with the Royals and he was 1,977 for 7,050 (.280 avg, .780 OPS) with 1,074 runs scored, 193 homers, 992 RBIs and 340 stolen bases. Otis is #3 in Royals’ history in games played with 1,891. He is also #3 in hits (1,977), #2 in runs scored (1,074), #4 in doubles (365), #3 in triples (65), #3 in homers (193), #3 in RBIs (992), #2 in stolen bases (340) and #2 in walks (739) in Royals’ history. Otis made it to five All-Star teams in his 14 years with the Royals and he also won 3 Gold Gloves. When discussing great Royals, don’t forget to bring up Amos Otis.

Righty reliever Jeff Montgomery was not a dominating type closer with a big fastball, but he had enough of an arsenal to be a very solid closer for the Royals. Montgomery’s best season with the Royals came back in 1993 when he made the All-Star team. Montgomery pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Royals in 1993 and he was 7-5 with 45 saves (led A.L.), a 2.27 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He pitched for the Royals for 12 years, working in 686 games (0 starts) in which he was 44-50 with 304 saves, a 3.20 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Montgomery is the Royals’ all-time leader in both saves (304) and games pitched (686). He is also # in ERA (3.20), tied for #3 with Marty Pattin in WHIP (1.23) and he’s #8 in strikeouts (720) in Royals’ history.

Lefty starting pitcher and Royals’ T.V. announcer Paul Splittorff died earlier today from complications due to skin cancer. Splittorff was one of the most consistent starting pitchers the Royals have ever had. His best season was probably in 1978 when he finished 7th in the voting for the A.L. Cy Young Award. Splittorff pitched in 39 games (38 starts) in 1978 and he was 19-13 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. In his 15 years with the Royals, Splittorff did win 20 games in a year, but only once (in 1973). He pitched in 429 games (392 starts) in his 15 years with the Royals and he was 166-143 with 1 save, a 3.81 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Splittorff is the Royals’ all-time leader in wins (166), games started (392) and innings pitched (2,554 2/3). He is also #3 in games pitched (429), #2 in complete games (88), #2 in shutouts (17) and he is #5 in strikeouts (1,057) in Royals’ history. Paul Splittorff might be gone now, but he will live on in Royals’ history forever.

Righty swinging outfielder Bo Jackson was an athletic marvel as he played in Major League Baseball and the NFL during the same time for four years. He played with the Royals during the summer and fall and the Raiders in the winter. Jackson played in 511 games in his five years with the Royals and he was 598 for 2,393 (.250 avg, .784 OPS) with 341 runs scored, 141 homers, 415 RBIs and 82 stolen bases. His best year with the Royals was in 1989 when he made the American League All-Star team. Jackson played in 135 games in 1989 and he was 132 for 515 (.256 avg, .805 OPS) with 86 runs scored, 32 homers, 105 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. He did lead the majors in whiffs in 1989 with 172, but that’s nitpicking. Jackson is still #10 in Royals’ history in homers with 109 of them. Jackson was injured in 1990 with the Raiders and he needed a hip replacement, and that’s when the Royals cut ties with him. He went to to play three more years with the Angels & White Sox.

74-year old Harmon Killebrew is about to hang up his cleats of life. He has entered hospice care and he will die soon of esophageal cancer. Killebrew only played one season with the Royals (1975) and it was the last of his Hall of Fame career. Killebrew played in 106 games for the Royals in 1975 and he was 62 for 312 (.199 avg, .692 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 14 homers, 44 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Despite the poor batting average, Killebrew maintained his power stroke. Killebrew was elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1984. Killebrew wasn’t with the Royals long, but it was nice to have seen him play.