Kansas City Royals

. In 2002, 2003, and 2004 the Braves won their division again, but lost in the NLDS in all three years 3 games to 2, to the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros respectively. ** Owner. In 2001, Atlanta won the National League East division, swept the NLDS against the Houston Astros, then lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS. * Manager. With their strong pitching being a constant, the Braves would also appear in the 1996 and 1999 World Series, and have not failed to win a division title since 1990 as of this writing. Pitching is not the only constant in the Braves organization; as of the end of the 2004 season, Cox is still the Braves' manager and Schuerholz remains the team's GM. After Bell's hiring, Schaefer was moved back to the bench coach position. With this World Series victory, the Braves became the first team in Major League Baseball to win world championships in three different cities.

Schaefer would end up having a 5-12 record in 17 games managed. The Braves would win a World Series in 1995, defeating the Cleveland Indians in six games. The Royals then named bench coach Bob Schaefer interim manager up until May 31, 2005, the day the Royals announced that Buddy Bell would manage for the Royals. In 1993, the Braves signed Cy Young Award winning pitcher Greg Maddux, leading many baseball insiders to declare the pitching staff the best of all-time. After a disappointing start for the second straight season, Tony Peña resigned May 10, 2005 as manager after a 8-25 record. In the 1992 season, the Braves would reach the NLCS again and defeat, once again, in seven games, the Pirates, only to lose in the World Series to a dominating Toronto Blue Jays team. In 2005, the Royals continued their youth movement, with six of their starting position players, three of their five starting pitchers, and their setup man and closer all under age 30 and one of the smallest payrolls in the major leagues. Despite the loss, the Braves' success would continue.

Picked by many to win their division in 2004 after faring surprisingly well in the free agent market, the Royals got off to a disappointing start and by late June were in rebuilding mode, releasing veteran reliever Curt Leskanic before financial incentives kicked in and trading veteran reliever Jason Grimsley and superstar center fielder Carlos Beltrán for prospects, all within a week of each other. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a tightly contested seven-game NLCS only to lose the World Series, also in seven games, to the Minnesota Twins. In 2003, manager Tony Peña, in his first full season with the club, guided the Royals to their first winning record since the strike-shortened 1994 season. Meanwhile, behind position players Dave Justice, Ron Gant and unexpected league Most Valuable Player and batting-average leader Terry Pendleton, the Braves overcame a slow start to go 47-22 over the last three months of the season and win 8 of their last 9, edging the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game in one of baseball history's more memorable playoff races. Escalating salaries made it difficult for the Royals to keep their young stars, and the small-market club usually chose to trade players such as Kevin Appier, Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye, for whatever they could get rather than lose them to free agency. The following season, Glavine, Avery, and Smoltz would be recognized as the best young pitchers in the league, winning 52 games between them. The 1993 death of Ewing Kauffman left the franchise without permanent ownership until Wal-Mart executive David Glass purchased the team for $96 million in 2000. Immediately after the season, John Schuerholz was hired as general manager.

Most of the team's highlights centered around the end of Brett's career, such as his third and final batting title in 1990, which made him the first player to win batting titles in three different decades, and Brett's 3,000th hit. Perhaps the Braves' most important move, however, was not on the field, but in the front office. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Royals developed young stars such as Bo Jackson and Kevin Seitzer and made some free-agent acquisitions but always fell short of their early success. However, pitching coach Leo Mazzone began training young pitchers Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, and John Smoltz. Howser's #10 soon became the first number that the Royals ever retired. Not only was this season a losing effort, the Braves traded Dale Murphy to the Philadelphia Phillies after it was clear he was becoming a less dominant player. But sadly on June 17, 1987, Dick Howser passed away after a year long battle with brain cancer. Bobby Cox was rehired as manager in 1990.

The Royals wound up finishing only two games behind the eventual World Champion Minnesota Twins in the Western Division. Murphy, excelling in defense, hitting, and running, was consistently recognized as one of the league's best players, but the Braves averaged only 65 wins per season between 1985-1990. The Royals won 83 out of 162 games (a seven win improvement from 1986). Murphy also won a Most Valuable Player award the following season, but the Braves began a period of decline that defined the team throughout the 1980s. 1987 proved to be a rather bittersweet season for the Royals. Strong performances from Bob Horner, Chris Chambliss, pitcher Phil Niekro, and short relief pitcher Gene Garber helped the Braves, but no Brave was more acclaimed than Murphy, who won both a Most Valuable Player and a Gold Glove award. Louis Cardinals in the so-called I-70 Series in seven games. Cox was fired after the 1981 season and replaced with Joe Torre, under whose leadership the Braves attained their first divisional title since 1969.

Relying again on Brett's bat and the young pitching of Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza and Danny Jackson, the Royals won their fifth division championship in 1984 (although they were swept by the eventual World Champion Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series) and went all the way to the World Series again in 1985 under manager Dick Howser, beating the cross-state St. However, in 1980, Murphy was moved to center field and demonstrated excellent range and throwing ability, while the Braves earned their first winning season since 1974. The youth movement paid off more quickly than expected. Murphy hit 77 home runs over the next three seasons, but struggled on defense, positioned at either catcher or first base while being unable to adeptly play either. In response to the scandal, owner Ewing Kauffman founded the Ewing Marion Kauffman foundation to give back to the community, allowed Martin to depart via free agency and traded Aikens, retaining only Wilson's services. Cox promoted a 22-year-old slugger named Dale Murphy into the starting lineup. The four were charged in October 1983, pleaded guilty, spent three months in prison (becoming the first active players in sports history to serve a prison sentence) and were suspended by commissioner Bowie Kuhn for the entire 1984 season. The four appealed and were permitted to return on May 15. After three straight losing seasons, Bobby Cox was hired as manager of the franchise for the 1978 season.

Leadoff hitter and center fielder Willie Wilson, power-hitting first baseman Willie Aikens, power-hitting outfielder Jerry Martin, and starting pitcher Vida Blue, who had been released on August 5, were charged with attempting to purchase cocaine. In 1977, Turner appointed himself manager, but was ordered to relinquish that position after one game (the Braves lost). In 1983, the Royals were headed for a second-place finish behind the Chicago White Sox when they were rocked by a drug scandal. Turner quickly gained a reputation as a quirky, hands-on baseball owner. That same year, Brett flirted with a .400 batting average and won his second batting title. In 1976 the team was purchased by media magnate Ted Turner, owner of superstation WTBS. The Royals (led by manager Jim Frey) made their first World Series appearance in 1980, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. On April 4 he hit #714 in Cincinnati, and on April 8, in front of his home fans, he finally beat Ruth's mark.

The Royals quickly became successful, winning three straight division championships from 1976 to 1978 under manager Whitey Herzog. The next season, it was only a matter of time before he set a new record. The stadium, which featured deep outfield walls and artificial turf, gave future stars such as George Brett and Frank White their first break as many of Kansas City's veteran players had difficulty playing on turf. Throughout the winter he received racially motivated death threats, but stood up well under the pressure. In 1973, the Royals moved from Kansas City Municipal Stadium to brand-new Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium). In the relatively hitter friendly confines of Fulton County Stadium ("The Launching Pad"), he actually increased his offensive production, and by the end of the 1973 season had hit 713 home runs, one short of Babe Ruth's record. In 1971, the Royals had their first winning season, with manager Bob Lemon guiding them to a second-place finish. In the mean time, fans had to be satisfied with the achievements of Aaron.

Early Royals stars included 1969 Rookie of the Year Lou Piniella, Amos Otis, Paul Splittorff, Cookie Rojas and Hal McRae. They would not win it again until 1982, under Joe Torre. The Kansas City Royals were purchased as an expansion franchise by pharmaceutical magnate Ewing Kauffman in 1968 and played their first season the following year. A .500 baseball team in the first few years (85-77, 77-85 and 81-81) respectively, they won the 1969 NL West pennant, before being swept by the "Miracle Mets" in the NLCS. They are in the Central Division of the American League. The next year, the Braves were its new residents. The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. Keen to attract them, the City of Atlanta constructed a new ballpark, Fulton County Stadium, officially opened in 1965.

Arizona Royals
Idaho Falls Chukars. By the early 1960s attendance in Milwaukee had dwindled as well, and a new group of owners once again sought relocation. High Desert Mavericks
Burlington Bees. Burdette, the Series MVP, threw three complete game victories, giving up only two earned runs. Wichita Wranglers. In 1957, it culminated in their first World Series win for over 40 years, defeating the New York Yankees of Berra, Mantle and Ford. Omaha Royals. Sluggers Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron drove the offense (they would hit a combined 863 home runs as Braves), whilst Spahn, Lew Burdette and Bob Buhl anchored the rotation.

American League
. As the 1950s the reinvigorated Braves were increasingly competitive. Pitching saves Jeff Montgomery and Dan Quisenberry, 45 (1993 and 1983). Attendances steadily dwindled until, on March 13, 1953, then-owner Lou Perini announced he was moving the team to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Pitching ERA: Roger Nelson, 2.08 (1972). Their two pennants not withstanding, the Braves term in Boston was not a successful time. Pitching strikeouts: Dennis Leonard, 244 (1977). Ironically, in the 1948 season, the Braves actually had a better record in games that Spahn and Sain did not start than in games they did.

Pitching wins: Bret Saberhagen, 23 (1989). The poem received such a wide audience that the sentiment, usually now paraphrased as "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain", entered the baseball vocabulary. Strikeouts: Bo Jackson, 172 (1989). The remainder of the rotation was so thin that in September the Boston Post journalist Gerald Hern characterised them by the poem. Walks: John Mayberry, 122 (1973). In 1948 the team won the pennant, behind the pitching of Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain who won 39 games between them. Hitting streak: George Brett, 30 games (1980). A miraculous season of these proportions has never again been seen in professional sports.

Stolen bases: Willie Wilson, 83 (1979). The team was at the top of the league in both pitching, and hitting, and its leader, Evers, won the Chalmers Award, which is equivalent to today's MVP. Extra-Base Hits: Hal McRae, 86 (1977). The turnaround was complete. Triples: Willie Wilson, 21 (1985). They were now World Champions. Doubles: Hal McRae, 54 (1977). Nevertheless, the Braves dominated the series in every phase, and swept away the favored Athletics.

Singles: Willie Wilson, 184 (1980). The team entered the World Series as a heavy underdog to Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's. Hits: Willie Wilson, 230 (1980). Not only did they finish first, but they ended up 10.5 games up on the second place Giants. Runs: Johnny Damon, 136 (2000). The Braves went 51-16 in the second half of the season, winning 34 of their last 44 games. Runs batted in: Mike Sweeney, 144 (2000). From there came a romp unmatched in baseball history.

Home runs: Steve Balboni, 36 (1985). When the team rallied to sweep the Reds in a doubleheader on July 19th, Stallings declared that the team was playing ball better than any other in the league, and was ready to catch New York. Batting average: George Brett, .390 (1980). At midseason, on July 15th, the team was still in last place, 11.5 games out of first. 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). It had solidified around the phenomenal double-play tandem of Rabbit Maranville and Johnny Evers (of Evers to Tinker to Chance fame), and a strong starting rotation led by Lefty Tyler, Dick Rudolph, and Bill James. 20 Frank White. Slowly, the team began to turn itself around.

10 Dick Howser. The only man left believing was the team's manager, "Miracle Man" George Stallings.   5 George Brett. Everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. 61 Rubén Rodríguez (bullpen catcher). After a dismal 4-18 start to the season, the fanbase was turned off, as it looked like the Braves were headed for another bottom-feeder season. 17 Luis Silverio (third base). None were more remarkable than the mid-season last-to-first transformation of the 1914 "Miracle" Braves.

55 Guy Hansen (pitching). The Boston franchise that became known as the Braves took part in some of baseball's most memorable moments, achievements, and penant races. 18 Joe Jones (first base). They are most recently known for their ongoing record of 13 consecutive division championships (1991-2004, except for the strike-shortened 1994 season), the most in any professional North American sport, while collecting one World Series championship in that time (in 1995, also a strike-shortened season). 49 Brian Poldberg (bullpen). They are in the Eastern Division of the National League. 26 Andre David (hitting). The Atlanta Braves are a Major League Baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

44 Bob Schaefer (bench/infield instructor). Danville Braves
Orlando Braves. Coaches