Memphis Grizzlies

None yet.
. Hubie Brown (Retired: Induction in 2005). ** Owner. The Grizzlies, however, were once again swept in 4 games in the first round; this time by the Phoenix Suns. * Manager. The Grizzlies improved and advanced to the postseason for the second consecutive season. After Bell's hiring, Schaefer was moved back to the bench coach position.

At the time the Grizzlies had a losing record and West brought in TNT analyst and former coach, Mike Fratello as Hubie's replacement. Schaefer would end up having a 5-12 record in 17 games managed. In the 2004-05 season Hubie Brown stepped down as head coach citing health reasons. 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. The Grizzlies made the NBA playoffs for the first time in team history in the spring of 2004 as the sixth seed in the West, but lost in 4 games to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round. After a disappointing start for the second straight season, Tony Peña resigned May 10, 2005 as manager after a 8-25 record. During the 2002-03 season Hubie Brown was named coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, and won the NBA Coach of the Year Award in the next season. 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.

West received the 2003-2004 NBA Executive of the Year Award. 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. The team named Jerry West as general manager of the team in 2002. 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. The team relocated to Memphis for the 2001-2002 season. 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 fact that he was an American from suburban Chicago always fueled those suspicions. 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.

Many people believe that Michael Heisley had purchased the team with the sole intent to move the franchise. 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. In 2001, despite earlier promises from owner Michael Heisley to remain in Vancouver, he moved the franchise to Memphis, ending Vancouver's six-year experiment with professional basketball. 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. The fact that the Grizzlies were not competitive didn't help matters. Howser's #10 soon became the first number that the Royals ever retired. Ownership of the team was transferred a few times, but nothing could stem the tide. But sadly on June 17, 1987, Dick Howser passed away after a year long battle with brain cancer.

After the NBA lockout, the attendance numbers at Grizzlies games began to drop, and the team began losing money. The Royals wound up finishing only two games behind the eventual World Champion Minnesota Twins in the Western Division. In the lockout-shortened season, the Grizzlies would only win 8 games. The Royals won 83 out of 162 games (a seven win improvement from 1986). However the 1998-1999 season would bring the Grizzlies back to last place, despite drafting guard Mike Bibby with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft during the offseason. 1987 proved to be a rather bittersweet season for the Royals. In 1997, the Grizzlies drafted Antonio Daniels with the 4th pick who was largely seen as a bust but the team saw some improvement as it finished in 6th place. Louis Cardinals in the so-called I-70 Series in seven games.

Despite his solid play, the Grizzlies continued to struggle, again having the worst record in the NBA. 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. In 1996, the Grizzlies would draft Shareef Abdur-Rahim as the 3rd overall pick. The youth movement paid off more quickly than expected. The first season for the Grizzlies was typical for an expansion team, and they finished with the worst record in the NBA that year. 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. The Grizzlies were initially composed of players taken from other teams via an expansion draft, and were joined by the Grizzlies first draft pick: Bryant Reeves. 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.

Both teams were symbols of the NBA's growth, and were the first NBA teams to play in Canada, since 1946-47's Toronto Huskies. 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. The Vancouver Grizzlies inaugurated in the NBA in 1995 alongside the Toronto Raptors. In 1983, the Royals were headed for a second-place finish behind the Chicago White Sox when they were rocked by a drug scandal. The President of Basketball Operations is former Los Angeles Laker and Hall of Famer Jerry West. That same year, Brett flirted with a .400 batting average and won his second batting title. The current head coach is Mike Fratello, replacing Hubie Brown (who resigned in November 2004); the team is owned by Michael Heisley. The Royals (led by manager Jim Frey) made their first World Series appearance in 1980, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.

The Memphis Grizzlies are a National Basketball Association team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Royals quickly became successful, winning three straight division championships from 1976 to 1978 under manager Whitey Herzog. Lorenzen Wright. 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. Shane Battier. In 1973, the Royals moved from Kansas City Municipal Stadium to brand-new Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium). Mike Miller. In 1971, the Royals had their first winning season, with manager Bob Lemon guiding them to a second-place finish.

James Posey. Early Royals stars included 1969 Rookie of the Year Lou Piniella, Amos Otis, Paul Splittorff, Cookie Rojas and Hal McRae. Jason Williams. 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. Bonzi Wells. They are in the Central Division of the American League. Pau Gasol. The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Michael Dickerson. Arizona Royals
Idaho Falls Chukars. Bryant "Big Country" Reeves. High Desert Mavericks
Burlington Bees. Hubie Brown (former coach). Wichita Wranglers. Mike Bibby. Omaha Royals.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim. American League
. Pitching saves Jeff Montgomery and Dan Quisenberry, 45 (1993 and 1983). Pitching ERA: Roger Nelson, 2.08 (1972). Pitching strikeouts: Dennis Leonard, 244 (1977).

Pitching wins: Bret Saberhagen, 23 (1989). Strikeouts: Bo Jackson, 172 (1989). Walks: John Mayberry, 122 (1973). Hitting streak: George Brett, 30 games (1980).

Stolen bases: Willie Wilson, 83 (1979). Extra-Base Hits: Hal McRae, 86 (1977). Triples: Willie Wilson, 21 (1985). Doubles: Hal McRae, 54 (1977).

Singles: Willie Wilson, 184 (1980). Hits: Willie Wilson, 230 (1980). Runs: Johnny Damon, 136 (2000). Runs batted in: Mike Sweeney, 144 (2000).

Home runs: Steve Balboni, 36 (1985). Batting average: George Brett, .390 (1980). 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). 20 Frank White.

10 Dick Howser.   5 George Brett. 61 Rubén Rodríguez (bullpen catcher). 17 Luis Silverio (third base).

55 Guy Hansen (pitching). 18 Joe Jones (first base). 49 Brian Poldberg (bullpen). 26 Andre David (hitting).

44 Bob Schaefer (bench/infield instructor). Coaches