Where the Royals have stood on Sept. 1 since 1985
Rarely since their last playoff appearance in 1985 have the Royals played meaningful baseball in September. Usually when summer turns to autumn, the team has been fighting to avoid last place — and often failing in that task. Even in 1985, the Royals didn’t enter September in first place. The last time that happened was 1982, and the team got chased down by the Angels. It’s taken more than three decades, but the Royals are back on top of their division entering baseball’s home stretch.
Year | Result on Aug. 31 | Record entering Sept. 1 | Place in division | Sept/Oct. record | Final record, finish | Comment |
1985 | at Rangers 6, Royals 4 | 69-57 | 2nd | 22-14 | 91-71, 1st | We all know what happened next |
1986 | Royals 6, Brewers 1 | 60-70 | 3rd | 16-16 | 76-86, 3rd | Who knew drought would start here? |
1987 | at White Sox 5, Royals 3 | 65-66 | 4th | 18-13 | 83-79, 2nd | Won nine of last 11 but couldn’t catch Twins |
1988 | Royals 1, Indians 0 | 70-62 | 3rd | 14-15 | 84-77, 3rd | A’s ran away with division |
1989 | Royals 3, Tigers 0 | 78-55 | 2nd | 14-15 | 92-70, 2nd | Tied for baseball’s third-best record |
1990 | at Mariners 5, Royals 2 | 65-66 | 5th | 10-20 | 75-86, 6th | Worst final record since 1970 |
1991 | Royals 3, at Rangers 2 | 67-61 | 4th | 15-19 | 82-80, 6th | Rebound year but never in the race |
1992 | Royals 5, Rangers 2 | 59-71 | 5th | 13-19 | 72-90, 5th | Never dug out of 1-16 start |
1993 | Royals 6, at Brewers 5 | 69-64 | 3rd | 15-14 | 84-78, 3rd | In first as late as July 6 in Brett’s final year |
1994 | Strike ended games on Aug. 31 | 64-51, 3rd | ||||
1995 | Royals 7, Brewers 6 | 58-56 | 2nd | 12-18 | 70-74, 2nd | One back in first wild-card race on Sept. 1 |
1996 | Royals 3, at Tigers 1 | 62-75 | 5th | 13-11 | 75-86, 5th | One of many youth movements begins |
1997 | Cardnials 5, Royals 4 | 55-78 | 5th | 12-16 | 67-94, 5th | First year of interleague play |
1998 | Did not play on Aug. 31 | 64-73 | 2nd | 8-16 | 72-89, 3rd | Early swoon (16-31) starts to become habit |
1999 | at Red Sox 6, Royals 3 | 51-81 | 5th | 13-16 | 64-97, 4th | Beltran’s Rookie of Year season can’t stop slide |
2000 | at Devil Rays 2, Royals 1 | 62-71 | 4th | 15-14 | 77-85, 4th | Set many offensive records, but little pitching |
2001 | Rangers 7, Royals 2 | 54-81 | 5th | 11-16 | 65-97, 5th | Sweeney’s terrific run wasted on losing teams |
2002 | Royals 4, Mariners 2 | 55-81 | 4th | 7-19 | 62-100, 4th | Franchise’s first 100-loss season |
2003 | Angels 7, Royals 4 | 70-64 | 2nd | 13-15 | 83-79, 3rd | Spent 107 calendar days in first, none after Aug. 29 |
2004 | Royals 9, Tigers 8 | 46-85 | 5th | 12-19 | 58-104, 5th | 2004 proved 2003 was abberation |
2005 | Royals 1, Twins 0 | 43-88 | 5th | 13-18 | 56-106, 5th | Franchise record for futility |
2006 | at Twins 3, Royals 1 | 49-86 | 5th | 13-14 | 62-100, 5th | Dayton Moore was hired in June |
2007 | Royals 9-0, at Twins 4-5 | 60-74 | 4th | 9-19 | 69-93, 5th | First season for Gordon, Butler, Hochevar |
2008 | at Tigers 4, Royals 2 | 57-79 | 5th | 18-8 | 75-87, 4th | Late run was false hope |
2009 | at A’s 8, Royals 5 | 50-81 | 5th | 15-16 | 65-97, 4th | Zack Greinke’s Cy Young all that Royals won |
2010 | Royals 10, Rangers 9 | 56-76 | 4th | 11-19 | 67-95, 5th | Yost hired, Gordon moves from third to left |
2011 | at Tigers 5, Royals 4 | 56-81 | 5th | 15-10 | 71-91, 4th | More patience asked of restless fanbase |
2012 | Did not play Aug. 31 | 59-71 | 3rd | 13-19 | 72-90, 3rd | “Our Time” was a bit premature |
2013 | at Blue Jays 4, Royals 2 | 69-66 | 3rd | 17-10 | 86-76, 3rd | Stayed in wild-card chase until final week |
2014 | Royals vs. Indians |
| Blair Kerkhoff, bkerkhoff@kcstar.com