Sports » Latest News
Sports
Posted: Apr 08, 2020 9:52 AMUpdated: Apr 07, 2020 10:52 AM
Today in Oklahoma Sports History - 4/8
Today in Sports History with some Oklahoma Ties… On April 8, 1969, the Kansas City Royals won their first game as a Major League Baseball franchise – A 4-3 victory over Minnesota.
Kansas City was awarded the Royals as an expansion team in 1968, following the move of the Athletics to Oakland. Ewing Kauffman was awarded ownership of the team. Kauffman was a pharmaceutical entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Kansas City area.
The Royals as a franchise have been quite up and down during their 51 years.
KC has consistently fielded some of the worst teams in Major League Baseball since the early 90s. However since 1980, the Royals four American League Pennants and World Series appearances rank third in the American League behind only Boston and the New York Yankees.
KC recently made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015, taking home a world championship in 2015.
There are several Oklahoma ties to the 1969 Royals. Jerry Adair is probably the most prominent. Adair was born in Sand Springs in 1936 and played college baseball at Oklahoma State.
Adair was the No. 51 pick of the 1968 MLB Expansion Draft. At 32-years-old Adair hit .250 with five home runs and 48 RBIs in 126 games.
He was released by KC early in the 1970 season. Adair died at age 50 in Tulsa.
« Back to Sports
