The 1973 Kansas City Royals season was their fifth in Major League Baseball and first in the new Royals Stadium. Promoted from Triple-A Omaha, Jack McKeon replaced the fired Bob Lemon as manager and the Royals finished second in the American League West in with a record of 88âÂÂ74, six games behind the Oakland A's.
The 88 wins were the most in the franchise's brief history, five more than in 1971. Lefthander Paul Splittorff (20âÂÂ11) became the first Royal to win twenty games in a season.
The Royals opened the new Royals Stadium with a 12âÂÂ1 rout of the Texas Rangers on April 10. The Tuesday night game was attended by 39,464 braving cool temperatures; at first pitch.
On April 27, Steve Busby threw the first no-hitter in Royals history, as visiting KC shut out Detroit 3âÂÂ0 at Tiger Stadium.
At Royals Stadium on May 15, Nolan Ryan of the California Angels threw the first no-hitter of his career.
On August 2, George Brett made his major league debut, starting at third base and hitting a single in a 3âÂÂ1 road win over the`Chicago White Sox.
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
<small>LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Kingsport, Billings</small>