In the mid-1970’s it was expected that Steve Busby would have an incredible career and for a couple of seasons that was certainly the case.  In his rookie year, Busby won 16 Games and was a 22 Game winner in his second season (1974) and would go to his first of two straight All-Star Games.   1975 would see Busby net 18 Wins and at this point, it was believed that Steve Busby was considered one of the top ten Pitchers in the American League. 

Johnny Damon will always be best known for his run with the Boston Red Sox where he helped them win their first World Series in decades, but his star began as a member of the Kansas City Royals.

Darrell Porter joined the Kansas City organization in December 1976 via a significant trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, a transaction that sent Jamie Quirk and Jim Wohlford to the Cream City in exchange for the left-handed-hitting backstop. After several seasons of unfulfilled potential in Milwaukee, he arrived in Kansas City and immediately evolved into one of the better offensive catchers in the American League.

After taking over the starting role in 1977, he demonstrated a specialized ability to drive the ball while maintaining an elite eye for the strike zone. He surged into the spotlight in 1978, recording 18 home runs and finishing tenth in the MVP voting, providing the steady-state production needed to secure back-to-back AL West titles. This period of rapid growth served as the essential lead-in to his historic 1979 campaign, showing the organization that he was a foundational superstar who could anchor the heart of the order alongside George Brett.

In the summer of 1979, he became a statistical titan, posting career highs of 20 home runs, 112 RBIs, and a league-leading 121 walks. He demonstrated a specialized ability to manufacture runs, becoming only the second catcher in American League history, joining the legendary Mickey Cochrane, to record 100 runs, 100 RBIs, and 100 walks in a single season. He showed the organization that he was a foundational winner by finishing ninth in the MVP voting and earning his second of three consecutive All-Star selections as a Royal.

He left the club following the 1980 season, signing a landmark contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. However, his story was also defined by immense personal courage; in early 1980, Porter became one of the first professional athletes to publicly address his struggles with substance abuse, checking himself into a rehabilitation facility during spring training. He passed away in 2002.

As a Royal, Porter compiled 492 hits, 290 runs scored, and three All-Star selections.

Larry Gura joined the Kansas City organization in mid-1976 via a trade with the New York Yankees, a transaction that sent reserve catcher Fran Healy to the Bronx. While he had struggled to find a permanent role in Chicago or New York, the move to Missouri unlocked a dormant potential in the southpaw.

The climb toward Gura’s peak in the late 1970s was a study in tactical reinvention and high-frequency reliability. After bouncing between the bullpen and the rotation during his first two years in Kansas City, he demonstrated a specialized ability to neutralize the powerhouse hitters of the American League East. He surged into the spotlight in 1978, recording a 16-4 record and finishing seventh in the Cy Young voting. This period of rapid growth served as the essential lead-in to his postseason heroics, showing the organization that he was a foundational big-game performer by finally vanquishing his former team, the Yankees, in the 1978 ALCS.

Gura’s journey reached a historic peak of efficiency and individual recognition during the 1980 campaign. That summer, he evolved into the tactical anchor of the Royals’ rotation, recording an 18-10 record and earning his first All-Star selection. He showed the organization that he was a foundational winner by finishing sixth in the Cy Young voting and leading the club back to the postseason. He possessed a quality that saw him pitch 283.1 innings that year, providing the steady-state production required to lead Kansas City to its first-ever World Series appearance. He famously reprised his role as the "Yankee-Killer" during the 1980 ALCS, delivering a masterful performance that helped exorcise the franchise’s postseason demons against New York.

Between 1978 and 1982, Gura was a statistical standout, recording five consecutive seasons with at least 12 wins and three top-ten finishes in the Cy Young voting.  Gura struggled during the 1985 season, leading to his release, but was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1992.

With Kansas City, Gura compiled a 111-78 record and 631 strikeouts.