Gulf Coast League Royals

The Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals were a minor league baseball franchise in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League from 1971–1978, 1982–1983 and 1985–2002. The club was owned and operated by the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. The GCL Royals played games at Florida-based minor league and spring training facilities located in Sarasota (through 1987), Baseball City Stadium in Davenport (1988–1992; 1999–2002) and Fort Myers (1993–1998).

Gulf Coast League Royals
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesRookie
Previous leagues
Gulf Coast League
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsKansas City Royals
Minor league titles
League titles (6)
  • 1971
  • 1972
  • 1980*
  • 1981**
  • 1992
  • 1995
*GCL Royals Blue title; **GCL Royals Gold title
Division titles (7)
  • 1987
  • 1988
  • 1992
  • 1994
  • 1995
  • 1997
  • 1999
Team data
Name
  • GCL Royals (1971–1978, 1982–2002)
  • GCL Royals Blue (1979–1981)
  • GCL Royals Gold (1979–1981)
  • GCL Royals Academy (1974)
Previous parks

From 1979–1981, the Royals operated two GCL teams, the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals Blue and Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals Gold, to accommodate a surplus of teenaged players. In 1974, Kansas City also fielded a separate Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals Academy team for members of its experimental Baseball Academy. The Academy team played alongside the GCL Royals; finishing 35–16 in the GCL standings that season, 4½ games ahead of the 29–19 GCL Royals, but the Royals Academy lost the league pennant by percentage points to the GCL Cubs.

In 2003, when the Royals moved their spring training operations to Surprise, Arizona, they simultaneously transferred their Rookie-level affiliate to the Arizona League.

Season-by-season

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Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
GCL Royals (1971–1974)
1971 40–13 1st Buzzy Keller League Champs
No playoffs until 1983
1972 41–22 1st (t) Buzzy Keller Co-Champs
w/ GCL Cubs
1973 27–28 5th Buzzy Keller
1974 29–19 4th Billy Scripture
GCL Royals Academy (1974)
1974 35–16 2nd Billy Goodman
GCL Royals (1975–1978)
1975 31–18 2nd Gary Blaylock
1976 29–25 3rd Jose Martinez
1977 34–19 2nd Billy Scripture
1978 31–24 2nd Jose Martinez
GCL Royals Blue (1979–1981)
1979 24–29 5th Brian Murphy
1980 40–23 1st Joe Jones League Champs
1981 35–28 3rd Joe Jones
GCL Royals Gold (1979–1981)
1979 29–23 3rd Jose Martinez
1980 22–40 9th Roy Tanner
1981 44–20 1st Roy Tanner League Champs
GCL Royals (1982–2002)
1982 28–35 8th Joe Jones
1983 30–31 5th Joe Jones
1985 38–24 3rd (t) Joe Jones
1986 30–33 8th Luis Silverio
1987 40–23 2nd Luis Silverio Lost League Finals
vs. GCL Dodgers (1 game to 0)
1988 39–24 4th Carlos Tosca Lost League Finals
vs. GCL Yankees (1 game to 0)
1989 35–28 6th Carlos Tosca
1990 25–38 12th Carlos Tosca
1991 31–29 5th Bob Herold
1992 41–18 1st Mike Jirschele League Champs
vs. GCL Expos (2 game to 1)
1993 29–30 10th Bob Herold
1994 47–12 1st Bob Herold Lost League Finals
vs. GCL Astros (2 game to 1)
1995 37–20 3rd Bob Herold League Champs
vs. GCL Tigers (2 game to 0)
Won in 1st round
vs. GCL White Sox (1 game to 0)
1996 30–29 8th Al Pedrique
1997 36–24 3rd Al Pedrique Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)
1998 32–28 7th Andre David
1999 33–27 4th Andre David Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Mets (1 game to 0)
2000 20–40 11th Ron Karkovice / Andre David
2001 20–40 13th (t) Lino Diaz
2002 22–38 14th Lloyd Simmons

Notable alumni

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See also

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