Ballpark Milestones
2020
July 31, 2020 - The Royals play their latest home opener in franchise history and for the first time, a home game without any fans. No tickets are sold during the Major League Baseball regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 27, 2020 - Outfielder Alex Gordon leaves the field for the final time as a member of the Royals, after announcing his retirement earlier in the week. The eight-time Gold Glove winner finished his career appearing in 1,753 games with the Royals, including 865 at Kauffman Stadium.
2021
September 29, 2021 - The Royals trailed the Indians 1-0 when they came up in the bottom of the first but took the lead soon after in historic style. Whit Merrifield led off with a double, Nicky Lopez walked, and on the first pitch Salvador Perez saw he smashed a three-run HR over the centerfield wall - it was the 48th HR of the season tying the Royals single season record set by Jorge Soler (2019); even more it was his 27th HR at home during the 2021 season which re-set the Royals record (he had broken the previous record with his 22nd HR at home on September 5, 2021 vs the Chicago White Sox); it was also Salvy's 200th career HR making him only the second player in Royals history to reach that milestone (George Brett - 317). The Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians 10-5 at Kauffman Stadium - it was the 4,000th win in Kansas City Royals franchise history.
2022
April 7, 2022 - Kauffman Stadium hosts its 50th consecutive Royals home opener in Kansas City. the ballpark became one of only six major league ballparks still in use at the time to have welcomed fans for at least fifty consecutive seasons ¨C joining Fenway Park (1912), Wrigley Field (1914), Dodger Stadium (1962), Angel Stadium (1966), and the Oakland Coliseum (1968). In fact, there had been well over 150 ballparks that had been home to a major league ballclub at one time or another during the history of the game ¨C only sixteen of those had been or were ever in continuous service enough to host 50 or more consecutive seasons. The Royals defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 at Kauffman Stadium - it was the first game ever for the Cleveland franchise with their new "Guardians' name.
September 25, 2022 - The Royals sent 14 men to the plate and scored 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth overcoming an 11-2 deficit to take a 13-11 lead - the 11-run frame matched the second most runs scored in an inning in franchise history, trailing only a 12-run sixth inning on June 17, 2003, vs Minnesota (14-7 win). The Royals won 13-12 over the Seattle Mariners to close out their 50th season at Kauffman Stadium and the home portion of the 54th season in Royals history. By overcoming their 11-2 deficit, the Royals matched the largest come from behind victory in club history, first accomplished on June 15, 1979, at Milwaukee, when they trailed 11-2 before rallying to post a 14-11 win. It was the Royals largest ever comeback victory at home.
2023
May 7, 2023
Salvy Passes Sweeney For Second On Royals Home HR List
With two out and the bases empty in the bottom of the first inning, Salvador Perez blasted a HR to get the Royals on the scoreboard first. The HR charted by Statcast at 462 ft was the longest of his career and was also his 101st at Kauffman Stadium breaking a tie with Mike Sweeney for the second most career HRs in the ballpark (trailing only George Brett-136) - for Perez all 101 had come as a member of the Royals; Sweeney registered 99 HRs as a member of the Royals and one as a member of the Seattle Mariners against the Royals. Asked about the HR after the game, Perez wryly said with a smile, ¡°I hit the weight room before the game.¡± Salvy went 3-for-4 and scored three runs in the game as the Royals defeated the Oakland A's 5-1 at Kauffman Stadium.
September 29, 2023
Bobby Goes 30/30 ¨C First Ten Royals Reach Base
The Royals first ten batters in the bottom of the first inning reached base, setting a club record for most consecutive base runners to start a game before an out was recorded - and the first nine of them crossed home plate, one run shy of the Royals first inning scoring record. Bobby Witt ended the Royals scoring with a two-run HR in the seventh. It was his 50th career HR and his 30th of the 2024 season which along with his 49 steals made him the first player in Royals history to have a season with 30 or more HRs and 30 or more stolen bases. The Royals won 12-5 over the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium.