The 1977 Royals are considered by many to be the best team in club history and its hard to argue with 102 wins. In fact that team rattled off a Royals record 16-game winning streak from August 31 through September 15, and then after that one loss went on to post eight more consecutive wins for good measure (How about a 24-1 stretch?…Incredible).

On Friday, September 23, 1977 – the 21st win in that run – the Royals clinch their second American League Western Division title with a 7-3 win at Anahaeim. Dennis Leonard picked up his 19th win that night striking out 13 Angels in a five-hit complete game (Naturally a complete game – as Leo set a Royals record with 21 that year…you read that right 21).

The hitting star that night was right-fielder Al Cowens who went 3-5 with three doubles and five RBI. Cowens would go on to finish second in the 1977 American League MVP voting behind Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins.

Just A Bit More: Al Cowens career with the Royals is really quite remarkable when looking back at it years later. Not only did he make a run at the 1977 AL MVP Award, but was named the Royals Player of the Year and won a Gold Glove to top it all off. Not bad for a player taken in the 75th round during Kansas City’s 1969 June Draft. Now that’s a real ‘diamond in the rough’ for that first Royals Scouting Department.

(Curt Nelson, Director – Royals Hall of Fame)