Municipal Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)

(Redirected from Muehlebach Field) Former baseball and football stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Municipal Stadium
Construction
First Athletics home game in 1955
Municipal StadiumLocation in MissouriShow map of MissouriMunicipal StadiumLocation in United StatesShow map of the United States
Former names	Muehlebach Field (1923–1937) Ruppert Stadium (1937–1943) Blues Stadium (1943–1954)
Location	2123 Brooklyn Avenue Kansas City, Missouri
Coordinates	39°05′13″N 94°33′29″W / 39.087°N 94.558°W / 39.087; -94.558
Owner	City of Kansas City
Operator	City of Kansas City
Capacity	17,476 (1923–1955) 30,296 (1955–1961) 34,165 (1961–1969) 34,164 (1969–1971) 35,561 (1971–1972)
Field size	1923 Left Field – 350 ft (107 m) Center F. – 450 ft (137 m) Right Field – 350 ft (107 m) 1972 Left Field – 369 ft (112 m) L. Center – 408 ft (124 m) Center F. – 421 ft (128 m) R. Center – 382 ft (116 m) Right Field – 338 ft (103 m)
Surface	Natural grass
Broke ground	1923
Opened	July 3, 1923 April 12, 1955
Closed	October 4, 1972
Demolished	1976
Construction cost	$400,000
Architect	Osborn Engineering
Main contractors	Del E. Webb Construction Company, 1955
Tenants
Kansas City Blues (AA) (1923–1954) Kansas City Monarchs (NNL / NAL) (1923–1931, 1937–1955) Kansas City Blues / Cowboys (NFL) (1924–1926) Kansas City Athletics (MLB) (1955–1967) Kansas City Chiefs (AFL / NFL) (1963–1971) Kansas City Spurs (NASL) (1968–1969) Kansas City Royals (MLB) (1969–1972)

Kansas City Municipal Stadium was an American baseball and football stadium in the central United States, located in Kansas City, Missouri. It was located at the corner of Brooklyn Avenue and E. 22nd Street.

Municipal Stadium hosted both the minor-league Kansas City Blues of the American Association and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues from 1923 to 1955.

The stadium was almost completely rebuilt prior to the 1955 baseball season when the Kansas City Athletics moved to Kansas City from Philadelphia. The Athletics played from 1955 to 1967, the Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1972, the Kansas City Chiefs (American Football League and National Football League) from 1963 to 1971 and the Kansas City Spurs (North American Soccer League) from 1968 to 1969.

The stadium hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 1960 (first game). In the final football game played there, Municipal Stadium was the site of the longest NFL game in history, a playoff game between the Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day 1971; the Chiefs moved to the new Arrowhead Stadium in 1972. Jackie Robinson played at the stadium for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945 until he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Early stadium history

The stadium opened in 1923 as Muehlebach Field. It was named for George E. Muehlebach ( /ˈmjuːlbɑːk/), who owned the Blues and a number of other Kansas City businesses, including Muehlebach Beer and the Muehlebach Hotel. It was built for the minor-league Blues for $400,000. It served as a replacement for the Blues' previous home, Association Park.

Located in the inner-city neighborhood near 18th and Vine, the stadium first housed the minor-league white Kansas City Blues baseball team and the Negro league Kansas City Monarchs. The first Negro World Series game was held at the stadium in 1924. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, founded in 1990, is a few blocks from the site.

The stadium consisted of a single-decked, mostly covered, grandstand, extending from the right-field foul pole down and around most of the left-field line. When the New York Yankees bought the Blues as its top farm team in 1937, the stadium was renamed Ruppert Stadium in honor of the Yankees' owner, Col. Jacob Ruppert. Ruppert died two years later and the stadium was renamed Blues Stadium in 1943.

Rebuilding for Major League Baseball – 1955

Arnold Johnson, a Chicago real estate magnate, bought both Blues Stadium and Yankee Stadium in 1953. Johnson then bought the Philadelphia Athletics from Connie Mack in November 1954, announcing plans to move the A's from Philadelphia to Kansas City. Johnson then sold Blues Stadium to the city, who renamed it Municipal Stadium and leased it back to the A's.

Muehlebach had anticipated that Kansas City would eventually get a major league team. Accordingly, he designed the stadium with footings that were theoretically strong enough to support a future upper deck. However, when work began on double-decking the stadium for the A's, it was discovered that three decades of harsh Midwestern winters had weakened the footings until they could no longer support the weight of an upper deck. City officials elected to completely demolish the stadium and rebuild them from scratch. The city ran three shifts and the new stadium was built in 90 days, faithful to the original design, completed in time for the 1955 season opener. The new construction was financed by a bond issuance. The expanded stadium was supposed to seat 38,000, but cost overruns as a result of overtime payments forced officials to reduce capacity to just over 30,000. The Braves Field scoreboard in Boston was purchased for $100,000 and moved from Boston to Kansas City, while temporary bleachers were added in the left field corner and parts of the outfield.

On opening day 1955, former President Harry S Truman, a resident of nearby Independence, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Connie Mack and legendary A's player Jimmie Foxx were also in attendance. The A's defeated the Detroit Tigers, 8–2.

The baseball field was aligned northeast (home plate to center field) at an approximate elevation of 900 feet (270 m) above sea level.

Pre-1955 teams

Kansas City Monarchs

From 1923 to 1955, the stadium was also home to the Negro leagues' longest-running team, the Kansas City Monarchs. The Monarchs won 11 league championships before integration (1923–25, 1929, 1931 in the NNL; 1937–40, 1942, 1946 in the NAL). They appeared in four Negro World Series. They won the first Series in 1924 and lost the second in 1925. They won the 1942 Negro World Series, and lost the 1946 Series.

Many noteworthy players played for the Monarchs at Muelbach Field. The legendary Buck O'Neil played 10 seasons for the Monarchs.

Hall of Famers Bullet Rogan, J. L. Wilkinson, José Méndez, Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith, and Willard Brown all played for the Monarchs. Other Hall of Famers who spent a season or more with the Monarchs include: Cristóbal Torriente, Andy Cooper, Turkey Stearnes, Cool Papa Bell, Bill Foster, Willie Wells, Ernie Banks, and the legendary Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson

After being discharged from the United States Army, Jackie Robinson signed with the Monarchs for the 1945 season. He played shortstop and was selected to play in the East-West All-Star game. While playing for the Monarchs, Robinson was scouted by the Dodgers' Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson on October 23, 1945. Robinson broke the color barrier in the Major Leagues on April 15, 1947.

Kansas City Blues – Minor League

The Kansas City Blues were one of the eight founding members of the American Association. The franchise existed in its entirety from 1888 to 1954, and was an original tenant of Municipal Stadium. The franchise was a top-level farm team for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees. The franchise was an AA team (1923–1945) and then an AAA team (1946–54). The city's longtime support of the Blues played a major role in helping it land a Major League Baseball team.

As one of the Yankees' top farm teams (sharing that status with the Newark Bears for much of the time) the Blues had many great players and successes. The 1939 Blues have been called one of the greatest minor league teams of all time. That team was led by Hall of Fame player (and future Yankee Announcer) Phil Rizzuto and Vince Dimaggio, who hit 46 home runs.

A young Mickey Mantle hit .361 with 11 HR for the Blues in 1951.

Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Ralph Houk, Al Rosen, Billy Martin, Bill Virdon, Johnny Mize and Elston Howard were some of the players in the Yankees farm era who played for the Blues. There were about 580 Blues players who went on to the Major Leagues.

Major League Baseball

Kansas City Athletics

The stadium was home to many of the shenanigans of Charlie Finley, who bought the A's after Arnold Johnson's death in 1960. Most notably, he tried to shorten the rather distant fences in April 1964 by creating a 296 feet (90 m) Pennant Porch in right field, fronting a tiny bleacher section, to mock the famed short fence in right field at Yankee Stadium, home of the powerful Yankees. The move was quickly vetoed by the league, so Finley rebuilt the fence to the bare legal minimum of 325 feet (99 m), and repainted the fence to say "One-Half Pennant Porch". Later he tried the ruse of putting a canopy over the little bleacher, which just happened to have an extension that reached out 29 feet (9 m) over the field. The league, not amused by Finley's sense of humor, again ordered him to cease and desist. According to legend, on a road trip that the A's made to New York, a Yankee hitter lofted a long fly ball to left field which, in the cavernous left field of Yankee Stadium, became a routine out. Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard is alleged to have then said over the microphone, "In Kansas City, that would have been a home run", itself a response to Finley's dictum for Municipal Stadium public address announcer Jack Layton to announce, "That would have been a home run at Yankee Stadium" for any ball hit beyond a line Finley painted in the outfield grass 296 feet away from home plate in Kansas City. Supposedly, Layton's gimmick was short-lived after Finley noticed the vast majority of the "would've been home runs" were being hit by the Athletics' opponents.

In addition to his notorious tinkering with the right-field corner, Finley experimented with moving the other fences in and out several times during his seven seasons operating the team here. None of those moves had any notable effect on the team's performance, as the club finished in or near last place nearly every year.

A small zoo with goats and sheep and picnic area stood behind the right-field fence. When home runs were hit into the field the goats and sheep would scamper up the hill. At the same time, Finley replaced the Athletics' old elephant mascot with a live mule, appropriately named "Charlie-O".

At home plate a mechanical rabbit, nicknamed "Harvey" in reference to the stage play Harvey (1944) and the subsequent film of the same name (1950), rose out of the ground with new baseballs for the umpire and a compressed-air device (nicknamed "Little Blowhard") blew dirt off of home plate.

Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, Catfish Hunter, Joe Rudi and Gene Tenace were some young A's players who debuted in Kansas City and went on to lead them in their World Series victories in Oakland. Hunter and Jackson would earn Hall of Fame induction.

Kansas City Royals

Main article: Kansas City Royals

Municipal Stadium's fate was sealed when, as part of the AFL–NFL merger, all teams were required to have a minimum stadium capacity of 50,000 people; at its height, Municipal Stadium only seated 35,000 people for football and could not be expanded. However, a replacement would have been needed even without the merger, given its age and condition. Public bonds were issued in 1967 to fund a complex including separate football and baseball stadiums—what would eventually become the Truman Sports Complex. It came too late for the A's, however, as Finley moved the franchise to Oakland after the 1967 season. Subsequently, Kansas City was awarded an American League expansion team for 1969, and the new Kansas City Royals used the stadium as a temporary home from 1969 to 1972.

Kansas City welcomed the new Royals, who were led by 1969 American League Rookie of the Year Lou Piniella. The expansion team drew nearly one million fans in their first season, despite a 69–93 record.

In subsequent seasons, many future stars made their debuts for the Royals, who were building a highly competitive team, rising up to an 85–76 record in 1971. CF Amos Otis (1970), P Paul Splittorff (1970), SS Freddie Patek (1971), 1B John Mayberry (1972) and P Steve Busby (1972) were a core of young Royals who made their debuts at Municipal Stadium. Each went on to selection into the Royals Hall of Fame.

After the 1972 baseball season, the Royals moved to Kauffman Stadium in the Truman Sports Complex. The Royals won the final game (and event) at Municipal Stadium, a 4–0 win over the Texas Rangers on October 4, 1972, in what was also the final Major League game managed by Hall of Famer Ted Williams. Amos Otis scored the final run in Municipal Stadium history and Ed Kirkpatrick had the final hit. Four days prior Gene Tenace of the Oakland A's hit the final home run, and John Mayberry hit the final Royals home run the night before.

American Football League/National Football League

Kansas City Chiefs

Main article: Kansas City Chiefs

Franchise owner Lamar Hunt moved the Dallas Texans of the fledgling American Football League (AFL) to Kansas City after the 1962 season, becoming the Kansas City Chiefs. The stadium was retrofitted for football. The playing field ran an unconventional east–west, along the first base line. Temporary stands were erected in left field to expand the stadium's capacity each fall, but had to be removed during the baseball season. Due to the lower capacity without the temporary bleachers, the Chiefs opened almost every season between 1963 and 1971 with three or more consecutive road games, except 1968, the year in between the Athletics' final season in Kansas City and the Royals' first season.

The double-decked grandstand extended all the way across the south sideline, but ended halfway around the west end zone (third base line). Both teams' benches were on the north sideline in front of the temporary bleachers, as was the case at Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium, Milwaukee County Stadium and Metropolitan Stadium. The east end zone ended at the right field fence, and the large scoreboard was in this end of the stadium. Due to the fence, there was significantly less room between the end line and the fence of the east end zone than there was in the west end zone, where there was a significant amount of room between the end line and the grandstand.

The Chiefs were 44–16–3 (.722) in their tenure at Municipal Stadium and had a roster of Hall of Fame players: Quarterback Len Dawson, Defensive End Buck Buchanan, defensive tackle Curley Culp, Linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, defensive backs Emmitt Thomas and Johnny Robinson, and Kicker Jan Stenerud. Lamar Hunt himself was the first Chief elected to the Hall, as his role as a league pioneer resulted in pro football growing from 12 to 26 franchises in the 1960s. In one of the great performances at the stadium, the Chiefs' Hall of Fame Quarterback Len Dawson passed for 435 yards and 6 Touchdowns against the Denver Broncos on November 1, 1964.

While at Municipal Stadium, the Chiefs were successful, representing the American Football League in two of the four Super Bowls before the leagues merged. As AFL Champions under Coach Hank Stram, the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV, beating the Minnesota Vikings 23–7. Previously, the Chiefs played in the very first, Super Bowl I, losing to the Green Bay Packers of Vince Lombardi. Leading up to the game after Lamar Hunt had first used the term "Super Bowl" in the local media as a term for the AFL–NFL Championship Game, a phrase that was later adopted as the name. Super Bowl IV was the last game played before the merger of the AFL and NFL They moved to Arrowhead Stadium in the Truman Sports Complex for the 1972 season.

Longest NFL game played

The Chiefs' final game at Municipal Stadium was played on Christmas Day 1971 and was historic. Despite a brilliant game by the Chiefs' Ed Podolak, who had 350 total yards from scrimmage, an NFL playoff record that still stands, the Chiefs were beaten by the Dolphins 27–24, when Garo Yepremian kicked a walk-off field goal with 7:20 left in double overtime. The double-overtime playoff contest lasted 82 minutes and 40 seconds (with overtime lasting over 22 minutes) and remains the longest game in NFL history, as well the only post-season football game played at Municipal Stadium.

North American Soccer League

Kansas City Spurs

The Chicago Spurs of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) relocated the franchise to Kansas City after the NPSL and the United Soccer Association formed the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1967. The Spurs, under Coach Janos Bedl, led the league in attendance, with an average of 8,510 fans. Because of scheduling conflicts with Royals baseball and Chiefs football, the Spurs relocated home matches to the football stadium at Pembroke High School for the 1970 season before the club folded altogether. The Spurs' colors were red and white and their mascot was "Cowboy Joe".

Other events

1960 Major League Baseball All Star Game

On July 11, 1960, Municipal Stadium hosted the best major league players in front of 30,619 fans. During the years when two major league All-Star Games were scheduled each year instead of one, Municipal Stadium hosted the first of the two 1960 games, with the National League winning the contest 5–3. Team rosters included over 15 future Hall of Fame members.

Notable players on the rosters included: Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente (His first All-Star Game), Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford, Brooks Robinson, Ernie Banks, Eddie Mathews, Bill Mazeroski, Al Kaline, Orlando Cepeda, Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio.

Ernie Banks, Del Crandall and Al Kaline hit home runs in the contest.

1964 Beatles concert

On September 17, 1964, The Beatles played the stadium as part of their first U.S. tour. The date was originally supposed to be an off-day for the band following a concert in New Orleans, but they agreed to perform when Finley offered their manager, Brian Epstein, a then-record sum of $150,000 (equivalent to $1.14 million in 2014). The group opened the Thursday night concert by saluting the host town with their medley of "Kansas City" and "Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey"; a month later, they would record the medley for their fourth studio album, Beatles for Sale.

Demolition and the site today

The stadium was demolished in 1976, and replaced by a municipal garden. Today, the former ballpark site is being redeveloped with new single family homes.

A plaque at 22nd and Brooklyn Street marks the former stadium's location. The neighborhood still contains legendary Arthur Bryant's Barbecue at 18th and Brooklyn Street, founded in 1908, a fan and player favorite when Municipal Stadium was nearby.

Interior of Arthur Bryant's at 18th and Brooklyn, 2006

With involvement from former Monarch Buck O'Neil, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 and opened in 1997. Located in the 18th and Vine District, the museum is housed in the former Paseo YMCA building where the Negro leagues were first formed in 1920. The museum is alongside the American Jazz Museum. The site is within a mile of the location of Municipal Stadium.

References

Staff (undated). "K.C. Municipal Stadium". ballparksofbaseball.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
Staff (undated). "Kansas City Municipal Stadium" Archived May 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. ballparktour.com. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
Staff (undated). "Negro Leagues Baseball Museum" Archived 2011-11-01 at the Wayback Machine. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
"The Hardball Times".
Staff (March 1, 1958). "A's Municipal Stadium Constructed in 90 Days". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved July 9, 2012 – via Google News.
^ "Kansas City Municipal Stadium Artifacts Remain a Mystery | Sports Collectors Digest". Archived from the original on April 7, 2015.
"Municipal Stadium Minor League History | Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on September 27, 2015.
"KC plays the Blues … and reaches the major leagues | The Kansas City Star". Archived from the original on September 26, 2015.
"1939 Kansas City Blues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
"Top 100 Teams | MiLB.com History | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
"1951 Kansas City Blues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
"1954 Kansas City Blues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
"Finley building Yankee-style 'Pennant Porch' in A's park". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 10, 1964. p. 14.
"Finley says he'll defy edict to dismantle 'Yankee' fence". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 12, 1964. p. 11.
"1967 Kansas City Athletics Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
"Kansas City Royals Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com.
"1969 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
"1972 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
"Members | Hall of Fame | Kansas City Royals". MLB.com.
Staff (undated). "KC Municipal Stadium". stadiumsofprofootball.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
"Kansas City Chiefs Team History | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
"Kansas City Municipal Stadium History". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
"Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - November 1st, 1964". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
The Evening Standard. Associated Press. 1966-07-18. p. 14. Retrieved 02 February 2016.
"Super Bowl IV - Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs - January 11th, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
ET, 2015 at 9:00a (December 22, 2015). "One & Done: Ed Podolak's Christmas marathon game for the 1971 Kansas City Chiefs". FOX Sports.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Staff (December 17, 2008). "The Longest NFL Game Ever Played: 'Twas the Night of Christmas – And All Through the Nation, Folks Were Wondering ... When Would This Game End?". tcpalm.com (website operated by Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers). Retrieved July 9, 2012.
"Professional soccer in Kansas City began with the Spurs | The Kansas City Star The Kansas City Star". Archived from the original on March 22, 2015.
"Kansas City was once champion of the NASL". www.socceramerica.com. June 9, 2011.
^ "1960 All-Star Game". www.baseball-almanac.com.
"Beatles look like worms in lighted box Thursday". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 18, 1964. p. 5.
Finley, Nancy. Finley Ball: How Two Outsiders Turned the Oakland A's into a Dynasty and Changed the Game Forever. Washington, DC: Salem Media Group, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
"Arthur Bryant's Barbeque Restaurant - Best BBQ in Kansas City". www.arthurbryantsbbq.com.
"Baseball Museum - Negro League Baseball Museum - Kansas City, MO". Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
"Negro Leagues Baseball eMuseum: Personal Profiles: Buck O'Neil". www.nlbemuseum.com.
"After Negro Leagues Baseball Museum gets vandalized, people nationwide step up to help". September 15, 2018.

External links

Events and tenants (except as noted, all venues located in Kansas City, Missouri)
Preceded byAssociation Park	Home of the Kansas City Blues 1923–1954	Succeeded bylast ballpark
Preceded byAssociation Park	Home of the Kansas City Monarchs 1923–1954	Succeeded bylast ballpark
Preceded byShibe Park (Philadelphia)	Home of the Kansas City Athletics 1955–1967	Succeeded byOakland–Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland, California)
Preceded byLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles)	Host of the All-Star Game 1960 1st Game	Succeeded byYankee Stadium (New York City)
Preceded byCotton Bowl (Dallas)	Home of the Kansas City Chiefs 1963–1971	Succeeded byArrowhead Stadium
Preceded byfirst ballpark	Home of the Kansas City Royals 1969–1972	Succeeded byRoyals Stadium

Athletics

Established in 1901
Formerly the Philadelphia Athletics, the Kansas City Athletics and the Oakland Athletics
Based in West Sacramento, California

Franchise

Ballparks

Columbia Park
Shibe Park
Municipal Stadium
Oakland Coliseum
Sutter Health Park (temporary 2025–2027)
New Las Vegas Stadium (proposed)

Spring training: Latta Park Baseball Field; Barrs Field; Cramton Bowl; Terry Park Ballfield; Wilmington Park; McCurdy Field; Connie Mack Field; McKechnie Field; Rendezvous Park; Scottsdale Stadium I; Phoenix Municipal Stadium; Hohokam Stadium

Culture

Lore

Rivalries

Key personnel

Owners: John Fisher
President: Dave Kaval
Executive vice president: Billy Beane
General manager: David Forst
Manager: Mark Kotsay

World Series
Champions (9)

American League
Championships (15)

AL West Division
Championships (17)

AL Wild Card (4)

Minors

Triple-A: Las Vegas Aviators
Double-A: Midland RockHounds
High-A: Lansing Lugnuts
Single-A: Stockton Ports
Rookie: ACL Athletics; DSL Athletics

Seasons (125)
1900s	1900 · 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910s	1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920s	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930s	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940s	1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950s	1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960s	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970s	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980s	1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990s	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010s	2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020s	2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Kansas City Royals

Established in 1969
Based in Kansas City, Missouri

Franchise

Ballparks

Municipal Stadium; Kauffman Stadium; New Royals Stadium (proposed)
Spring training: Terry Park; Baseball City Stadium; Surprise Stadium

Culture

Lore

Team Hall of Fame

Minor league
affiliates

Triple-A: Omaha Storm Chasers
Double-A: Northwest Arkansas Naturals
High-A: Quad Cities River Bandits
Single-A: Columbia Fireflies
Rookie: ACL Royals; DSL Royals Fortuna; DSL Royals Ventura

Key personnel

Owner: John Sherman
President of Baseball Operations & General Manager: J. J. Picollo
Manager: Matt Quatraro

World Series
championships (2)

1985
2015

American League
pennants (4)

Division titles

West: 1976; 1977; 1978; 1980; 1981 (second half); 1984; 1985
Central: 2015
Wild Card: 2014; 2024

Seasons (57)
1960s	1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969
1970s	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980s	1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990s	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010s	2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020s	2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

v t e Kansas City Chiefs
Founded in 1960 Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962) Based and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri
Franchise	Franchise History Seasons All-time roster First-round picks Coaches Logos and uniforms Awards Records Starting quarterbacks (list)
Stadiums	Cotton Bowl Municipal Stadium Arrowhead Stadium
Key personnel	Chairman & CEO: Clark Hunt President: Mark Donovan General manager: Brett Veach Head coach: Andy Reid
Culture	Chiefs name controversy Hunt family Lamar Norma Clark H. Roe Bartle George Toma Warpaint K. C. Wolf Cheerleaders Tomahawk chop "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" Quarterback Super Ball "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs"
Lore	13 Seconds 2018 game vs. Los Angeles Rams Award winners Jet Chip Wasp Super Bowl parade shooting
Rivalries	Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Rams (former)
Wild card berths (10)	1968 1969 1986 1990 1991 1992 1994 2006 2013 2015
Division championships (16)	1962 1966 1971 1993 1995 1997 2003 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Conference championships (4)	2019 2020 2022 2023
League championships (5)	1962 1969 (IV) 2019 (LIV) 2022 (LVII) 2023 (LVIII)
Retired numbers	3 16 18 28 33 36 58 63 78 86
Media	Broadcasters Television: KCTV WDAF-TV KSHB-TV KMBC Radio: WDAF-FM Personalities: Dave Armstrong Len Dawson Kendall Gammon Bob Gretz Art Hains Bill Grigsby Kevin Harlan Mitch Holthus Roger Twibell
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1970–present) Conference: American Football Conference Division: West Division
Former league affiliation	League: American Football League (1960–1969)

Kansas City Spurs

Founded 1966 Based in Kansas City, Missouri
Club history	Chicago Spurs (1966–1967) Kansas City Spurs (1968–1970)
Sports facilities	Soldier Field Kansas City Municipal Stadium
Important figures	Eric Barber Leonel Conde Eli Durante Pepe Fernandez Joe Haverty Willy Roy Manfred Seissler
Other topics	Related articles

Honors
NASL Championship (1)	1969 (Champions)
NASL International Cup (1)	1969 (Champions)
NASL Regular Season (1)	1969 (Champions)
NASL Division titles (1)	1968 (Gulf Division)

Seasons
North American Soccer League (1966–85)	1967 1968 1969 1970

Kansas City Monarchs

Operated 1920–1965
Based in Kansas City, Missouri and Grand Rapids, Michigan

Franchise

Ballparks

Kansas City: Association Park
Municipal Stadium
Grand Rapids: Valley Field

League affiliations

Minor league affiliate

Monroe Monarchs

Hall of Famers

Culture

World Series
championships (2)

Colored World Series: 1924
Negro World Series: 1942

League
pennants (13)

Negro National League: 1923
1924
1925
1929
Negro American League: 1937
1939
1940
1941
1942
1946
1953
1955
1957

Other play-off
appearances

1926
1948
1951

Seasons (46)
1920s	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930s	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940s	1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950s	1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960s	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969

Category

v t e Kansas City area
Kansas City, Missouri Metro area History timeline Economy Neighborhoods Architecture Fountains Barbecue Jazz Broadcast Education Sports

v t e Defunct ballparks in Major League Baseball
23rd Street Grounds American League Park Arlington Stadium Astrodome Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Avenue Grounds Baker Bowl Bennett Park (Detroit) Borchert Field Boundary Field Braves Field Bruce Grounds Burns Park (Detroit) Busch Memorial Stadium Candlestick Park Choctaw Stadium Cleveland Stadium Colt Stadium Columbia Park Comiskey Park Crosley Field Eastern Park Ebbets Field Exhibition Stadium Exposition Park (Pittsburgh) Forbes Field Griffith Stadium Hard Rock Stadium Hilltop Park Hiram Bithorn Stadium Huntington Avenue Grounds Indianapolis Park Jarry Park Stadium Kingdome League Park League Park (Cincinnati) Lloyd Street Grounds Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) Metropolitan Stadium Mile High Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium Municipal Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri) Newell Park Oakland Coliseum Oakland Park (Jersey City, New Jersey) Olympic Stadium (Montreal) Oriole Park Oriole Park (V) Palace of the Fans Polo Grounds Recreation Park (Pittsburgh) Riverfront Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Robison Field Roosevelt Stadium Sahlen Field San Diego Stadium Seals Stadium Shea Stadium Shibe Park Sick's Stadium South End Grounds South Side Park Sportsman's Park Star Park Three Rivers Stadium Tiger Stadium (Detroit) Tinker Park Turner Field Veterans Stadium Washington Park (baseball) West Side Park Wrigley Field (Los Angeles) Yankee Stadium (1923)

Defunct ballparks in Major League Baseball

v t e Former stadiums of the National Football League
Early era: 1920–1940	League Park (Akron) (Akron Pros) Armory Park (Toledo Maroons) Baker Bowl (Philadelphia Eagles) Bellevue Park (Green Bay Packers) Bison Stadium (Buffalo Bison/Rangers) Borchert Field (Milwaukee Badgers, Green Bay Packers) Bosse Field (Evansville Crimson Giants) Braves Field (Boston Braves, Boston Yanks) Buffalo Baseball Park (Buffalo All-Americans) League Field (Canton) (Canton Bulldogs) City Stadium (Green Bay Packers) Clarkin Field (Hartford Blues) Cleveland Stadium (Cleveland Rams) Comiskey Park (Chicago Cardinals) Commercial Field (New York Brickley Giants) Crosley Field (Cincinnati Reds) Cubs Park/Wrigley Field (Chicago Tigers, Hammond Pros, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals) Cycledrome (Providence Steam Roller) Dinan Field (Detroit Wolverines, Detroit Lions) Douglas Park (Rock Island Independents) Duluth's Athletic Park (Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos) East Hartford Velodrome (Hartford Blues) Ebbets Field (New York Brickley Giants, Brooklyn Lions, Brooklyn Dodgers) Eclipse Park (Louisville Breckenridges) Fenway Park (Boston Braves, Boston Yanks) Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers) Frankford Stadium (Frankford Yellow Jackets) Griffith Stadium (Washington) Hagemeister Park (Green Bay Packers) Horlick Field (Racine Legion, Racine Tornadoes) Kinsley Park (Providence Steam Roller) Knights of Columbus Stadium (Orange Tornadoes) Lakeside Park (Canton Bulldogs) League Park (Cleveland Tigers, Indians/Bulldogs, Rams) Lexington Park (Minneapolis Marines) Luna Park (Cleveland Panthers) Minersville Park (Pottsville Maroons) Muehlebach Field (Kansas City Blues/Cowboys) Nash Field (Kenosha Maroons) Navin Field/Briggs Stadium (Detroit Heralds/Tigers, Panthers, Lions) Neil Park (Columbus Wagner Pirates) Newark Schools Stadium (Newark Tornadoes) Newark Velodrome (Newark Tornadoes) Nickerson Field (Boston Braves) Nicollet Park (Minneapolis Marines/Red Jackets) Normal Park (Chicago Cardinals) Parkway Field (Louisville Brecks) Philadelphia Municipal Stadium (Philadelphia Eagles) Polo Grounds (New York Giants, New York Brickley Giants) Shaw Stadium (Cleveland Rams) Shibe Park (Philadelphia Eagles) Spartan Municipal Stadium (Portsmouth Spartans) Sportsman's Park (St. Louis All-Stars, St. Louis Gunners) Staley Field (Decatur Staleys) Star Park (possible, Syracuse Pros) Swayne Field (Toledo Maroons) Thompson Stadium (Staten Islands Stapletons) Triangle Park (Dayton Triangles) Wisconsin State Fair Park (Green Bay Packers) Yankee Stadium I (New York Yankees, New York Giants)
Post-War and Pre-Merger era: 1941–1969	Alumni Stadium (Boston Patriots) Astrodome (Houston Oilers) Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (Atlanta Falcons) Balboa Stadium (San Diego Chargers) Baltimore Memorial Stadium (Baltimore Colts) Bears Stadium/Mile High Stadium (Denver Broncos) Briggs Stadium/Tiger Stadium (Detroit Lions) Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals) Busch Memorial Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals) Cleveland Stadium (Cleveland Browns) Comiskey Park (Chicago Cardinals, Card-Pitt) Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium (Philadelphia Eagles, Phil-Pitt Steagles) Cotton Bowl (Dallas Texans, Dallas Cowboys) District of Columbia Stadium/RFK Memorial Stadium (Washington Redskins) Dyche Stadium (Chicago Bears) Ebbets Field (Brooklyn Dodgers/Tigers) Fenway Park (Boston Yanks, Boston Patriots) Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Steelers, Phil-Pitt Steagles, Card-Pitt) Frank Youell Field (Oakland Raiders) Franklin Field (Philadelphia Eagles) Griffith Stadium (Washington Redskins) Harvard Stadium (Boston Patriots) Jeppesen Stadium (Houston Oilers) Kansas City Municipal Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) Kezar Stadium (San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders) League Park (Cleveland Rams) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers) Metropolitan Stadium (Minnesota Vikings) Miami Orange Bowl (Miami Dolphins) Milwaukee County Stadium (Green Bay Packers) Nickerson Field (Boston Patriots) Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Raiders) Philadelphia Municipal Stadium (Philadelphia Eagles) Pitt Stadium (Pittsburgh Steelers) Polo Grounds (New York Giants, New York Bulldogs, New York Titans/Jets) Rice Stadium (Houston Oilers) Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals) San Diego Stadium (San Diego Chargers) Shea Stadium (New York Jets) Tulane Stadium (New Orleans Saints) War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo Bills) Wisconsin State Fair Park (Green Bay Packers) Wrigley Field (Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals) Yankee Stadium I (New York Yanks, New York Giants)
Current era: 1970–present	Anaheim Stadium (Los Angeles Rams) Astrodome (Houston Oilers) Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (Atlanta Falcons) Baltimore Memorial Stadium (Baltimore Colts, Baltimore Ravens) Busch Memorial Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams) Candlestick Park (San Francisco 49ers) Cleveland Stadium (Cleveland Browns) Cotton Bowl (Dallas Cowboys) The Dome at America's Center (St. Louis Rams) Foxboro Stadium (New England Patriots) Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons) Giants Stadium (New York Giants, New York Jets) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minnesota Vikings) Kansas City Municipal Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) Kingdome (Seattle Seahawks) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Raiders) Metropolitan Stadium (Minnesota Vikings) Miami Orange Bowl (Miami Dolphins) Mile High Stadium (Denver Broncos) Milwaukee County Stadium (Green Bay Packers) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Raiders) RCA Dome (Indianapolis Colts) Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals) Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (Washington Redskins) San Diego Stadium (San Diego Chargers) Shea Stadium (New York Jets, New York Giants) Silverdome (Detroit Lions) Sun Devil Stadium (Arizona Cardinals) Tampa Stadium (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Texas Stadium (Dallas Cowboys) Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh Steelers) Tiger Stadium (Detroit Lions) Tulane Stadium (New Orleans Saints) Veterans Stadium (Philadelphia Eagles) War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo Bills) Yankee Stadium I (New York Giants)
Stadiums used by NFL teams temporarily	Alamodome (New Orleans Saints)1 Chicago Stadium (Chicago Bears) Champaign Memorial Stadium (Chicago Bears)† Clemson Memorial Stadium (Carolina Panthers)† Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles Chargers)† Frankford High School's Community Memorial Stadium (Frankford Yellow Jackets)1 Giants Stadium (New Orleans Saints)1 Grant Field (Atlanta Falcons) Husky Stadium (Seattle Seahawks)1† Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (Tennessee Oilers)† LSU Tiger Stadium (New Orleans Saints)1 Marquette Stadium (Green Bay Packers) Philadelphia Municipal Stadium (Philadelphia Eagles)1 Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium (Philadelphia Eagles)1 Stanford Stadium (San Francisco 49ers)1 Huntington Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings)1† University of Minnesota Memorial Stadium (Minnesota Vikings)1 Vanderbilt Stadium (Tennessee Titans)† Yale Bowl (New York Giants)†
Architecture portal Sports portal †= Team's stadium under construction or refurbishment at time 1 = A team used the stadium when their permanent stadium was unable to be used as a result of damage.

v t e Temporary and converted baseball parks in Major League Baseball
American League	Arlington Stadium (Rangers; Arlington, Texas) Kansas City Municipal Stadium (Athletics and Royals; Kansas City, Missouri) Metropolitan Stadium (Twins; Bloomington, Minnesota) Sick's Stadium (Pilots; Seattle, Washington) Wrigley Field (Angels; Los Angeles, California)
National League	Colt Stadium (Colt .45's; Houston, Texas) Jarry Park Stadium (Expos; Montreal, Quebec) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Dodgers; Los Angeles, California) Milwaukee County Stadium (Braves and Brewers; Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Seals Stadium (Giants; San Francisco, California)

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