The Royals made their first World Series in 1980, and with a dugout full of established stars and players, it was difficult for any rookie to break in. But there’s always some turnover in baseball. Guys get traded. Guys get waived. Age catches up to everyone, eventually. 1981 was no different. Here are a few of that season’s first-year players.
Darryl Motley
When most Royal fans think of Motley, they think of his heroics in the 1985 World Series. Even I didn’t realize that he broke in as a 21-year-old in 1981. The Royals called him up from Omaha in early August and he appeared in 42 games, getting 135 plate appearances.