Back to the Kansas City Royals Newsfeed

KC Royals: Before Atlanta, Gene Garber was a Royal

(Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)

Before he made his name with Philadelphia and Atlanta, Gene Garber was a reliever for the KC Royals.

The year 1973 was, for the KC Royals, one of promise and disappointment. The Royals posted their second winning season and seriously contended for the first time; but after spending 42 games in first place, a remarkable feat for a franchise in just its fifth campaign, they fell seven games short of the American League West Division title and the playoffs.

The season was also the first in Kansas City for a sidearm, sometimes submarining pitcher who later starred for the Atlanta Braves and had good campaigns with Philadelphia.