Paul Splittorff

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Splittorff’s legacy is defined by his consistency in an era of frequent roster changes. Although never selected as an All-Star, he won more games than teammates Steve Busby, Dennis Leonard, or Larry Gura, accumulating 166 victories over a 15-year span. He was the primary pitcher during the Royals' emergence as American League West champions in 1976, following three second-place finishes behind the Oakland Athletics. The team faced the New York Yankees in every American League Championship Series from 1976 to 1978; Splittorff went 2–0 with a 2.84 ERA across his five appearances against them in that series. In 1980, Kansas City swept the ALCS, where Splittorff started the deciding third game and received a no-decision. He made his only World Series appearance in Game Six of the 1980 Fall Classic, a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. His career concluded on June 26, 1984, as younger pitchers took over the rotation.

In Their Own Story

On August 17, 1971, Splittorff faced Fritz Peterson at Yankee Stadium in a matchup that highlighted their rivalry; Peterson won both of their career encounters. That day, with no designated hitter rule yet in place, both pitchers went 0–2 at the plate as the Yankees beat the Royals 2–0. Four years later, on August 22, 1975, they met again at old Royals Stadium, where the Indians defeated the Royals 9–5. Splittorff also secured a rare save in his career on July 22, 1975, during the first game of a doubleheader against the Brewers. He pitched 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings to preserve a 3–2 victory for Steve Busby. After retiring as a player, he transitioned immediately into broadcasting, becoming a color commentator for the Royals and an analyst for Big Eight and Big 12 college basketball telecasts. His life ended on May 25, 2011, at his home in Blue Springs, Missouri, following a public battle with oral cancer and melanoma that began nine days prior.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note the specific timeline of Splittorff's minor league development before his major league call-up. He went 28–27 with a 4.01 ERA in three seasons within the Royals' farm system after throwing the first pitch for the Corning Royals in 1968. His debut came in September 1970, where he took the loss pitching seven innings and giving up three earned runs to the Chicago White Sox. In his breakout 1973 season, he posted a 20–11 record with a 3.98 ERA, cementing his status as a franchise cornerstone. For those interested in his postseason performance, look to the ALCS matchups against New York from 1976 through 1978, where he maintained a perfect 2–0 record. His final major league appearance occurred on June 26, 1984, marking the end of a career that saw him inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1987.

Did You Know?

• Splittorff threw the first pitch in Royals organization history with the Corning Royals in 1968, a year before the major league team existed.
• He faced Fritz Peterson twice in his career; Peterson won both matchups, including a game on August 17, 1971, where both pitchers went 0–2 at the plate.
• Despite never being an All-Star, he accumulated more career wins (166) than teammates Steve Busby, Dennis Leonard, and Larry Gura.
• He recorded exactly one save in his entire career: on July 22, 1975, pitching 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings to hold a 3–2 victory over the Brewers.
• After retiring from playing, he became a television color commentator for the Royals and an analyst for Big Eight and Big 12 college basketball telecasts.