Whitey Herzog

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Herzog took over a Royals squad that trailed the Oakland Athletics by 11 games in 1975 but quickly engineered a turnaround. His tenure is defined by those three straight division championships, though each concluded with a painful loss to the Yankees. The 1976 series ended on Chris Chambliss's walk-off home run in Game 5 after Herzog's closer, Mark Littell, surrendered the lead in the ninth. In 1977, the Royals held a 3–1 lead going into the eighth inning of Game 5 before Mark Littell, who had pitched just 1.1 innings in Game 3 on October 7, allowed three runs to seal another series loss. The 1978 series saw Herzog's decision to start Doug Bird in the eighth backfire when Reggie Jackson hit a go-ahead two-run double, leading to a 6–5 Yankees victory. Beyond the playoffs, Herzog clashed openly with general manager Joe Burke over one-year contracts and the treatment of first baseman John Mayberry, whose lackadaisical play in Game 4 of the 1977 series led to his benching and subsequent trade demand.

In Their Own Story

The rivalry with the Yankees defined Herzog's time in Kansas City. In 1976, the Royals rallied from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning of the decisive Game 5 only to watch Chris Chambliss hit a series-ending home run off Mark Littell on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth. Two years later, the pattern repeated with agonizing specificity. In Game 5 of the 1977 ALCS, Kansas City held a 3–1 lead entering the eighth inning. The Yankees narrowed the gap with a pinch-hit RBI, and then, relying on pitcher Dennis Leonard who had just completed a full game two days earlier, the defense crumbled. After allowing a hit and a walk, Leonard was pulled, but the damage was done as New York scored three runs to win the series. In 1978, Herzog's tactical gamble in Game 3 went wrong when he sent Doug Bird to face Thurman Munson in the eighth; Munson responded with a go-ahead two-run shot that secured a Yankees victory. These moments cemented the sting of those years for Royals fans.

Reader's Guide

Herzog succeeded Jack McKeon on July 24, 1975, inheriting a team in second place but ready to climb. He led the Royals to three consecutive American League West titles from 1976 to 1978. His managerial style was tested annually in the ALCS against the New York Yankees. The 1976 series featured a dramatic tie game that ended with Chris Chambliss's walk-off homer. The 1977 series saw the Royals blow a 3–1 eighth-inning lead in Game 5 after using pitcher Dennis Leonard, who had pitched a complete game just two days prior. In 1978, a tactical decision to use Doug Bird against Thurman Munson resulted in a two-run home run that shifted the momentum permanently. Despite this success on the field, Herzog's relationship with the front office deteriorated; he openly criticized GM Joe Burke and clashed with owner Ewing Kauffman over contract lengths and player treatment, specifically regarding John Mayberry. After finishing second to the California Angels in 1979, Herzog was fired.

Did You Know?

• Herzog succeeded Jack McKeon as manager on July 24, 1975.
• The Royals won three consecutive American League West titles from 1976 to 1978 under Herzog.
• All three of the Royals' ALCS appearances under Herzog (1976, 1977, 1978) ended in losses to the New York Yankees.
• In Game 5 of the 1977 series, pitcher Mark Littell was used after pitching just 1.1 innings in Game 3 on October 7.
• Herzog was fired after the 1979 season following clashes with GM Joe Burke.