Gulf Coast League Royals

Gulf Coast League Royals
(1971–1983, 1985–2002) Davenport, Florida (1988–1992, 1999–2002) Fort Myers, Florida (1993–1998) Sarasota, Florida (1971–1983, 1985–1987)
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Rookie
Previous leagues	Gulf Coast League
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Kansas City Royals
Minor league titles
League titles (6)	1971 1972 1980* 1981** 1992 1995 *GCL Royals Blue title; **GCL Royals Gold title
Division titles (7)	1987 1988 1992 1994 1995 1997 1999
Team data
Name	GCL Royals (1971–1978, 1982–2002) GCL Royals Blue (1979–1981) GCL Royals Gold (1979–1981) GCL Royals Academy (1974)
Previous parks	Baseball City Stadium (1988–1992, 1999–2002)

The Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals were a minor league baseball franchise in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League from 1971–1978, 1982–1983 and 1985–2002. The club was owned and operated by the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. The GCL Royals played games at Florida-based minor league and spring training facilities located in Sarasota (through 1987), Baseball City Stadium in Davenport (1988–1992; 1999–2002) and Fort Myers (1993–1998).

From 1979–1981, the Royals operated two GCL teams, the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals Blue and Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals Gold, to accommodate a surplus of teenaged players. In 1974, Kansas City also fielded a separate Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals Academy team for members of its experimental Baseball Academy. The Academy team played alongside the GCL Royals; finishing 35–16 in the GCL standings that season, 4½ games ahead of the 29–19 GCL Royals, but the Royals Academy lost the league pennant by percentage points to the GCL Cubs.

In 2003, when the Royals moved their spring training operations to Surprise, Arizona, they simultaneously transferred their Rookie-level affiliate to the Arizona League.

Season-by-season

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
GCL Royals (1971–1974)
1971	40–13	1st	Buzzy Keller	League Champs No playoffs until 1983
1972	41–22	1st (t)	Buzzy Keller	Co-Champs w/ GCL Cubs
1973	27–28	5th	Buzzy Keller
1974	29–19	4th	Billy Scripture
GCL Royals Academy (1974)
1974	35–16	2nd	Billy Goodman
GCL Royals (1975–1978)
1975	31–18	2nd	Gary Blaylock
1976	29–25	3rd	Jose Martinez
1977	34–19	2nd	Billy Scripture
1978	31–24	2nd	Jose Martinez
GCL Royals Blue (1979–1981)
1979	24–29	5th	Brian Murphy
1980	40–23	1st	Joe Jones	League Champs
1981	35–28	3rd	Joe Jones
GCL Royals Gold (1979–1981)
1979	29–23	3rd	Jose Martinez
1980	22–40	9th	Roy Tanner
1981	44–20	1st	Roy Tanner	League Champs
GCL Royals (1982–2002)
1982	28–35	8th	Joe Jones
1983	30–31	5th	Joe Jones
1985	38–24	3rd (t)	Joe Jones
1986	30–33	8th	Luis Silverio
1987	40–23	2nd	Luis Silverio	Lost League Finals vs. GCL Dodgers (1 game to 0)
1988	39–24	4th	Carlos Tosca	Lost League Finals vs. GCL Yankees (1 game to 0)
1989	35–28	6th	Carlos Tosca
1990	25–38	12th	Carlos Tosca
1991	31–29	5th	Bob Herold
1992	41–18	1st	Mike Jirschele	League Champs vs. GCL Expos (2 game to 1)
1993	29–30	10th	Bob Herold
1994	47–12	1st	Bob Herold	Lost League Finals vs. GCL Astros (2 game to 1)
1995	37–20	3rd	Bob Herold	League Champs vs. GCL Tigers (2 game to 0) Won in 1st round vs. GCL White Sox (1 game to 0)
1996	30–29	8th	Al Pedrique
1997	36–24	3rd	Al Pedrique	Lost in 1st round vs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)
1998	32–28	7th	Andre David
1999	33–27	4th	Andre David	Lost in 1st round vs. GCL Mets (1 game to 0)
2000	20–40	11th	Ron Karkovice / Andre David
2001	20–40	13th (t)	Lino Diaz
2002	22–38	14th	Lloyd Simmons

Notable alumni

• Justin Adam
• Jeremy Affeldt
• Carlos Beltrán
• David Cone
• Johnny Damon
• Chad Durbin
• Carlos Febles
• Rich Gale
• Jimmy Gobble
• Tom Gordon
• Mark Gubicza
• Atlee Hammaker
• Clint Hurdle
• Ramón Martínez
• Ken Phelps
• Hipólito Pichardo
• Glendon Rusch
• Mike Sweeney
• Rodney Williams
• Willie Wilson

See also

• Arizona League Royals