KC sports history

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Kansas City
Sports Teams
History Museum

Discover the history of sports teams, their nicknames, and the franchises that have called Kansas City home, throughout the years. Did you know...the "Blues" has been a team name for Kansas City baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and rugby? The focus of these pages is on the TEAM. Where available, links to other sites with information about INDIVIDUALS on the Teams is provided. Written by Matthew Starr
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Kansas City
KC Baseball History
KC Football History
KC Basketball History
KC Hockey History
KC Soccer History
KC Stadium History
KC Sports Facts
KC Sports Champions














BASEBALL back to top
From To Team Name Baseball League Comment
late 1860's Antelopes They played near 14th & Oak, without stadium or scoreboard. Once, Wild Bill Hickok umpired a baseball game between the Kansas City Antelopes and the archrival Pomeroys of Atchison. With an umpire standing behind the plate armed with a pair of six-shooters, neither players nor the hot-blooded fans disputed a single call. The Antelopes won the game by 48 to 28 and Wild Bill Hickok rode off the field in triumph in an open carriage pulled by a pair of white horses.
1884 1884 Unions Union Association Charter franchise. Relocated from Altoona Pride in April and May 1884 before moving to Kansas City. Folded with league September 1884.
When Altoona folded in early June, Union Association president Henry V. Lucas was forced to seek a replacement. He turned to Kansas City to fill the void, a city he should have considered over Altoona before the start of the season anyway. In order to join the UA, team owner Americus V. McKim was forced to accept the most restrictive condition ever imposed on a club: even though Kansas City's games would count in their opponents' records, Kansas City could not win a championship. In effect, the Unions would be in the UA but would have no official record.
As it turned out, this restriction proved irrelevant as Kansas City won just 16 times in 79 games. The team had to be assembled so quickly that many of the players met for the first time as they assembled for the club's first game.
Despite the team's anemic record, they were a good draw in Kansas City. At an end of season banquet, McKim announced that the team had turned a $7000 profit. An exaggeration or not, Kansas City was far more successful financially than any other Union Association team. So successful was the team financially, that McKim began preparing for the 1885 season. He sent manager Ted Sullivan east to sign new players and also had plans to build a new ball park. Meanwhile, the rest of the Union Association continued to crumble.
KC Unions 1884 Roster
KC Unions Team Roster
1885 1903 Cowboys National League, Western League,
American Association
Charter franchise, disbanded after 1886 season. League: AL 1900, Western Lg 1901-1903 Franchise: Became Kansas City Blues (Class A American Assoc.) 1904.
The Kansas City Cowboys joined the National League when Indianapolis failed to fund a franchise for that city.
The long distances that other teams had to travel to reach Kansas City and crowds that were usually sparse as well as rowdy proved to be the team's downfall. After the season, in which the Cowboys finished 7th, rumors that both Kansas City and 8th place St. Louis Maroons would be dropped from the League persisted.
At the March 9th, 1887 NL meeting, the authorization of the Cowboys' purchase of the Maroons was refused and both Kansas City and St. Louis were dropped from the league. Kansas City's owners were forced to accept a $6,000 buyout from the League.
Their uniforms were white.
Home Field: Association Park.
KC Cowboys 1886 Roster
KC Cowboys 1886 Roster
KC Cowboys 1888-1889 Roster
1886 1889 Blues Western League,
American Association
1886 Team Photo. League: Western Lg 1887, AA 1888-1889 Franchise: Expansion franchise WL. New franchise AA, disbanded after 1889 season. WA 1894-1900 Franchise: Became Washington Senators AL 1901
The Blues were Kansas City's third major league team in five years. The Blues were an improvement over the previous National League and Union Association teams that the city had fielded yet they still found themselves overmatched in the American Association.
Kansas City had a new club in a new league, but under the same ownership and with the same manager, the team put together the same abysmal season that its predecessors had. When Baltimore also resigned from the league, the Blues lost their last ally in the struggle. Wary of the impending Players' League war, Kansas City also resigned and applied for membership in the minor Western Association.
Home Field: Exposition Park.
KC Blues 1888 Roster
KC Blues 1889 Roster Team Photo
1902 1903 Blue Stockings A Western League Not the Red Legs, Red Sox or even the White Sox...the Kansas City Blue Stockings!
1913 ? Red Sox ? 1913 Kansas City Red Sox?
1914 1915 Packers Federal League The Kansas City franchise origins began in 1913 in Covington, Kentucky. The team moved to Kansas City in late June, 1913.
Charter franchise, disbanded with league after 1915 season. The Federal League lost in the war against the Majors- National League and American League. (Yes, at one time there was THREE major leagues of baseball)
The spitball was legal in these days. The Packers were in 1st place with a 57-42 record on 8/8/1915, but ended up in 4th place with an 81-72 record.
Home Field: Gordon & Koppel Field, also known as the Federal League Park,
at 47th & Tracey, Kansas City, MO.
1914 KC Packers Roster
1915 KC Packers Roster
KC Packers Team Index
1904 1954 Blues American Association
(A,AA,& AAA)

Yes, at one time, during 1914-15, Kansas City had two baseball teams, the Packers (Federal League) and the Blues (American Association)!

From 1937-1954, the KC Blues were a Minor League farm club of the New York Yankees. The Blues' association with the Yankees brought many great players to Kansas City, including, in 1951 Mickey Mantle. Others included Phil Rizzuto and Vince DiMaggio.
Most baseball teams did not wear numbers on their jerseys prior to 1930.
In 1935, the KC Blues were a farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 1939 Blues (107W-47L) were Kansas City's best minor league time of all time, according to historians Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright, who were ranked 12th among their top 100. The team was an affiliate of the New York Yankees and was owned by Co. Jacob Ruppert, owner of the Yankees.
The 1923 Blues (112W-54L) were ranked as the 18th best minor league team,
and the 1929 Blues (111W-56L) were 28th best.
The 1923 Blues set a league attendance record of 425,000.
The nickname Blues derived from the blue uniforms they wore in contrast
to the white suits of the American Association Cowboys. General admission to a 1941 Blues game was 35 cents, cokes were a nickel and hot dogs were 15 cents.
Home Field: Muhleback Field and Ruppert Stadium.
For more information about other teams go to the Minor League Baseball Web Site.
1954 group portrait of Kansas City Blues, Kansas City Blues Queen, and unidentified officials outside Municipal Stadium before parade honoring the baseball team.
1954 KC Blues Queen
Additional KC Blues Archival records at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Libary-White House Central Files.
1909 1915 Giants Independent Club The Kansas City Kansas Giants hosted Negro players in competition against major league, minor league, barnstormers, or other Negro League teams.
1920 1950 Monarchs Negro American League The longest running franchise in Negro Leagues history! They became Negro Leagues answer to the New York Yankees! The Negro National League was
formed in Kansas City in 1920 by Rube Foster in a meeting a Paseo YMCA.
League: NNL 1920-1927, 1929-1930, NAL 1937-1950 Franchise: Charter franchise NNL, disbanded after 1930. Charter franchise NAL,
disbanded with league after 1950.
1920 -30 and 1937 -1950. In 1921, the Monarch's beat a barnstorming team headed up by Babe Ruth. In October 1922, in a series billed as a city championship, the Monarchs defeated the minor-league Kansas City Blues in five of six games. The "First Colored World Series" of baseball is held in Kansas City beginning on October 20th, 1924, which was won by the Monarch's. Five consecutive Negro National, League Titles in 1920's, including winning the first Negro World Series in 1924. 6 Negro American League Titles between 1937 and 1950. Three consecutive Negro League Pennant's from 1923 to 1925. Throughout their thirty years of organized play (1920–1950) they won two world series, ten pennants, and had only one losing season! In 1934, the Kansas City Monarchs draw so many fans to Sunday baseball games that black churches adjust their worship hours. In 1943, The Monarchs thrill their fans with 43 straight wins. The Monarchs were one of the few Negro League teams to be owned by a white man, Tom Wilkinson. The Monarch's team included famous players such as Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Ernie Banks, Hilton Smith and Buck O'Neil. The Monarchs sent most players to Major League Baseball after the color barrier was broken!
Home Field: Muhlebach Field, Blues Stadium, later called Municipal Stadium.
Team Photo
KINGS OF BASEBALL
KANSAS CITY
MONARCHS
All-Nations Negro Leagues
1948 1950 Stars Negro Leagues Cool Papa Bell's contract called his team to be called the Kansas City Stars or the Travelers when they played in Monarch territory and called the Kansas City Monarchs when they played outside the Midwestern states.
1955 1967 Athletics MLB- American League Nickname: In the late 19th Century sports fans who worked at various Philly Athletic Clubs came together and formed a baseball team named Athletics
(as many similarly formed teams were known as).
Elephant Logo (1955-1962): In 1902 John McGraw manger of the New York Giants referred to the Athletics as the "White Elephants", implying Mack shouldn't be allowed to spend money without supervision. Mack defiantly adopted the White Elephant as the team insignia, and in 1902, the A's won the American League pennant.
Relocated from Philadelphia Athletics in 1955. Became Oakland Athletics in 1968. Mascot: "Charlie O" the Mule. Home Field: Municipal Stadium.
April 12, 1955 the first KC Athletics Home Opener.
Host of 1960 All Star Game.
KC A's All Time Roster
1959 KC A's Team Photo including Roger Maris.
Team Colors: Blue, Red, and White (1955-1962) Green, and Yellow (1963-1967)


1962 1963 1966

The MLB All Star Game was played in Kansas City in 1960.

1969 present Royals MLB- American League Expansion franchise. 1980 Amer. League Champions.

Mascot: Sluggerrr (Lion) Home Field: Municipal Stadium-- 1969 to 1972
The first game at Royals Stadium was on April 10, 1973.
Royals Stadium-- 1973 to 1993.
The MLB All Star Game was played in Kansas City in 1973.

(Royals Stadium changed to) Kauffman Stadium on 7/2/1993 to current. Kauffman Stadium (formerly Royals Stadium) is part of the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex, which includes Arrowhead Stadium.
Team colors: Blue, White and Gold
KC Royals Team Index
KC Royals All Time Team Roster
On October 27, 1985 the Royals win the World Series
1985 World Series Champions

2003 present T-Bones Northern League
(Minor League)
The franchise from Duluth-Superior called the Dukes, moved to Kansas City in 2003. A new Stadium, 4,500 seating capacity, at a cost of $12 million, built in 2002-03. Home Field: near the Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS.

FOOTBALL back to top
From To Team Name Football League Comments
1924 1924 Blues National Football League The Blues changed their name to the
Cowboys in 1925.
1924 Blues Roster
1925 1926 Cowboys National Football League Formerly the Blues in 1924.
1925 Cowboys Roster
1926 Cowboys Roster
1963 present Chiefs American Football League, then
National Football League AFL Champions , 1967 & 1970
January 11, 1970 the Chiefs
win the Super Bowl
Super Bowl IV Champions-1969

Former Mascot: Warpaint (horse)
Mascot: KC Wolf
Home Field: Municipal Stadium--
1963 to 1971
Home: Arrowhead Stadium--
1972 to current
First Game at Arrowhead on August 12, 1972.
Chiefs History
Arrowhead Stadium is part of the
Harry S. Truman Sports Complex,
which includes Kauffman Stadium.
Team colors: Red, white and yellow.
1970's Steers Semi-Pro League
1992 present Jazz South Central Football League, then
North American Football League
1993 present Bulldogs South Central Football League
1997 present Panthers South Central Football League, then
North American Football League
2003 present Krunch National Women's Football Association
Home Field: J C Harmon High School
2400 Steele Rd, Kansas City, KS 66106
present Coyotes American Professional Football League Indoor football

BASKETBALL back to top
From To Team Name Basketball League Comments
1946 Stars Black Professional
Basketball League
1947 1948 Blues Professional Basketball
League of America 1947-48 Blues Roster
1947 1948 Hi-Spots All-American Basketball Conference
1950 1951 Hi-Spots National Professional Basketball League KC Hi-Spots Team Roster
1950-51 KC Hi-Spots Roster
1961 1963 Steers American Basketball League Western Division Champions 1961-62.
Kansas City Steers were considered the
champions of the abbreviated 1962-63
season due to its first place status at
the time. The ABL disbanded 12-31-62.
KC Steers Uniform Numbers
1961-62 KC Steers Roster
1967 1967 American Basketball Association
1972 1975 KC-Omaha Kings National Basketball Association
Home Court: KC Municipal Auditorium AND
Omaha Civic Auditorium--1972 to 1974
KC Kemper Arena AND
Omaha Civic Auditorium--1974 to 1978
1975 1985 Kings National Basketball Association
Home Court: Kemper Arena--1978 to 1985
1985 1986 Sizzlers Continental Basketball Association
1993 1995 Mustangs Women's Basketball Association Home Courts:
1993: Mason-Halpin Field House, Rockhurst College, KC, MO
1994: Penn Valley Community College Gymnasium, KC, MO
1995: Memorial Auditorium, Kansas City, MO
Played three seasons before suspending operations
with plans to play as a 12-team league in 1997,
disbanded before 1997 season.
1997 1997 Lightning Women's Basketball Association
2000 present Knights American Basketball Association
Home Court: Kemper Arena
2001 present Legacy National Women's Basketball League
2003 present Steers The National Alliance of Basketball Leagues
semi-pro league. colors: silver and navy blue

HOCKEY back to top
From To Team Name League Comments
Kansas City Hockey History Site
1927 1932 Pla-Mors American Hockey Assoc. KC Debut Jan 2, 1928 KC Pla-Mor Team Roster
1945 1949 Pla-Mors United States Hockey League
Championships: 1929-30, 1932-33 Regular Season. AHA Champions, 1945-46 Regular Season USHL Champions, 1946 USHL Champions, 1947-48 Division Champions
Affiliation: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Home Ice: Pla-Mor Arena at 3127 Wyandotte Street, Kansas City, MO
1945-46 KC Pla-Mors Team Roster
1946-47 KC Pla-Mors Team Roster
1947-48 KC Pla-Mors Team Roster
1948-49 KC Pla-Mors Team Roster
KC Pla-Mor Team Roster
1933 1940 Greyhounds American Hockey Association After six years as the Pla-Mor's, Kansas City's
professional hockey team changed name to the Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds were sold in 1940 and renamed
the Kansas City Americans.
KC Greyhounds Team Roster
1934-35 KC Greyhounds Roster
In 1934, Kansas City defeated St. Louis, 3 games to zero for the Skelly Cup.
1939-40 KC Greyhounds Roster
1940 1942 Americans American Hockey Assoc. Championships: 1941-42 Division Champions.
KC Americans Team Roster
1949 1951 Mohawks United States Hockey League KC Mohawks Team Roster
1949-50 KC Mohawks Roster
1967 1968 Blues Central Professional Hockey League NHL St. Louis Blues Farm Team
Just the year before, St. Louis was part of the C.H.L.
before they where granted an N.H.L. team.
Home Ice: American Royal Arena.
KC Blues Team Roster
1950 1951 Royals United States Hockey League
1968 1972 Blues Central Hockey League
NHL St. Louis Blues Farm Team. The Kansas City Blues
played for 5 years in the league before they suspended
operations following the 1971/72 season.
Home Ice: American Royal Arena.
1974 1976 Scouts National Hockey League First NHL Franchise in KC. The nickname
"MO-Hawks" was to reflect a MO/KS union,
but was rejected by the Chicago Black Hawks
Home Ice: Kemper Arena
First game at Kemper Arena on November 2, 1974.
Team colours : Blue, red, yellow and white

1974-1975 KC Scouts Team Roster
1975-1976 KC Scouts Team Roster
1976 1977 Blues Central Hockey League
CHL League Champions: 1976-77- Adams Cup.
Home Ice: American Royal Arena until 1977
Kemper Arena after 1977.
Team colours: blue, gold & white.
Affiliations: St. Louis Blues (National Hockey League)
1976-1977 KC Blues Team Roster
1977 1979 Redwings Central Hockey League
NHL Detroit Red Wings Farm Team.
Home Ice: Kemper Arena
1990 2001 Blades International Hockey League Former franchise of Toledo. Started Feb26, 1990.
A City poll determined that Jazz was the
most popular entry for a new team nickname,
but the owner chose the Blades.
Team colours: Red, silver and black
Turner Cup Champions: 1991-92

NHL San Jose Sharks Farm Team, 1991-1996.
Home Ice: Kemper Arena KC Blades Team Roster
Team shut down on June 4, 2001, as IHL folded.
2003 To be named United States Hockey League New team proposed to start 2003-2004 season,
at the Olathe Events Center.

SOCCER back to top
From To Team Name Soccer League Comments
1968 1970 Spurs North American Soccer League Former Franchise of the Chicago Spurs
NASL Champions and
NASL InterInternational Cup 1969
Outside
The Spurs folded after the 1970 season.
1981 1990 Comets Major Indoor Soccer League Former Franchise of the San Franciso Fog

Indoors. Home: Kemper Arena
1990 1991 Comets Major Soccer League Indoors. Home: Kemper Arena
1991 2001 Attack National Professional
Soccer League Former Franchise of the Atlanta Attack

Indoors.
NSPL Champions
1992-93, 1996-97

Home: Kemper Arena
The NPSL went out of business in 2001.
1996 1996 Wiz Major League Soccer
Wizards nickname selected by Sarah Starr.
Outside. Home: Arrowhead Stadium
1996 1997 All-Stars USL-I-League
1997 present Wizards Major League Soccer
Outside. Name changed from
Wiz to Wizards, Wizards name contest
won by Sarah Starr
MLS Cup Champions 2000
Home: Arrowhead Stadium
Team colors: Carolina Blue and Black
"The Starr" KC Wizards Hall of Fame

1998 present Brass U.S.I.S.L.
Premier Developmental
Soccer League
Outside
2001 present Mystics National Women's Soccer League, W-League
Outside
2001 present Comets Major Indoor Soccer League
On 8/15/01, the KC Attack changed their
name from the Attack to the Comets
when the NPSL went out of business
and was re-opened as the MISL.
Home: Kemper Arena

RUGBY back to top
From To Sport Team Name League Comments
1966 present Men's Rugby Blues Independent
& with the
US Super League
Early affiliation with the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1964 and Rockhurst College in 1965.
present Women's USA Rugby Jazz
present Women's USA Rugby Irish
1964 present Men's Rugby The Kansas City Rugby Football Club Major League Rugby--USA Rugby Division I League Started by Gerard B.A. Seymour.
Team Colors: Red, White and Blue.


AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
back to top From To Team Team Name League Comments
1999 present Men's Australian Rules Football Power United States Australian Football League
SOFTBALL back to top
From To Team Team Name League Comments
1991 present Girl's Fastpitch Softball Lasers ASA

TENNIS back to top
From To Team Name League Comments
1993 present Explorers World Team Tennis
Outdoor. Home Court: Plaza Tennis Center


BOWLING back to top
From To Team Name Bowling League Comments
1961 Dec. 1961 Stars National Bowling League Home Lanes were at the
Midland Theater, 12th & Main Streets,
Kansas City, MO. The Stars were
financially unsuccessful and the league
only lasted one year.

VOLLEYBALL back to top
From To Team Name Volleyball League Comments
1998 present Lightning National Volleyball Association
Women's Professional
Indoor Team

Roller Derby back to top
From To Team Name League Comments
1972 present Bombers Fictitious team in the MOVIE, "Kansas City Bomber" Starring Raquel Welch as a battling Roller Games queen, named K.C. Carr, Raquel is #11 on the Roller Derby Team from the Kansas City Bombers. MGM- 1972.

Kansas City
Stadiums, Ballparks and Arenas back to top

Name and Location Years Kansas City
Home Teams Notes
Association Park 1886 Cowboys
Exposition Park 1888-? Blues
Elm Ridge Race Track and Club House
a block east of the Paseo
between 59th & 63rd Streets
Kansas City, MO April 28, 1904 Horse Racing, Athletic events, motor car and motorcycle racing. the track operated only for 2 years when the sport was outlawed by the State of Missouri. In the following years it was used for athletic events, motor car and motorcycle racing. In 1912 became the Blue Hills Golf Club. Today the site is the Metro Plaza Shopping Center.
Pla-Mor Arena
3127 Wyandotte Street
Kansas City, MO January 28, 1928 Pla-Mor's
Muehlebach Field
22nd & Brooklyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO July 3, 1923 to 1937 Blues, Athletics Built in 1923 by Kansas City Blues (AA) owner George Muehlebach, the single-decked Muehlebach Field cost $400,000. Mr. Muehleback was owner of a local brewery and famous Muehlebach hotel.
Ruppert Stadium
22nd & Brookyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO 1937 to 1943 Blues When the New York Yankees acquired the Blues in 1937 for their farm system, they renamed the park Ruppert Stadium. Col. Jacob Ruppert was the owner of the Yankees at the time.
Blues Stadium
22nd & Brooklyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO 1923 Blues, Monarchs Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert died in 1939, and in 1943 the stadium name was changed to Blues Stadium. Blues Stadium was home to both the American Association Kansas City Blues, and the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs. Formerly a frog pond, swimming hole, and ash heap, the site opened as a baseball field in 1923. J. Leslie Wilkinson, the field's first owner, had a portable lighting system built to illuminate the field at night for Negro League games. Jackie Robinson played for the Monarchs in Blues Stadium briefly in 1945.
Municipal Auditorium
13th & 14th Wyandotte
and Central Streets
Kansas City, MO
Auditorium Photo
April 5, 1936 to present Kings, UMKC Basketball Built in 1936 at a cost of
$6.5 million.
seating capacity for basketball 9,929
Auditorium history
Municipal Stadium
22nd & Brooklyn Ave.
Kansas City, MO
Stadium Photo
Stadium Postcard
Panoramic view
Stadium Details 1955 to Oct. 4, 1972 Monarchs, Blues, Spurs, Athletics, Royals, Chiefs Opened July 3, 1923.
Reopened April 12, 1955.
Last game October 4, 1972.
Demolished: 1976
Seating Capacity: 17,476 (1923); 30,296 (1955); 35,561 (1971) for baseball
and for football 47,000.
Cost: $400,000 (1923); $2.5 million (1955) When the Athletics announced their move from Philadelphia to Kansas City in November 1954, the stadium was completely rebuilt, financed with the proceeds of an August 1954 bond issue. By opening day of the 1955 season, a roofed second deck was added and the name was changed to Municipal Stadium. A small children's petting zoo located in foul territory down the left field line featured pheasants, monkeys, rabbits and the A's mascot, "Charlie O," a Missouri mule that often traveled with the team. A mechanical rabbit, named "Harvey" rose out of the ground with new baseballs for the umpire and a compressed-air device blew dirt off the plate. Prior to the Athletics moving into Kansas City Municipal Stadium, the city purchased the old scoreboard from Boston Braves Field and installed it at the stadium.
After the 1967 season, owner Charles O. Finley moved the A's to Oakland. The expansion Kansas City Royals moved in in 1969 and played their first four seasons in Municipal Stadium, before moving to Kauffman (then Royals) Stadium. The stadium was demolished in 1976 and the site is now a community garden. Stadium Photo 1950.
American Royal Building
Kansas City, MO Blues, Explorers
Royals Stadium
One Royal Way
Kansas City, MO
at the Truman Sports Complex April 10, 1973 to July 2, 1993 Royals seating capacity 40,625. Turf originally, then changed to grass. Cost to build $69 million, which included Arrowhead.
Kaufman Stadium
One Royal Way
Kansas City, MO
at the Truman Sports Complex July 2, 1993 to present Royals seating capacity 40,762
The Woodlands
Kansas City, KS September 14, 1989 to present Horse & Greyhound racing Cost to build $70 million.
Arrowhead Stadium
One Arrowhead Drive
Kansas City, MO
at the Truman Sports Complex August 12, 1972 to present Chiefs, Wiz, Wizards seating capacity 78,097. Turf originally, changed to grass. Cost to build $69 million which included Royals Stadium.
Kansas Speedway
Kansas City, KS 6/2/2001 to present Motor sports racing Cost to build $200 million.
Speedway facts
Kemper Arena
1800 Genessee
Kansas City, MO
Arena Photo
(located in the former
livestock stockyards
and next to the
American Royal Complex) November 2, 1974 to present Kings, Scouts, Comets, Red Wings, Blades, College Basketball Big 8 and Big 12 Tournaments Seating capacity for basketball 16,785 and for hockey 16,300. Cost to build $13.5 million.
Stadium to be named 2003 to present new team to be named Seating capacity 4,500. Cost to build $12 million.

Kansas City Sports
Facts & History
back to top
Group portrait of team with KC on uniforms: 1 2
In 1945, Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Negro League shortstop Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs. Robinson would be recognized as the first African-American in the modern era to play on a white professional team.
Wild Bill Hickok frequented Marble Hall on Main Street, gambling with lawman Wyatt Earp. Once he umpired a baseball game between the Kansas City Antelopes and the archrival Pomeroys of Atchison.
In 1887 the Lawn Tennis Club of Kansas City is the first organized black athletic team in Kansas City.
Players in the National Football League, who have been drafted by the Kansas City Royals baseball team:
John Elway, Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, Dan Marino, Russ Francis, Archie Manning, Steve Bartowski. The Royalsdrafted John Elway in the 18th round of the 1979 draft, the same year they chose Dan Marino in the 4th round!
In 1965, the Kansas City Chiefs made Gale Sayers their #1 draft choice, but lost him in a bidding war to the Chicago Bears.
In 1963, owner Lamar Hunt, moved the Dallas Texans to Kansas City. The teams name was changed to the Kansas City Chiefs, after Kansas City mayor, H. Roe Bartle, whose nickname was 'Chief'. Chiefs owner, Lamar Hunt, organized and developed the American Football League in 1959. The AFC Championship Trophy bears the name of the Lamar Hunt Trophy today.
On Christmas Day in 1971, the Chiefs played the last game in Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, which against the Miami Dolphins. That game stands today, as the longest game in NFL history, lasting into double overtime, as the Dolphins outlasted the Chiefs 27-24.
You've seen the Chiefs mascot, called K.C. Wolf. Do you know how the "Wolfpack" got started? The term was invented in the 60's in an effort to sell season tickets. Lamar Hunt - "Well at some point in the mid 60's fans who were set up in the bleachers in the left field, right behind the Chiefs bench, would do a lot of howling and somehow the term, they howled like wolves attached to them and the Chiefs glommed on to this with a marketing strategy and said 'Join the Wolfpack and buy a season ticket." By the end of the 60's the team sold out home games easily and then capped off the decade with a Super Bowl win in January of 1970.
George Brett became the first member of the Kansas City Royals to become a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, on July 25, 1999.
In a publicity stunt, Satchel Paige who stared 25 years earlier with the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs starts one game for the Athletics. In his one appearance old Satchel goes 3 innings allowing 1 hit, and no runs. The oldest baseball player in history is Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige (1906-1982) who pitched for the Kansas City A's at 59 years 80 days on September 25th, 1965.
Bo Jackson as a member of the Kansas City Royals, is believed to be the only athlete selected to the All-Star game in two professional sports. He was the MVP of the 1989 baseball classic and was selected for the 1990 NFL Pro Bowl.
In 1930, it was the Monarchs who introduced night baseball to the world when they innovated a portable lighting system. It was five years later that the majors installed a system of lights for night games.
The first professional hockey goalie to score a goal was Michel Plasse of the Kansas City Blues (Central Hockey League) on February 21, 1971.
In the 1972-73 season, Kansas City King's point guard, Nate "Tiny" Archibald becomes the only player to lead the NBA in both scoring (34.0 points) and assists (11.4) in the same season.
Famous Athletes with ties to Kansas City: Marcus Allen (Chiefs football), Nate "Tiny" Archibald (Kings basketball), George Brett (Royals baseball), Len Dawson (Chiefs football), Catherine Fox (Olympic swimmer), Maurice Green (olympic track and field), Willie Lanier (Chiefs football), Satchel Paige (Monarch's baseball), Derrick Thomas (Chiefs football), "Handsome" Harley Race (wrestling), Tom Watson (golf), Lynette Woodard (basketball). Masten Gregory (aka: "The Kansas City Flash" or the original "Kansas Comet"). He was a Formula One/sports car driver from Kansas City who won Le Mans in 1965 and also was the first American to ever score a podium finish (top three) in a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.
Athletics shortstop Bert Campanaris became the first player in modern times to play all 9 positions in one game there on September 8, 1965 in a 5-3 loss to the California Angels.
Check out the building sized mural of a basketball player slam dunking, to celebrate the 50th year of the Final Four at 15th & Grand, Kansas City, MO. Painted during the 1988 Final Four, which was in Kansas City that year.
Kansas City native Mae Arbaugh, a professional softball player in the first 30 years of the 20th century, surpassed Lou Gehrig’s achievement of 2,130 career games played—hers numbered 6,486.
Toni Stone played 2nd base for the Kansas City Monarch's in 1954. She was the first woman in the Negro Leagues. Toni was inducted into the Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Toni was one of 3 women that played in the Negro Leagues Baseball, including Mamie "Peanut" Johnson and Connie Morgan, both of which played for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1954-55. Mamie "Peanut" Johnsn was the only woman pitcher to ever play in the Negro Leagues, compiling a 33-8 record in 3 years with the Clowns.
In 1989 one of the memorable moments in KC sports history, Kansas City Royal's Bo Jackson runs into the left-field corner of Seattle's Kingdome, fields Scott Bradley's liner cleanly, turns and fires a strike to catcher Bob Boone that nails Harold Reynolds at home plate.

Kansas City's Sports Champions back to top
Championship YEAR Kansas City TEAM SPORT
1924 Monarchs Baseball
1934 Greyhounds Hockey
1942 Monarchs Baseball
1963 Steers Basketball
1969 Spurs (NASL) Soccer
1969 Chiefs (NFL) Football
1977 Blues (CHL) Hockey
1985 Royals (MLB) Baseball
1992 Blades (IHL) Hockey
1993 Attack (NPSL) Soccer
1997 Attack (NPSL) Soccer
2000 Wizards (MLS) Soccer
2002 Knights (ABA) Basketball

The KC Sports Domain
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