George Brett (1973-1993)
Even now, decades after his retirement, George Brett is still the face of the Kansas City Royals.
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It is easy to see why. The first true superstar in franchise history, the fiery Brett became the heart and soul of the team. He was willing to fight anyone, any time, to ensure that the Royals came out ahead. From punching Graig Nettles in a playoff game to his infamous meltdown during the Pine Tar Game, no one crossed Brett without feeling the repercussions.
That fiery attitude came across in his play. He was a 13 time All Star and the 1980 MVP, a season where he challenged the .400 mark down to the final weeks of the season. A great hitter, Brett was the first player to win a batting title in three different decades. He was also a great defensive player, earning a Gold Glove and ranking ninth all time in range factor per nine innings at third.
Brett’s career made him an easy decision as a first ballot Hall of Famer. He posted a lifetime .305/.369/.487 batting line, recording 3154 hits during his storied career. Brett was one of the better sluggers in Royals history, with 665 doubles and 317 homers, with eight seasons of 20 or more homers. He also had excellent speed earlier in his career, stealing 201 bases and 137 triples, even leading the league three times in the latter category.
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The greatest player in Kansas City Royals history, George Brett has been omnipresent since his first days with the franchise. He truly personifies the idea of being Forever Royal.