| 1980 Kansas City Royals | ||
|---|---|---|
| American League Champions American League West Champions | ||
| League | American League | |
| Division | West | |
| Ballpark | Royals Stadium | |
| City | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Record | 97–65 (.599) | |
| Divisional place | 1st | |
| Owners | Ewing Kauffman | |
| General managers | Joe Burke | |
| Managers | Jim Frey (first season) | |
| Television | WDAF-TV 4 (Al Wisk, Denny Trease) | |
| Radio | WIBW–AM 580 KMBZ–AM 980 (Denny Matthews, Fred White) | |
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The 1980 Kansas City Royals season was their 12th in Major League Baseball. The Royals, under new manager Jim Frey, finished first in the American League West with a record of 97–65. Kansas City finally broke through in the postseason, sweeping the New York Yankees 3-0 in the 1980 American League Championship Series after falling to the Yankees in the ALCS in 1976, 1977 and 1978. The Royals lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in the World Series.
George Brett had one of the best seasons in Major League Baseball history. Brett became the first Royals player to win a Most Valuable Player award, and his league-leading .390 batting average was the highest in the majors since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. Brett also led the team in home runs (24) and set a single-season franchise record with 118 runs batted in.