The 1976 Kansas City Royals season was their eighth in Major League Baseball. The Royals won their first division title, taking the American League West with a record of 90-72 in the first full season as manager for Whitey Herzog. Kansas City was defeated 3-2 by the New York Yankees in the 1976 American League Championship Series. George Brett (.333) became the first Royals player to win a league batting title. Offseason September 29, 1975: Harmon Killebrew was released by the Royals. November 12, 1975: Nelson Briles was traded by the Royals to the Texas Rangers for Dave Nelson. March 3, 1976: Roger Nelson was signed by the Royals as a free agent. Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents Opening Day lineup Dave Nelson, DH Amos Otis, CF George Brett, 3B John Mayberry, 1B Hal McRae, LF Al Cowens, RF Fran Healy, C Freddie Patek, SS Frank White, 2B Notable transactions June 8, 1976: 1976 Major League Baseball draft Bill Paschall was drafted by the Royals in the 3rd round. Ken Phelps was drafted by the Royals in the 15th round. Roster Game log Regular season |- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || April 9 || @ White Sox || 0–4 || Wood (1-0) || Splittorff (0-1) || || Comiskey Park || 40,318 || 0-1 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 13 || Angels || 7–4 || Fitzmorris (1-0) || Hassler (0-1) || Pattin (1) || Royals Stadium || 25,516 || 1-1 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 14 || Angels || 6–7 || Monge (1-0) || Pattin (0-1) || Brewer (1) || Royals Stadium || 9,043 || 1-2 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 15 || Angels || 1–5 || Ryan (1-1) || Splittorff (0-2) || || Royals Stadium || 7,657|| 1-3 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 16 || Indians || 5–3 || Mingori (1-0) || Peterson (0-1) || Pattin (2) || Royals Stadium || 12,219 || 2-3 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 17 || Indians || 5–3 (5) || Fitzmorris (2-0) || Eckersley (0-2) || || Royals Stadium || 9,799 || 3-3 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 18 || Indians || 0–6 || Dobson (1-1) || Busby (0-1) || || Royals Stadium || 10,466 || 3-4 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 20 || @ Brewers || 4–5 || Broberg (1-0) ||