Lou Piniella
First Royal at the plate, Rookie of the Year, and a fiery competitor.
Louis Victor Piniella (usually; born August 28, 1943) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. As an outfielder, he played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees. During his playing career, he was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1969 and captured two World Series championships with the Yankees (1977, 1978).
Quick Facts
- Role
- Player
- Affiliation
- Kansas City Royals (1974–1983)
- Playing position
- Outfielder
- Pre-royals playing stop
- Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians
- Post-royals playing stop
- New York Yankees
- Playing style
- Intense
- scrappy
- clutch
Lore & Background
Piniella played with the Royals for their first five seasons (1969–1973) and was the American League's Rookie of the Year in 1969 and was named to the 1972 All-Star Game. He was the first batter in Royals history; on April 8 of their first season in 1969, he led off the bottom of the first inning against left-hander Tom Hall of the Minnesota Twins. Piniella doubled to left field, then scored on an RBI single by Jerry Adair. After the 1973 season, Piniella was traded to the New York Yankees. He never managed the Royals.
Reader's Guide
Piniella was selected by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 expansion draft in October, but was traded after spring training on April 1, 1969 to the expansion Kansas City Royals for John Gelnar and Steve Whitaker. He played with the Royals for their first five seasons (1969–1973). After the 1973 season, Piniella was traded with Ken Wright to the New York Yankees for Lindy McDaniel.
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