Amos Otis

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Otis was initially drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft as a shortstop. However, he spent time in the outfield, third base, and first base while playing in the minors. In November 1966, the Mets drafted him and he jumped all the way to Triple-A in 1967. He saw some time with the Mets late in the 1967 season, but he spent 1968 at Triple-A again before making the major league roster in 1969. He was part of a trade package along with Ed Kranepool and Bob Heise when the Mets attempted to acquire the Braves' Joe Torre, who was later traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Orlando Cepeda instead. Otis immediately clashed with Mets manager Gil Hodges, who tried to make him a third baseman. After four games, Otis was sent back to the minors for a month. On December 3, 1969, Royals general manager Cedric Tallis sent third baseman Joe Foy to the Mets in exchange for the young Otis and pitcher Bob Johnson. The trade proved to be heavily lopsided in the Royals' favor. Foy was bogged down by drug problems and was out of baseball by 1971. Meanwhile, the Royals immediately made Otis the starting center fielder, and he stayed there for most of the 1970s. Otis made the American League All-Star team in each of his first four years with the team and won three Gold Gloves. His speed worked well with the Royals' team philosophy of speed and defense. On September 7, 1971, he became the first player since 1927 to steal five bases in one game. He led the American League with 52 stolen bases that year. Otis scored the final run ever at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium in the fifth inning on October 4, 1972. Otis hit as many as 26 homers in a season, recorded 90 RBI or more three times, twice led the AL in doubles and once in stolen bases with 52. He compiled a career total of 341 steals, while being caught stealing 93 times. Otis was a clutch performer, and he consistently produced for the Royals as the team became a perennial contender. On September 12, 1977, Otis helped eight youths who were stranded after a Royals game had been rained out when flooding prevented the boys' parents picking them up. He brought them out to eat, then to his house to spend the night. The following day he brought each one home. 'If it was my kids', Otis said, 'I would have wanted someone to do something for them, too.' Otis hit .478 with three home runs a

In Their Own Story

On September 12, 1977, Otis demonstrated character beyond the diamond when flooding prevented parents from picking up eight youths stranded after a rainout. He took the boys out to eat and brought them to his house to spend the night, returning each one home the following day. 'If it was my kids,' Otis said, 'I would have wanted someone to do something for them, too.' On the field, his 1980 World Series performance remains a defining chapter. In Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies, he set a record for putouts by an outfielder in a single game while homering. He became one of only two players in history (along with Alex Bregman) to drive in a run in each of his first five World Series games. Even as a hand injury and diminished fielding skills led to him losing his starting job to Willie Wilson near the end of his run, Otis remained a clutch performer who finished among the Royals all-time leaders in hits (1,977), runs scored (1,074), and stolen bases (340).

Reader's Guide

A five-time All-Star, Otis twice led the American League in doubles and once led the league in stolen bases. He was considered one of the best center fielders of his era, using his speed to earn three Gold Glove Awards. He ranks tenth among center fielders in Major League Baseball history in career putouts. He was named Royals Player of the Year three times and, finished among the Royals all-time leaders in hits (1,977), home runs (193), runs scored (1,074), stolen bases (340) and games played (1,891). Otis also played for the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates. After his playing career, he continued to work as a hitting instructor. Otis was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 1986.

Did You Know?

• Otis is one of two players (along with Alex Bregman in 2017) to drive in a run in each of his first five World Series games.
• On September 7, 1971, Otis became the first player since 1927 to steal five bases in one game.
• Otis scored the final run ever at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium on October 4, 1972.
• In the early 1990s, Otis admitted that he used a corked bat during his entire time with the Royals.

The Kansas City Royals Era and Championship Contention

Otis arrived in Kansas City via a pivotal trade on December 3, 1969, where the Mets sent him and pitcher Bob Johnson to the Royals for Joe Foy. This exchange proved heavily lopsided in the Royals' favor; Foy was out of baseball by 1971 due to drug problems, while Otis immediately seized the starting center field role. He made the All-Star team in each of his first four years with Kansas City and won three Gold Gloves. His speed complemented the team's philosophy perfectly, leading to an American League stolen base title in 1971 with 52 steals and a historic five-steal game on September 7 of that year. Otis was instrumental in the Royals winning their first American League Western Division championship in 1976 and their first pennant in 1980. In his only World Series appearance that year, he batted .478 with three home runs against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Defensive Excellence and Offensive Clutch Performance

Considered one of the best center fielders of his era, Otis used his speed to earn three Gold Glove Awards and ranks tenth in history for career putouts by a center fielder. Offensively, he was a consistent threat who twice led the American League in doubles and once in stolen bases with 52. He hit as many as 26 home runs in a season and drove in 90 or more runs three times. His clutch performance was evident in his career totals of 1,977 hits, 340 stolen bases (caught stealing 93 times), and 1,074 runs scored. A specific highlight occurred on September 12, 1977, when he rescued eight stranded youths after a rainout, taking them to his home for the night. In the 1980 World Series, he set a record for outfielder putouts in a single game during Game 3 and became one of two players ever to drive in a run in each of his first five World Series games.

Humanitarian Acts and Career Challenges

Otis's career faced physical decline due to a hand injury that affected his offense, while diminishing fielding skills cost him his starting center field job to Willie Wilson. In 1983, he left the Royals before the season ended after being told he was not in their future plans. He subsequently signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 19, 1983, playing 40 games and batting just .165 before his release on August 5, 1984. Beyond baseball, Otis is remembered for a humanitarian act on September 12, 1977, when he took in eight youths stranded by flooding after a rainout, feeding them and hosting them overnight. He later admitted that using a corked bat was a widespread practice during his entire time with the Royals.

Legacy, Admissions, and Life After Baseball

Otis was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 1986. In the early 1990s, he admitted to using a corked bat throughout his tenure with the Royals, noting it was common in the major leagues. He finished among the franchise all-time leaders in hits (1,977), home runs (193), runs scored (1,074), stolen bases (340), and games played (1,891). After retiring from playing, he worked as a hitting instructor for the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies before settling in Las Vegas. He continues to attend Royals reunions and dons his uniform to play in alumni games.