How the Kansas City Royals Got Their Name

Kansas City rallied behind the Royals in 2014 as the team slid into the spotlight, winning the American League championship. In the team’s first World Series appearance since 1985, media outlets highlighted the origin of its name – the American Royal – the city’s longstanding venue for championship livestock shows and rodeos.

After Ewing and Muriel Kauffman won the rights to establish an expansion baseball franchise in Kansas City in 1968, they launched a contest to name the new team, inviting area citizens to submit ideas.

Sanford Porte, an engineer from the Johnson County suburbs, sent a letter proposing the “Royals,” honoring Missouri’s livestock industry and Kansas City’s leading cattle market. More specifically, the name would honor the ceremonies associated with the prestigious Kansas City livestock show, including the American Royal pageant and parade. Today, Porte’s letter is on display in the Royals Hall of Fame at Kauffman Stadium.

Based on Porte’s logic, Kauffman named the team after the venue, says Bob Petersen, American Royal President and CEO.

SEE ALSO: What is American Royal’s History?

“At the American Royal, we like to think this is the venue in which champions are recognized,” he says.

Each fall, the American Royal hosts livestock, horse and rodeo competitions, as well as the World Series of BBQ. The team recruited graphic artists from Hallmark in Kansas City to submit logo concepts. Some failed to make it off the drawing board, such as one featuring a steer mooing “KC Royals.” Another put a serious-looking horned calf inside a crown. The crown concept, featuring a “KC” and “R,” won out – sans the calf.

Although the American Royal has no formal relationship with the Royals, “like all of Kansas City, we’re very supportive of our baseball team,” says Petersen. “It was a nice reminder about the agrarian society that we’ve come from.”