Steve Busby
Born: 9/29/1949 in Burbank, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1972-09-08 | Final Game: 1980-08-26
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 205 lbs
Full name: Steven Lee Busby
Biography
Steve Busby, born in 1949, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1972 until his retirement in 1980. Known for his powerful right arm and competitive spirit, Busby made a significant impact during his career with the Kansas City Royals. Over his tenure, he compiled a record of 70-54 and achieved an earned run average (ERA) of 3.72, showcasing his ability to consistently keep runs off the board. He struck out 659 batters, demonstrating his skill in overpowering hitters during an era that valued pitching prowess.
Busby's contributions to the game were recognized through two All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the top pitchers of his time. His career coincided with a period of significant change in baseball, including the emergence of free agency and a shift in the dynamics of pitching strategies. Although he did not record any saves, his role as a starting pitcher was vital to the Royals' success in the late 1970s. Steve Busby remains a notable figure in baseball history, remembered for his competitive edge and contributions to the Royals during a formative period for the franchise.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 54 | 167 | 150 | 53 | 7 | 0 | 1060.7 | 1003 | 438 | 73 | 433 | 659 | 3.72 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | KCR | AL | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40.0 | 28 | 7 | 8 | 31 | 1.57 | - |
| 1973 | KCR | AL | 16 | 15 | 37 | 37 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 238.3 | 246 | 112 | 105 | 174 | 4.23 | - |
| 1974 | KCR | AL | 22 | 14 | 38 | 38 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 292.3 | 284 | 110 | 92 | 198 | 3.39 | - |
| 1975 | KCR | AL | 18 | 12 | 34 | 34 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 260.3 | 233 | 89 | 81 | 160 | 3.08 | - |
| 1976 | KCR | AL | 3 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 71.7 | 58 | 35 | 49 | 29 | 4.40 | - |
| 1978 | KCR | AL | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.3 | 24 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 7.59 | - |
| 1979 | KCR | AL | 6 | 6 | 22 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 94.3 | 71 | 38 | 64 | 45 | 3.63 | - |
| 1980 | KCR | AL | 1 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42.3 | 59 | 29 | 19 | 12 | 6.17 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 167 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.200 | 0.200 | 0.267 | 0.467 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | KCR | AL | 5 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1973 | KCR | AL | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1974 | KCR | AL | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1975 | KCR | AL | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | KCR | AL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1978 | KCR | AL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1979 | KCR | AL | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1980 | KCR | AL | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 167 | 150 | 76 | 198 | 23 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | KCA | P | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | KCA | P | 37 | 37 | 10 | 47 | 6 | 3 |
| 1974 | KCA | P | 38 | 38 | 24 | 53 | 8 | 2 |
| 1975 | KCA | P | 34 | 34 | 22 | 52 | 3 | 2 |
| 1976 | KCA | P | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | KCA | P | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | KCA | P | 22 | 12 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 | KCA | P | 11 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 167 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Player of the Week | Week of 1974-06-21 |
| 1973 | TSN Rookie Pitcher of the Year |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | CA | 1970, 1971 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 30th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1973 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 3rd | 2.0 | 24 | 2 |