Paul Splittorff, who won a franchise-record 166 games while spending his entire 15-year career with the Kansas City Royals, died on Wednesday morning after a battle with oral cancer and melanoma, the team announced.  Splittorff, 64, died at his home in the Kansas City suburb of Blue Springs. He remained very much intertwined with the Royals long after his career ended in 1984.  Splittorff transitioned smoothly to the Royals broadcast booth in retirement, establishing a connection with a new generation of fans in several sports.  But Splittorff's Royals history predates the actual team.  As the Kansas City Star's Blair Kerkhoff points out, Splittorff was a 25th-round draft pick in 1968, the year before the Royals' first season.  Said Splittorff in a 1979 interview:  "I'd never even heard of the Royals. I knew Kansas City was going to get a franchise, but I hadn't seen any uniforms or even a logo. I was a little disappointed."  He stayed a little longer than he anticipated.  Splittorff was the Royals' first 20-game winner, in 1973, and ranks first in franchise history in wins, innings pitched and games started.  The left-hander pitched on four Royals playoff teams, but his career ended one year before the Royals made it to the 1985 World Series, winning in seven games over the St. Louis Cardinals.  Still, he is remembered by many as one of the franchise's all-time greats.  As 56-year-old Royals fan Mark Burton told the Star:  "He was actually my favorite. Remember that big, high leg kick? It was classic. And he was a Yankee killer. That's how far back we go."  See photos of: Kansas City Royals  To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor  . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to  . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to
Royals legend Paul Splittorff dies at 64 - Daily Pitch: MLB News, Standings, Schedules & More - USATODAY.com