2nd Baseman is First Royal To Win Since 2000
Grudzielanek's award marks the 18th Gold Glove in club history as he becomes the ninth different individual to earn the award. He joins an elite group as Kansas City has now won nine Gold Gloves at second base, tied with Baltimore for most by an American League club after Royals Hall of Famer Frank White won eight awards (1977-80, 1981-82, 1986).
Grudzielanek joins Hall of Famer Wade Boggs as the only two position players to win their first Gold Glove at age 36 or older. Boggs won his award at the age of 36 for the New York Yankees in 1994. Three pitchers have also won their first award after turning 36: Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, 39, for Atlanta in 1979; Hall of Famer Steve Carlton, 36, for Philadelphia in 1981; and Rick Reuschel, 36, for Pittsburgh in 1985.
Grudzielanek, who is signed through 2007 with a player option for 2008, recorded one of the finest defensive seasons in club history, posting a .994 fielding percentage, and ranked fourth among Major League second basemen with 111 double plays. He was leading all Major League second basemen in double plays before missing the final 11 games due to injury.
Grudzielanek's .994 fielding percentage (.99372) ranked second among Royals second basemen all-time, trailing White's .994 (.99446) mark in 1988. He committed just four errors, which is tied for the fewest ever by a second baseman in franchise history (White, 1988, and Jose Lind, 1993).
His fine season included a franchise record of 77 consecutive errorless games at second base to open the season, surpassing the previous mark of 70 games by White from 1987-88. It marked the third-longest streak to open a season in the Major Leagues since 1960.
Grudzielanek, 36, also set a Major League record for double plays turned by a second basemen, age 36 or older, surpassing the mark of 104 set by Randy Velarde (Anaheim, Oakland) in 1999, while his fielding percentage ranked third-best.
Offensively, he posted a team-best .297 average, going 163-for-548 with 32 doubles, four triples, seven homers, 52 RBI and 85 runs scored. He led the team in runs, hits and at bats, while ranking third in doubles.
Grudzielanek's award is particularly notable, as he becomes the first player in 17 years to win a Gold Glove for a team that lost 100 games. Detroit outfielder Gary Pettis won the award in 1989 after the Tigers posted a 59-103 record. The last second baseman to do so was Ken Hubbs for the Chicago Cubs in 1962.
For more information contact the Kansas City Royals Media Relations Department at 816-921-8000.