Black’s effectiveness hinged on constantly mixing his fastball, curve, slider, and change-up to keep hitters guessing. Used initially as a middle reliever, he led Royals’ starters in IP, wins, ERA, and strikeouts in 1984.
His fortunes fell in 1985, when he seemed to lose something off his set-up pitch, the fastball. The only Royal starter with a losing record in Kansas City’s World Championship season, Black was put back in the bullpen in 1986 and was traded to the Indians in mid-1988.
