The Kansas City Royals made history on Tuesday night. For the first time, three Royals players took home American League Rawlings Gold Glove awards.

Left fielder Alex Gordon, first baseman Eric Hosmer and catcher Salvador Perez were honored as the best defenseman at their respective positions.

It is the first time since 1989 that Kansas City has had multiple players win a Gold Glove in the same season.

Gordon became the first Royal to win three-straight Gold Glove awards since second baseman Frank White won six straight from 1977-82.

Gordon joins Amos Otis (1971, 1973-74) as the only Royals outfielder to win three awards.

“I’ve got a trophy case back in Lincoln, so this one won’t be the chip-and-dip tray,” Gordon said. “This one will actually go up in the trophy case. It means a lot. The first one was pretty special, just because it’s the first one, but to be able to share it with two teammates makes this one the best one of all.”

Gordon tied for the Major-League lead with 17 outfield assists, after finishing second in 2012 and first in 2011.

His 54 assists since the start of 2011 are the most in baseball — 16 more than Detroit’s Torii Hunter. Gordon led AL left fielders in games played (160), innings (1,3641/3), total chances (341) and putouts (323), while committing just one error for a .997 fielding percentage.

Hosmer became the first Royals first baseman to be honored with a Gold Glove, and was the first Royals infielder to be honored since Mark Grudzielanek (2B) in 2006.

A finalist for a Gold Glove in 2012, Hosmer earned the award after leading AL first baseman in games played (158) and assists (122). He also finished second in innings (1,3721/3), total chances (1,335) and putouts (1,205). His .994 fielding percentage ranked fourth among the league’s first basemen with at least 1,200 chances.

Perez is just the second Royals’ catcher to be honored with a Gold Glove, joining Bob Boone in 1989.

Named an All-Star for the first time in his career, Perez led AL catchers in assists with 71, which was a team record. He also threw out 23 runners. His 35.2 caught stealing percentage ranked second among qualifying catchers. Perez also ranked second among AL backstops in games (137), innings (11151/3), total chances (1,008), putouts (930).

He was also charged with just three passed balls, the fewest among AL catchers with at least 100 games behind the plate.

The Royals now have 23 Gold Gloves honorees in franchise history.

— Associated Press —