Number 10:
ROYALS WIN THE WORLD SERIES - October 27th, 1985
So technically I was just under 6 months old at the time, but in Kansas City it doesn't matter because this was the "crowning" moment for one of the most dominant teams of that decade. From 1976-1985 the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees were the class of the American League. No year classier of course than the 1976 Royals, which never fails to give my Dad that look in his eye when he talks about it. "The best team the Royals ever had." In an article in ESPN the magazine Whitey Herzog (the teams manager in '76) agreed, so I guess my dad knows what he is talking about from time to time.
From 1976-1978 the Royals won three consecutive division championships and met the Yankees in the American League Championship Series each year, although each meeting ended in a loss for the Royals. After a year break from the playoffs in 1979, the Royals, with new manager Jim Frey in place, finally broke through and made it to the world series in 1980. However, as had become in the norm in the Royals' short history, the season would end in heartbreak losing the Series to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
The next major happening in Royals lore came in 1983 with the epic "Pine Tar" game. George Brett had hit a home run to put the Royals up in the game and the home run was disallowed for an "illegal" placement of pine tar more than 18 inches up on the bat. The umpires convened and disallowed the home run causing Brett to rush out of the dugout in disgust to protest. Brett was promptly thrown out of the game. However, the home run was later allowed by the commissioner and the game was finished two weeks later resulting in a Royals victory. The Royals returned to the playoffs in 1984 only to get swept by the eventual world champion Detroit Tigers. Another trip to the playoffs and another disappointing end to a stellar Royals season.
Then along came 1985. God was smiling upon Kansas City that year. A certain someone was born and the Royals finally broke through completely and ended the season with a win. Through the tutelage of new Manager Dick Howser (who took over in 1984) the Royals were able to get themselves to the world series where the cross state rival the St. Louis Cardinals would be their competition, giving the Series the moniker the "I-70 Series." Now, my own personal dislike for the Cardinals aside, the redbirds proved to be a formidable opponent that year. After the Royals overcame a 3 games to 1 deficit by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS they quickly fell behind again 3 games to 1 to the Cardinals. This is when the series became interesting, and depending on who you ask, legendary. After winning game 5 the series looked like it was on its way to being over as the Cards held a 1-0 nothing lead in the ninth inning of game 6. That was until a controversial call by the now infamous Don Denkinger. Nevermind, that there was a horrible call to call Frank White out trying to steal second earlier in the game. Nevermind, that the Cards dropped an easy out pop foul or that there was a passed ball later in the inning as well. Nevermind all that, for if you ask any Cardinals fan the entire series rested on that call, but that will be discussed more later. The Royals went on to win the game and then clinch the series in game 7 in Kansas City for the elusive World Series Championship!!!
Why this made the list:
I have never proclaimed myself to be the biggest Royals fan. I follow them and support them but baseball has never a favorite sport of mine. However, that being said, the impact this event had on my fair city cannot be understated in the slightest. When the Chiefs won the Super Bowl the NFL was not near the powerhouse it is today and football was not nearly as popular as it is today either. Even with all 5 National Championships the Kansas Jayhawks have won, Lawrence is still 45 minutes away and although close enough, cannot be called a part of Kansas City sports lore. The Jayhawks have a place all their own and it would be a good bet you will see them on this list as it moves forward.
No, in 1985 Baseball was king, back when it was still true to call baseball "America's sport." After years of knocking at the door the Royals finally broke through and made it happen. If you ask my father KC has always been a baseball town and it has never been more prevalent than this moment. Despite my feelings on baseball it still gives me chills to think about 40,000+ fans crammed into Royals stadium cheering wildly at every pitch. Such an event never happened in KC before and such an event has not happened since. My only hope is that there will be an event of equal excitement in my lifetime.
Rarely does the sports world turn its head to Kansas City but there was nowhere else to look on October 27th. The Royals had conquered the major leagues and nobody could say anything about it (no matter any Cardinals fan will tell you). This is why an event that happened when I didn't even know what was going on made my list. Revive '85 t-shirts and the stories of anyone who was able to witness such an event will tell you exactly what kind of impact this event had on Kansas City and still has on my life.
(Editors note: To all St. Louis fans and those who think they Cards got robbed - GET OVER IT!!! The call was made and it happened. Oh yeah, lest we forget that it was in game SIX, there was another game yet to be played which the Cardinals did not have to lose. People will say "oh they were so demoralized how were they supposed to play well?" I don't buy that for a second. These men were professionals and professionals should be able to put a bad call behind them (however bad it may have been) and play like professional ballplayers. Especially when it is the biggest game of their life. That is the end of it.)
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