Jun 7, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr waves a flag after the game against the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City won the game 4-2. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
In 1985 The Kansas City Royals as a franchise was only 16 years old, and by baseball terms, an infant. Kansas City had been division champions in 1976,1977,1978,1980,1984, and 1985. An astonishing feat for any new franchise. Kansas City played in the 1980 World Series, eventually losing to the Philadelphia Phillies, but still Kansas City was the little engine that could.
The Royals were the Yankee slayers and the model franchise for new owners anywhere. Kansas City had as good of talent on their roster as any team in baseball thanks to the efforts of John Schuerholz who would later on go the Atalanta Braves and turn that franchise around. Behind it all was World War II Navy veteran and founder of Marion Laboratories, Ewing Kauffman, who provided top notch facilities and the willingness to compete. Mr. Kauffman was the anti- Steinbrenner in almost every way and Kansas City loved him for it.
DANE IORG
After playing in only 15 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1984, Dane Iorg was traded to the Kansas City Royals. Nobody knew it at the time but the trade for this utility infielder/outfielder would prove to be a vital part of capturing victory over the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series even though he only saw two at bats.
What many may not know is the Dane Iorg was clutch and loved the big moment. In the 1982 World Series while playing for the Cardinals, Iorg hit .529 and was an important part of the Cardinals run that year. Three years later as a Kansas City Royal he delivered with a clutch two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning against tough reliever Todd Worrell.
Of course, Cardinal fans especially want to talk about the missed call by first base umpire Don Denkinger, but that overshadows the clutch hitting by the Royals in that ninth inning after that play. Jorge Orta was only the first batter of the inning and Jack Clark misplayed a foul ball by Steve Balboni that allowed Balboni’s at bat to continue. Balboni would single.
Trailing 1-0, Iorg singled sharply on a fastball, scoring Onix Concepcion and Jim Sundberg, who had reached on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt. It proved to be the game winning hit as the Royals closed out game six with a 2-1 win. The rest of course is history as the Royals went on to win the final game 11-0 when a pouting and deflated St. Louis Cardinal team simply did not show up for game seven.
DANE IORG TODAY
After a productive 10 year career, Iorg stepped away from baseball in 1986 and the 63 year old former Royal now resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He is associated with a company called Synergy World Wide, which is a supplement company specializing in products that are advertised to help energy levels, reduce body fat, and improve the body’s immune system. He also sells lumber, and with wife Gay, they have eight children ranging in ages from 20 to 41 years old. Dane still follows baseball and has fond memories of the Royals saying, “…what a great place to play baseball..”