Kansas City Royals players celebrate on the field – Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
By now, the Kansas City Royals have captured the attention of nation. They have been called “America’s Team”, as they went from the Cinderella underdogs to overwhelming favorites, and Kansas City Royals fever has caught fire faster than anyone has ever seen.
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Without being alive in 1985, I can say that when we finish this season as World Champions, everyone alive in Kansas City will be able to say that they just experienced the Kansas City Royals franchise’ most memorable season.
It has just been so much more special than the 85′ run for several reasons, but there is still one more step to take to surpass the 1985 season.
There have been so many incredible memories thus far in this post season. Let’s take a look at the top 5 moments of this year’s historic run:
Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon – Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
5) Alex Gordon’s bases clearing double off the wall
After winning the first two games of the ALDS, the Royals returned home with the fan-base still weary to commit full-heartedly to the playoff run. There has just been too much heartbreak to go through it all again.
After the Angels took an early lead off of a Mike Trout first inning homer, it seemed as if a whirlwind of trouble could hit the Royals in an instant. That thought was put to a halt during the next half-inning.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Alex Gordon hit a pop fly that seemed to magically carry all the way to the wall. It seemed as if the ball was floating in the air forever. Personally, I thought it was a routine play for the speedy Trout and we had wasted a golden opportunity to put the series away.
I was wrong.
The ball jolted off the wall and all three runners scored. Specifically, the image of Billy Butler sliding in to home with the biggest smile and a slight upper-cut fist pump is what will always stand out to me.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer – Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
4) A postseason full of go-ahead home runs
The Royals, who finished last in the league in balls put over the wall, were led in the postseason by the long ball. First, in game one of the ALDS, Mike Moustakas hit the go-ahead solo shot in the top of the 11th that proved to be the difference. Moustakas also had a home run during the ALCS in Baltimore.
Hosmer and Moustakas, who combined for just 24 home runs during the regular season, have blasted 6 total this post season
The very next night, Eric Hosmer, with a runner on, hit a shot into the right field bullpen of Anaheim. This went on to lead the Royals to a second straight victory of the ALDS.
Hosmer and Moustakas, who combined for just 24 home runs during the regular season, have blasted 6 total this post season – two by Hosmer, and four by Moustakas.
Lastly, Alex Gordon hit yet another Royals’ go-ahead home run in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the ALCS at Camden Yards. This just topped off the Royals postseason power surge. A miraculous way for the team criticized for lacking home run hitters to sweep through the American League side of the playoffs.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) dives into the stands Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
3) Mike Moustakas’ all-out catch
Already compared to George Brett‘s sliding attempt to catch a foul ball while falling into the dugout, Moustakas perhaps made the defensive play of the 2014 playoffs so far.
Moustakas’ catch is one that will be played in Royals’ highlight reels for the rest of the franchise’s existence.
In the sixth inning of ALCS Game 3, Moustakas ranged over to the fans’ dugout box in foul territory. Once he got to the railing of the dugout, he realized he had misjudged it, so he sacrificed his body by diving over the railing into the crowd to make the catch.
The thing that made this play most memorable is the fans. Moose didn’t even hit the ground.
The Kansas City fans caught him, braced his fall, and lifted him back over the railing. People also compared the catch to the play Derek Jeter made against the Red Sox in 2004 when Jeter went all-out on a ball near the stands and ended up diving head first into the second row of seats.
Moustakas’ catch is one that will be played in Royals’ highlight reels for the rest of the franchise’s existence.
Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Kansas City Royals celebrate after catcher Salvador Perez (13) hit a walk-off single against the Oakland Athletics during the twelfth inning of the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
2) The final out in Game 4 of the ALCS
This was the culmination of 29 years of frustration being released at once. As 40,400+ fans watched from The K and millions more diehard fans and new fans alike watched on television, and counted down the outs in that ninth inning, you couldn’t help but feel the energy being let off in that stadium.
White Cleat Beat
It was one of the most majestic sights I have ever seen. The roar that everyone let out as Mike Moustakas fielded that J.J. Hardy grounder down the third base line, and the even louder roar that erupted Kansas City as Hosmer caught the ball at first to finish the game was perhaps the most special moment of every Kansas City Royals’ fan’s fanhood.
Watching Hosmer leap off of first base and the celebration of the boys in blue returning to the Fall Classic after 29 years was a sight that can not be replicated.
If you were at Kauffman during this special moment, you saw streamers falling from the upper deck, brooms flying in the air, hugs and smiles from strangers all around the stadium.
It was truly a city coming together in one moment. That moment was more than baseball.
Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) celebrates with his wife Stephanie – Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
1) The best game in franchise history: the Wildcard game
Sure, the final out of the ALCS was an amazing moment for Kansas City, but what will be the mainstay twenty years from now in tribute videos of the 2014 Kansas City Royals?
No game has ever been more thrilling in a do or die, Game 7-like matchup in Royals history. Just summarizing the game doesn’t do that night any justice. It is truly something that you had to watch to experience.
Well, the majority of the highlights will come from the Wild Card Game against the Oakland A’s. Some dub this to be the best Major League Baseball playoff game ever. It certainly can be dubbed the best game in Royals franchise history.
No game has ever been more thrilling in a do or die, Game 7-like matchup in Royals history. Just summarizing the game doesn’t do that night any justice. It is truly something that you had to watch to experience.
The gut-wrenching feeling of that sixth inning when Yordano Ventura came in for relief and allowed a 3-run go ahead homer in addition to two more runs; it was awful. Most, if not all of Kansas City, gave up hope.
I know that after the Royals clawed back a run in the bottom of the 8th inning, everyone believed that this team was going to complete the full comeback. Even when they missed so many opportunities in extra innings to win the game, no one lost faith.
There were just so many great moments in this game that make this whole game the number one moment in this Royals magical postseason run.
Every single one of these moments was incredible and I’m so excited to watch these boys battle it out with the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. LET’S GO ROYALS!