KC Royals: Ten Greatest Moments In Royals History

John Viril

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The KC Royals run to the World Series in 2014 and 2015 allowed the current generation of fans to experience playoff baseball. They discovered that regular season is nothing but a dim echo of watching your team in October.

*THIS POST WAS INITIALLY WRITTEN AFTER THE ROYALS 2014 WORLD SERIES RUN, BUT WAS UPDATED IN MAY OF 2017 BECAUSE UM… YA KNOW… THE ROYALS HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES SINCE THEN*

For some reason, baseball is a much better game in the playoffs. Those time gaps that bore you to tears during the regular season fly past in the post-season. Every little action is magnified by pressure.

Postseason drama does more for baseball than it does any other sport, including football.

The heightened drama forces us to notice what we usually ignore. Fans learn more about the craft of baseball during the playoffs than at any other time.

The playoffs are baseball at its best, but to really appreciate it, you need a rooting interest. The Kansas City Royals playoff run made me remember how that anticipation can burst into mania when your team makes a game-turning play.

Those moments are fabulous.

Not all of them come during the playoffs, but your team needs to be relevant in the playoff chase to get the full effect.

For some reason, baseball seems to have better “moments” than football, basketball, hockey, and even soccer. I think the time gaps in baseball give you ample time to relish the full impact of what has just taken place before play resumes.

That’s why a clock would hurt baseball. If MLB makes a move in that direction, any clock needs to get turned off during the playoffs. Long game times aren’t such a problem when you’re playing on the grand stage.

Think about it. How much boredom did you suffer during October? I know I didn’t have time to get bored with all the effort it took to keep from bouncing off the walls.

What follows are the ten moments in Kansas City Royals history that I will never forget:

Next: August 11, 2014

Put that W up, Woo! Put that W up! http://t.co/mnz0gk6DZu
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) August 12, 2014

HONORABLE MENTION – SUNG WOO PUTS UP THE “W” AFTER THE ROYALS TAKE FIRST PLACE

How can a celebration that didn’t even take place during a game be one of my ten greatest moments in Royals history?

It’s all about the context.

On August 11, 2014, the Kansas City Royals stood in first place as late as August for the first time in 11 years. But the moment was as much about the guy putting up the “W” as it was about the team.

By now, every KC Royals fan that hasn’t spent the last five months on Pluto knows Sung Woo Lee’s story.

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He’s the South Korean fan that fell in love with the Royals watching armed forces television in 1995 while trying to work on his English. By 2014, Sung Woo had become such a Twitter institution on the #Royals hashtag that when he finally came to Kansas City, Royals diehards pulled out the stops to make his stay a memorable one.

The local media picked up the story, and Sung Woo Mania took over Kansas City in the middle of August.

The Royals won seven straight games after Sung Woo showed up, wiping out Detroit’s 4.5 game lead to take first place.

That moment meant far more than the Central Division lead.

When Sung Woo went nuts after hanging the “W”, that’s when I knew the Royals weren’t losers anymore. For the first time in 29 years.

The fact that it was Sung Woo, and his visit coincided with a crazy run to the top of the Central Division, couldn’t help but make Royals fans feel like fate was on our side.

Up until Sung Woo’s arrival, I had been nursing a sort of wry hope that the KC Royals could stay in the post-season hunt. When Sung Woo started jabbing the air with what you knew was completely genuine abandon, I starting thinking about winning the World Series.

I no longer had mere hope. I believed.

The prior 29 years had made me forget what that felt like.

Thanks Sung Woo.

Next: June 5, 1989

NUMBER TEN – BO JACKSON: THE THROW

The only reason “The Throw” comes in as low as number nine is the date: June 5, 1989.

The Kansas City Royals were 3.5 games out of the West Division lead, in third place behind the California Angels and eventual World Series Champion Oakland A’s. Yet, the game is really remembered for one reason.

The Throw.

No one really remembers the situation either, unless they go back and watch the video. Which, really, is quite amazing because Bo Jackson make what is probably his most spectacular defensive play of his career in a clutch situation.

The Royals and Mariners were tied in the bottom of 10th inning in Seattle, when backup catcher Scott Bradley doubled into the left-field corner. With the fast Harold Reynolds at first base, he looked certain to score the winning run.

Except Bo Jackson throws a 310-foot strike to home plate FROM THE WARNING TRACK.

Harold Reynolds wasn’t exactly slow. He led the American League in stolen bases two years before and was still one of the fastest players in the league.

Reynolds absolute disbelief was part of what made The Throw iconic. He slammed his batting helmet on the turf after he was called out, and stood at home plate with a bewildered look on his face.

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It was Reynolds reaction that told you just how amazing Bo Jackson’s raw talent was in every phase of the game.

It’s the highlight that gets played to this day on ESPN. But, replays simply lose the true feeling of that moment.

In 1989, we didn’t know about the hip injury that would ruin Bo’s talent in the not-too-distant future (January 1991). On that day, Bo Jackson appeared to be harnessing his amazing talent despite the grind of playing in both the NFL and MLB.

Bo’s phenomenal combination of speed and power had never been seen before, and really haven’t been seen since. Barry Bonds showed both great power and great speed during his career, but never really both at the same time.

At least, not on the scale of Bo Jackson.

Barry was a far better baseball player than Bo Jackson, but Bo had more natural ability.

In that moment in 1989, however, it looked like Bo Jackson’s talent would fill the entire baseball universe.

And he was playing for the Kansas City Royals.

Think about it.

Next: July 23, 1983

NUMBER NINE – GEORGE BRETT: THE PINE TAR HOME RUN

In this list, I’ve pretty much focused on moments that blew out my brains with emotion, rather than franchise—or player—milestones. The Pine Tar Game sort breaks that mold a bit, since it’s there because of its now-legendary status in baseball lore.

The Pine Tar Game took place in July, during a season in which the Royals ended up winning a mere 79 games. So it lacked the gravity of October.

Yet, it was a huge moment at the time. The Royals were in New York playing their hated rival New York Yankees. For those of you too young to remember, the Royals and Yankees had squared off in four ALCS series in a period of five years.

The Yankees had won three of those series in a row, before the KC Royals finally beat them in 1980 to make the franchise’s first World Series trip.

Thus, even regular season games between the Royals and Yankees invoked memories from playoff series of the recent past. On July 24, the Royals were 44-45; but only two games out of first.

In the game itself, the Yankees led 3-2 with two outs in the 9th inning. Hal McRae was on 1st base, with George Brett at the plate and Hall-of-Fame reliever Rich “Goose” Gossage on the mound.

Brett takes Gossage deep into left field, much like a rather more famous home run he had hit in the 1980 playoffs, to put the Royals up 5-4.

What happened next is the stuff of baseball legend. Yankee manager Billy Martin challenged how high Brett had smeared Pine Tar on the bat, causing the umpires to rule Brett out and the game over.

Brett came roaring out of the dugout like a redneck who was told he couldn’t have gun racks on his truck. It was one of the great fits in baseball history.

While Brett is spraying chaw all over home plate umpire Tim McClelland, Hall-of-Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry tried to steal the bat so there would be no evidence.

The whole thing ended up with New York City cops chasing down a Royals bat boy in the clubhouse, to secure the now-famous bat.

American League president Lee MacPhail later rule that the home run was valid because Pine Tar did not make the ball fly any farther. He ordered the Royals and Yankees to complete the game at a later date, with the Royals up 5-4 in the top of the 9th.

The Pine Tar Game was circus then, and a legend today, thanks to regular replays on ESPN. It makes my list of great moments, because even as I watched it unfold live on TV, I knew it was bizarre.

Next: October 16, 1985

NUMBER EIGHT – JIM SUNDBERG’S TRIPLE SINKS BLUE JAYS

The Kansas City Royals had roared back from a three games to one deficit in the 1985 ALCS against Toronto. In game 7, the KC Royals held a slim 2-1 lead over Blue Jay ace Dave Stieb in the 6th inning.

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However, Toronto was at home and sported the best young outfield in the game in Jesse Barfield, Lloyd Moseby, and George Bell. I, and pretty much every Royals fan in the universe, were terrified the Royals comeback would fall one game short.

That as the situation that faced Kansas City Royals catcher Jim Sundberg when he came to the plate with the bases loaded and 2 out in the inning.

Sundberg, who had been brought to Kansas City for his ability to handle a young pitching staff, slammed a triple off the top of the right field wall.

Three runs scored. Kansas City’s one-run lead had now become a 5-1 bulge.

Game over. According to baseball reference, Kansas City’s win probability jumped from 68% to 91%.

At that moment. I went from gnawing doubt to absolute certainty that the KC Royals were headed back to the World Series.

Next: October 27, 1985

NUMBER SEVEN – DARRYL MOTLEY’S CATCH TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES

The 1985 World Series win remains the only world championship in team history. How can sealing the greatest feat in franchise history only be the 6th best moment?

Because the game had already been over for hours when Motley made that catch.

Yeah, the players celebrated and fireworks burst over (then) Royals Stadium, but the score was 11-0. I had already been celebrating for a long time before that final out.

By that time, watching the game had been nothing more than a formality to accompany the party.

Oh sure, watching the KC Royals beat up Cardinal ace John Tudor had been fun. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing Joaquin Andujar melt down and get thrown out of the game.

The listless Cardinals looked beat the moment they took the field that night, due to blowing a 1-0 lead with two outs to go for the title the night before.

Poor babies. Maybe they hoped someone would change their diapers if they cried enough.

Seriously, any delusional Cardinal fan that still thinks Don Denkinger “robbed” St. Louis of a title should be condemned to watch a repeating loop of game 7 until their mind turns to jello.

(Oh wait, your mind already has to be jello to become a St. Louis Cardinal fan. My bad.)

Next: October 14, 1976

NUMBER SIX – GEORGE BRETT SHUTS UP NEW YORK

The raw description of the situation was big enough. Fifth game of the 1976 ALCS back when the series was five games. George Brett came up with two men on and no outs in the 8th inning and the KC Royals down 6-3.

Twenty-three year old George Brett parked the ball in the upper deck in left. 6-6 tie.

Take that, New York.

Even so, even those facts don’t do the situation justice. There was a lot more going on.

The Royals franchise was only seven years old in 1976, and had made the post-season faster than any expansion team in major-league history up to that time. 1969 was before free-agency. The Kansas City Royals started out with a roster filled with left-over scrubs.

Of course, the most bombastic sportscaster in history, the legendary Howard Cosell, didn’t seem to recognize this achievement. Instead, Cosell spent the entire series damning the Royals with faint praise while all but leading cheers from the booth for the Yankees.

It was disgusting.

That’s not all. Cosell angered all of Kansas City with his constant condescending attitude toward, not only the team, but the city itself. Apparently, New York’s big city sophistication would somehow shield the mighty Yankees from losing to the hayseeds from Kansas City.

Not only was Cosell condescending, ABC’s camera crews seemed to make a concerted effort to validate every stereotype New Yorkers had about the Midwest during the games in Kansas City.

I must confess, I’d like to watch those games again as an adult. Because I wonder if the bitterness of losing a close series colored my childhood memories. Maybe, just maybe, I was looking for reasons to vilify the Big Apple.

U.S Senator Thomas Eagleton (from Missouri), however, apparently agreed with me. He called Cosell’s coverage “obnoxious” and wrote then ABC Sports president Roone Arledge demanding that he ban Cosell from future baseball broadcasts.

But, George Brett washed all of that away with one swing. With his first of many clutch hits on the big stage, George Brett put fear into the entire city of New York.

Next: August 17, 1980

NUMBER FIVE GEORGE BRETT PASSES .400 MARK, 1980

Anyone who has read this far should be getting a pretty good idea why the KC Royals put a statue of George Brett in front of Kauffman Stadium.

I don’t think this one needs too much explanation. Ted Williams was the last man to hit .400 in the major leagues – in 1941.

Since then, George Brett, Rod Carew, and Tony Gwynn have all made runs at Williams’ mark. In 1980, George Brett was at .400 as late as September 19.

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That’s close.

George Brett season was so remarkable, we even had “George Brett For President” bumper stickers since 1980 was a presidential campaign year.

On that August day in 1980, Brett surged past the .400 mark with a double off Toronto starter Jim Clancy. Not only did Brett post a .400 average for the season that day, he also broke up a 2-2 tie by driving in two runs.

Yeah. Not only did Brett pass .400, his hit broke up a 7th inning tie during a pennant race.

How’s that for clutch?

Next: October 10, 1980

NUMBER FOUR – GEORGE BRETT FINALLY SLAYS THE YANKEES

1980 seemed like the Kansas City Royals year. Not only did George Brett make a run at Ted Williams, he also smacked 23 home runs and won the A.L. MVP Award.

They also finally beat the Yankees to win the A.L. pennant.

The KC Royals took the first two games of the series, but were losing 2-1 in the 3rd game in New York in the top of the 7th. With Willie Wilson at 3rd and U.L. Washington at 2nd, Brett came to the plate with two outs against Goose Gossage.

Brett parked the ball in the third deck of Yankee Stadium. As this article should show you, the short porch in left was Brett’s best friend.

The blast put the Royals up 4-2 in the 7th. This time, the KC Royals had finally discovered a closer in Dan Quisenberry who came into the game in the bottom of the 7th inning.

That’s right boys and girls. The Royals closer pitched three full innings to earn the save – which was nothing unusual in 1980.

Not only did the Kansas City Royals finally beat the Yankees in the playoffs, the Royals swept them. In New York. And it was Goose Gossage that gave up the big blow.

Guess the hayseeds could play, isn’t that right New York?

Next: November 1, 2015

NUMBER THREE – ERIC HOSMER DASHES HOME

Some might argue that this should be higher due to what game it was, but when you see the number one and two entries, you’ll understand why Eric Hosmer sits here as the third best moment in Kansas City Royals history.

For those of you who don’t remember this moment (doubtful), I’ll jog your memory. The Royals hadn’t been able to accomplish anything against Matt Harvey and the New York Mets in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series. It was 2-0 in the ninth inning and somehow, once again, the Royals came back in style.

Hosmer was standing on third base with the game sitting at 2-1 in favor of the Mets. Salvador Perez had a chance to tie the game with a sac fly, but instead grounded out to third. Mets fans likely figured this was an easy out, but as third baseman David Wright grabbed the ball and made the throw to first, Hosmer took off for home.

First baseman Lucas Duda then panicked and had a wild throw to home. Hosmer slid into home safe as can be and the game was tied.

While there are many other moments from this game that could have been chosen for this list, Hosmer’s slide is the most memorable I feel like. For one, it tied the game. Second, he chose to risk the final out of the game. Had Hosmer been thrown out, this game would have been a Royals loss and the series would have been 3-2 with the series returning to Kansas City.

Joe Buck exclaimed during the broadcast, “Incredible base running by Eric Hosmer!” and it truly was. The Royals knew what type of errors the Mets would make in high pressure situations and they took advantage of it.

The result? A Kansas City Royals World Series title. Ain’t that grand?

NUMBER TWO – SALVADOR PEREZ’S WALKOFF SINGLE WINS WILD CARD

What made Salvy’s game winning single such a great moment was that the win was so unexpected.

I mean the light-hitting Royals, the first team since 1985 to make the World Series after finishing last in MLB in home runs, trailed Jon Lester and the A’s 7-3 in the 8th inning.

When Mike Moustakas lined out to end the bottom of the 7th, Baseball-reference estimated the Royals had a 3% chance to win the game.

No team in major-league history had ever overcome a four-run deficit after the 7th inning to win a winner-take-all game.

Until, that is, the KC Royals did it on September 30, 2014.

I wrote after the game:

"On Tuesday night, the Kansas City Royals put 29-years of bad baseball to rest with a never-say-die victory for the ages. The much-maligned Royals lineup simply wouldn’t quit, overcoming deficits of 2-0, 7-3, and 8-7 to pull off a 9-8 victory over the Oakland A’s on Salvador Perez‘s 12th inning RBI single. It’s an emotional win that stands up to any moment in Royals history. And they won the Royals way, countering Oakland’s power with 7 stolen bases. Kansas City ran their way back into their do-or-die coin-flip game against the Oakland A’s. Behind 7-3 after 7 innings, the Royals then proceeded to steal 4 bases in a 3-run 8th, that included a wild pitch to pull within 1-run. The Royals tied the game in the 9th when pinch hitter Josh Willingham started off the inning with a single. Alcides Escobar bunted pinch runner Jarrod Dyson to 2nd. Speed-burner Dyson then stole third, and scored on Nori Aoki‘s sacrifice fly to right. With the score tied, the game turned into sudden-death baseball."

The A’s then looked like they were going to win by taking an 8-7 lead in the top of the 12th inning on former Royal Alberto Callaspo‘s single off Jason Frasor.

It felt like the end.

I had already written the Royals lost and was trying to put a positive spin on the season when Eric Hosmer tripled in the 12th and then scored on Christian Colon‘s chopper to short.

The win was, and still is, a victory for the ages.

Next: October 26, 1985

NUMBER ONE – DANE IORG HITS WALKOFF SINGLE TO WIN GAME SIX

Yeah. The Royals didn’t win the 1985 World Series on October 26. Yet, they were looking at elimination when they came to the plate in the bottom of the 9th inning trailing the Cardinals 2-1.

Many St. Louis fans were already celebrating, certain they were going to win.

Not so fast.

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First base umpire Don Denkinger ruled leadoff hitter Jorge Orta safe on a close play at first. Yes. Denkinger blew the call. Yet, Baseball-reference’s win predictor held that the Cardinals still retained a 66% chance of walking away World Series champions that night.

They failed.

In a sequence well-known to Royals fans of a certain age, Steve Balboni followed with a single after Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark dropped a pop fly in foul territory. Jim Sundberg failed to advance the runners on a sacrifice bunt, before Cardinals catcher Darryl Porter allowed a passed ball to put runners at 2nd and 3rd.

Even then, the Cardinals still had a 46% chance to win that night. Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog ordered an intentional walk to Hal McRae. Royals Hall-of-Fame manager Dick Howser sent Dane Iorg to pinch hit for closer Dan Quisenberry with one out in the 9th (MLB used to designate alternate years for DH use in the World Series).

Of course, you know the result.

Dane Iorg blooped a single to right field to take game 6 of the 1985 World Series after the Royals started the inning with a mere 20% chance to survive.

[Trivia Note: In Back to the Future 2, October 26, 1985 was the day Marty McFly left for his 2nd time travel adventure. See this article from Snopes for the full run down. Wonder how much Biff made on that bet.]

The sudden reversal of fortune is what made Dane Iorg’s game winning pinch hit the Greatest Moment in Royals History. You can watch the complete inning for yourself.

[Note: Any Cardinal fan that still wants to blame Don Denkinger for the loss can go read this. Maybe if you move out of your mother’s basement, you’ll finally get a life. After 30 years, it’s time.]

Royals fans that who want to dig deeper into the past, can check out this list of the 40 greatest moments in Royals history from MLB.com.

Next: Royals All-Time Triples Leaders

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John Viril

Like a lot of people, I am still fixated on the sports teams I followed in my youth. I grew up in Kansas City and naturally became a fan of the Chiefs and Royals. Of course, that means I haven't seen a playoff win in 20 years. Here's to breaking the drought in 2014!