Kansas City Royals: Ten Best Seasons In Royals History
By Scott Dillon
Best Seasons in Kansas City Royals History: 1. 2015 (95-73; Won Division, Won WS 4-1)
Again, these last two seasons could have gone either way. George Brett called the 2015 Royals ‘The best ever!’ and I’m not going to argue with him.
The 2015 Royals not only brought a trophy to Kansas City for the first time in 30 years, they put an end to all of the doubt that the previous season had been a fluke.
The Royals ran away with their division in 2015 winning their first AL Central title since they joined the division.
They didn’t have to worry about a dramatic Wild Card game this season, but had plenty of late inning magic left in the tank.
The Royals came from at least two runs down in seven of their playoff victories. It was the most ever in a single postseason and beat the previous mark by two games.
Perhaps the most dramatic of these victories came in game four of the ALDS. The Royals trailed four runs entering the top of the eighth inning and the Astros looked ahead to the American League Championship Series.
The Royals rattled off five straight singles to pull within two runs of the Astros. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Kendrys Morales stepped to the plate.
Correa’s costly error allowed the Royals to tie the game. It would suck the life right out of the Astros as the Royals would roll to victory in game five.
The Royals didn’t have as many dramatic moments against the Blue Jays but after Lorenzo Cain scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, Wade Davis did something he doesn’t do. He let the tying and go-ahead runs get to third and second base with nobody out.
That was one of the most adrenaline pumping moments the Royals had delivered in the 2015 postseason, at least to that point.
In the World Series the team had several heroes. They rallied around Edinson Volquez who lost his father only hours before he started game one of the World Series. Alex Gordon played the hero in game one. He lived out a fantasy that everyone who’s ever picked up a bat and ball has played out in their minds.
In games four and five, it was Eric Hosmer who played the hero. He bounced a ball under Daniel Murphy’s glove in four that opened the window for the Royals to come from behind.
In the final game of the series, it was Hosmer who hit a double to drive in the first run of the game for the Royals. With two outs in the top of the ninth and trailing by a run, Hosmer bolted for home in what can only be described as a desperate act.
In the 12th inning of the game, Salvador Perez led off the inning with a bloop single down the right field line. Jarrod Dyson took over at first and did what he does. He stole second base easily and made it to third on a ground ball by Alex Gordon. Looking to replicate what Dane Iorg had done in 1985, Christian Colon strode to the plate for his first at-bat in nearly 30 days.
The Royals piled on the runs from that point forward. when Wade Davis took the mound in the bottom half of the inning, the Royals and their fans weren’t questioning if they’d get to celebrate, they were just wondering when it would happen.
The 2015 Royals put together the best season in franchise history. It ended years of frustration and helped heal the heartbreak of losing game seven only the year before.
Next: Could A Dynasty Be Brewing?