Kansas City Royals: Ten Best Seasons In Royals History

Best Seasons in Kansas City Royals History: 4. 1980 (97-65; Won Division, Lost WS 4-2)

With a new decade came new hope for the Royals. The seventies had been filled with hope followed by heartbreak at the hands of the same team on three different occasions.

The Royals ran away with the division in 1980 and had their minds set on revenge when they learned who they’d be facing in the 1980 ALCS.

The Royals had the honor of playing the Yankees for the fourth time in a five year span with the winner headed to the World Series. The Royals had come up short the previous three times, this year they were determined to make it different.

They didn’t even give the Yankees a chance. The Royals swept the Yankees and George Brett delivered the final blow with a three-run home run in the seventh inning. This time his home run would hold up.

The Royals faced off against the Phillies in the 1980 World Series. The series was filled with intrigue for a couple of reasons.

Whoever won this World Series would take home the first title in franchise history. It was also the first time that an American League expansion team made it to the World Series.

This series also featured each leagues’ MVP squaring off against each other. Mike Schmidt and George Brett both played third base for their teams and both were the best players in their respective leagues. Brett batted an amazing .390 on the regular season while Schmidt hit 48 home runs.

The Royals would lose the series in six games. What many consider to be a turning point in the series was a brush back pitch to George Brett in game four of the series. It’s something the 2015 version of the Royals are all too familiar with.

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