Kansas City Royals: End of the Forever Royal Era
By Jesse Holt
What the Kansas City Royals mean to me
I feel like it’s nearly impossible for one person to put into words what this iteration of the Kansas City Royals has meant to the city. Different people have taken different things from this run.
For me, 2014 was the culmination of a dream I’d had since playing baseball with my dad in the backyard.
Just seeing the Royals in the playoffs for the first time in my life was enough in itself. Through every up and down of that game, even when it looked dark, I found myself believing. I just hung on to the simple thought, “I’m not ready to give up,” telling myself as long as one soul believed, the Royals had a shot.
Once Salvador Perez hit that single down the left field line, narrowly missing the outstretched glove of Josh Donaldson, I was elated. The Royals were moving on!
Throughout the rest of the Postseason, it felt like we were playing with house money. Each time the Royals advanced, I realized I was witnessing something special. This is what I’d been missing out on!
Just seeing the Royals in the playoffs for the first time in my life was enough in itself.
When the World Series ended, I felt anger and sadness, yes. More than that, I felt pride. My team had done the impossible and made it further than I ever expected them to. I could finally wear a blue KC cap outside of the Midwest and feel pride in doing so!
2015 is special to me as well, but for an entirely different set of reasons. With the beginning of the baseball season being accompanied by one of the most difficult and sorrowful times of my life, I threw myself completely into 2015. Not only was it a great distraction, but it provided me with a positive outlet to boot.
The Royals basically ran the table that season, seizing the best record in the AL and securing home field advantage. Throughout that run, the season just had a sense of urgency. It was our time to ‘Take the Crown’. If it didn’t happen this year, would it ever?
Of course, no one needs to remind me that the Royals were ‘Crowned’ in 2015. My daughter’s birthday nine months later ensures that.