Blue October: Postseason miracles of the Kansas City Royals
It’s been nearly thirty years since the Kansas City Royals have seen postseason action. They rallied in one of the most spectacular Wild Card games the league has ever seen to send Billy Beane and the Athletics back to Oakland. They swept the Angels with a few extra innings and some home run power at the plate. Now, they find themselves awaiting the start of the American League Championship Series at Camden Yards Friday night.
It’s been a dramatic, unbelievable postseason journey thus far. The Royals aren’t ready to quit either. The organization is already offering fans the chance to register to purchase World Series tickets to Kauffman Stadium, conducting a random drawing for eligible fans who register to win at royals.com/postseason. Hopes are high for the Kansas City faithful, not only in the area, but across the nation.
Poll from ESPN.com
That’s a lot of blue. Understandably so. Who doesn’t love a major win from the young, “underpaid” (by baseball standards) royal blue underdogs? What else have the underdogs earned besides the nation’s support? Designated hitter Billy Butler was granted divine passage by one local church…to steal:
Thou shall not.. #exceptions @royals @BillyButlerKC pic.twitter.com/qf3w4pB9SO
— Beth Jones (@Bethalma7) October 7, 2014
The Royals have also been given the power to extend the life of one Kansas City woman, according to The Kansas City Star’s Donald Bradley: “Betty Bright will take her seat in front of the TV for the Royals game. Not directly in front. She has to sit off to the side and watch from the periphery or the picture blurs. Eye problem. Macular degeneration.But her ears are great. She hears the future. Just like in that wild Wild Card Game the other night — she knew Salvador Perez would get the winning hit before he even swung the bat. Not hoping, not wishing. She knew. That’s because her front door was open. Bright, 80, lives on the bluff to the north above Kauffman Stadium, close enough to hear the cheers.” Over a year ago, the report says, she was given six to nine months to live. The Royals’ biggest fan and unable to attend games due to health problems, Betty listens to her “neighbors” at Kauffman Stadium whenever they’re playing at home. According to family, the 2014 regular and postseason are keeping Betty alive. Finally, the Royals also played fairy godmother to the other boys in blue, the KCPD:
We really need everyone to not commit crimes and drive safely right now. We'd like to hear the @Royals clinch this.
— kcpolice (@kcpolice) October 1, 2014
Ask and you shall receive. The police department had the slowest calls to service on Wild Card night according to Sgt. Darin Snapp, and Royals postseason play is the reason.
The Orioles host the Royals Friday night at 7:00 p.m. CT in Birdland. Both teams are hungry for a championship and entrance into the World Series. Who will be the first to take a lead in the series?