Royals History: Kansas City Makes First World Series
By David Hill
For years, the New York Yankees were a thorn in the Kansas City Royals side. On this day in 1980, the Royals finally got past New York, making their first World Series.
During the late 1970s, the Kansas City Royals had become the class of the American League West. The Royals became a winning franchise in just their third season of existence, winning the West for three consecutive years. However, they ran into the New York Yankees dynasty, and were unable to get over the hump into the World Series.
The 1980 campaign was another collision course for the two franchises. The Yankees had won 103 games, winning a tightly contested AL East, while the Royals won the West by 14 games. George Brett had an MVP season, with his .390 batting average the highest since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. Youngsters like Dan Quisenberry, Willie Aikens, and Rich Gale helped push the franchise. Meanwhile, the Yankees were loaded with stars like Ron Guidry, Reggie Jackson, and Rich Gossage. It was quite the battle.
The Royals had an early advantage. They took a quick 2-0 lead in Kansas City, hammering the Yankees in Game One, and using a big inning against Rudy May to eke out a 3-2 victory in Game Two. But the Royals still needed to go to New York, which had been a postseason House of Horrors.
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On this day in 1980, Game Three of the ALCS took place. And for a time, it seemed as though nothing had changed. Frank White had hit a solo home run to give the Royals a brief 1-0 lead, but the Yankees used three hits and an error to take a 2-1 lead against Quisenberry. Tommy John got the first two out in the top of the seventh, but after he gave up a double to Willie Wilson, manager Dick Howser brought his closer, Gossage, into the game.
The fireballer gave up an infield single to U L Wsahington, setting up a classic battle. Brett, the heart and soul of the Royals, was at the plate, representing the go ahead run. On Gossage’s first pitch of the at bat, Brett unloaded, belting a three run homer into the third deck at Yankee Stadium.
That was all the Royals needed. Quisenberry shut down the Yankees the rest of the way, preserving the 4-2 lead. He struck out Willie Randolph for the final out, sending the Royals to their first World Series appearance. There, they would fall to the Phillies in six games, but they have slewn their own Goliath.
Next: Remembering Charlie Faust
The Kansas City Royals finally got over the hump on this day in 1980, with George Brett’s three run homer proving to be the decisive blast.