On October 26, 1985, in game 6 of the World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals, the umpire blew a call at first base. With St. Louis leading 1–0, Jorge Orta led off the bottom of the ninth with a ground ball to first baseman Jack Clark, who flipped the ball to Cardinal pitcher Todd Worrell covering first. First base umpire Don Denkinger called Orta safe. Television cameras showed that Orta was actually out. The Royals eventually blew the Cardinals out in game 7.
The ’85 World Series, or the “I-70 series,” was the last time the Royals have even made it close to the playoffs. From 1995-2012 they had only one winning season. That winning season came in 2003 when they finished 83-79.
This season the Royals finished 2nd in their division behind the Detroit Tigers. They defeated the Oakland Athletics in the one-game wild card playoff game 9-8 in Kansas City. They later swept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in three games out of the five-game series. Last week, the Royals played a best-of- seven series in which they swept in four games. Currently they are waiting to see who will win the series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants. Ned Yost, the manager of the Royals is the first manager to have swept their way into the World Series. If the Cardinals make it in, it will be a repeat of the 1985 World Series. The bitterness from the blown call would be brought back up.
The Royals are led by 1st baseman/designated hitter, Eric Hosmer and left fielder, Alex Gordon. Third baseman, Mike Moustakas, appropriately nicknamed “Moose,” has also played a pivotal role in the playoffs so far. He has made spectacular catches, even flying over the dugout railing once.
Next week, we will see if the Royals can make history when they take on the San Francisco Giants at Kaufmann Stadium on Tuesday evening.