1985 Kansas City Royals season
Encyclopedia
The 1985
Kansas City Royals
season ended with the Royals' first world championship win over their intrastate rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals
. The Royals won the Western Division
of the American League
for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in ten years. The team improved its record to 91-71 on the strength of its pitching, led by Bret Saberhagen
's Cy Young Award
-winning performance.
In the playoffs, the Royals went on to win the American League Championship Series
for just the second time and the World Series
for the first time (they lost the 1980 World Series). Both series were won in seven games after losing three of the first four games. The championship series against the Cardinals was forever remembered by umpires' blown calls: one that cost the Royals a run in the 4th, and a "blown call" in Game Six by umpire
Don Denkinger
that eventually led to the tying run.
The team was managed by Dick Howser
in his fourth and final full season with the Royals.
. In his second straight opening day
start, Bud Black faced off against the Blue Jay's Dave Stieb
and allowed only a single earned run on four hits as the Royals won 2-1. Stieb held the Royals scoreless for 6⅔ innings before giving up the game winning runs on a double by Willie Wilson. Black exited the game in the eighth inning with two outs after giving up a single and a walk. Dan Quisenberry closed out the game for his first save of the new season. The attendance of 41,086 was the highest of any home opener and wasn't exceeded until the 2005 season. It was also the second highest of any of the Royals' regular season home games in 1985.
The Seattle Mariners
had the strongest start in the division—winning their first six games at home by sweeping the Oakland Athletics
and Minnesota Twins
. But the Mariners quickly faded into sixth place as they lost twelve of their next thirteen games. After their losses in Seattle, the Athletics returned home to win seven of their next nine games, and on April 21 were in a three-way tie for first with the Mariners and the California Angels
. However, a seven-game losing streak at the end of April pushed them down into sixth place on May 1 and five games below the Angels. At the end of April the Royals had a record of 11-8 (.579), but they had fallen two games behind the Angels who had finished the month with a six-game winning streak and had a 14-7 record.
The Royals began the month of May by losing seven of their first eight games, culminating in a 11-3 loss on May 11 at home to the New York Yankees
. The team was three games below .500, in fourth place and 5½ games behind the Angels. Three days and three wins later, with a record of 15-15, the Royals would not drop below .500 at any time during the remainder of the season. (But they would have a .500 record as late as July 10 when they were 41-41.) With two 6-game winning streaks, the team won thirteen of their next seventeen games to enter a first place tie with the Angels on May 29, with a record of 25-19. This stretch of games was highlighted by three complete game shutouts pitched by Bret Saberhagen, Bud Black, and Charlie Leibrandt in which they allowed only a combined 8 hits and 4 walks. And despite being on the road, from May 15 through May 17, the three starters each threw a complete game and allowed a combined two earned runs (a 0.67 ERA), 14 hits, and just one walk.
The Royals struggled to make headway in the divisional race through June and into late July. Between May 30 and July 21 they were 21-25 and fell to 7½ games behind the Angels. With New York arriving in Kansas City to start a six-game home series on Monday, July 22, the Royals began a seven-game winning streak which was the longest in the season to that point. Dan Quisenberry picked up his 19th, 20th, and 21st saves as the Royals swept the Yankees, and he put in relief appearances in three of the next four games—picking up two more saves. On July 29, the Angels' lead had shrunk to 2½ games. They would remain there through September 1 as the Royals were 16-14 during that period and the Angels were 17-15.
The eight-game winning streak (all at home) between September 2 and September 8 was the longest of the season for the Royals. The streak included three games in extra innings. After winning five of their next seven games, the Royals achieved a 2½ game lead over the Angels on September 15. However, the Mariners who had given them trouble earlier in the year—winning five of their six previous contests—shut out the Royals twice in a four-game sweep in Kansas City, dropping the Royals into a tie for first place on September 19. Winning just four of their next nine games, the Royals dropped a game behind the Angels on September 29.
After being swept at home in three games by the Twins and with only seven games remaining in the regular season, the Royals faced a four-game series at home versus the Angels. On September 30 the Royals won the first game 3-1 with Saberhagen pitching a complete game and giving up just one run on a home run by Doug DeCinces
. Saberhagen collected ten strikeouts in the game and allowed only seven batters to reach first base. The Angels claimed the following game on October 1 by the score of 4-2 with Mike Witt
pitching. The Royals won the third game on October 2 with Black pitching a complete game shut out and allowing only five batters to reach first base. Three of the four runs scored by the Royals came in the bottom of the first inning with no outs as George Brett hit an inside-the-park home run to center field with two runners on base. The final game of the series on October 3 was won 4-1 by the Royals with Quisenberry recording the final out of the game and his 36th save of the season. Starting pitcher Danny Jackson had given up just one run in 8⅔ innings despite allowing 11 hits. The Royals' runs came on three home runs by Frank White, Steve Balboni, and Brett. With the win, the Royals had a one game lead on the Angels.
The Royals hosted the Athletics for the final three games of the season while the Angels traveled to Arlington Stadium
to battle the Rangers. On October 4, the Royals defeated the Athletics by the score of 4-2, and the Angels were shut out 6-0 by the Rangers' starting pitcher Dave Schmidt
. This gave the Royals a two game lead and assured them of at least a tie for first. The division championship was claimed in a dramatic fashion on the following day as the Royals come from behind to defeat the Athletics in ten innings by the score of 5-4. The final game of the season on October 6 was a loss, and the Royals finished the season with a record of 91-71 (.562).
in Toronto, Ontario
in Toronto, Ontario
in Kansas City, Missouri
in Kansas City, Missouri
in Kansas City, Missouri
in Toronto, Ontario
in Toronto, Ontario
With the St. Louis Cardinals
defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers
in six games in the National League Championship Series
, the 1985 World Series
was destined to become one of the most memorable series for the cross-state rivals. It was popularly known as the Show-Me Series (Missouri
is "the Show-Me State") and the I-70
Series.
As they had done in the ALCS, the Royals lost three of their first four games with the Cardinals. The key game in the Royals' comeback was Game 6, a game famous for umpire errors. A blown call in the 4th inning cost the Royals their closest scoring opportunity when Frank White was mistakenly called out after stealing second, and the next batter, Pat Sheridan
, got a hit. Facing elimination, the Royals trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning before rallying to score two runs and win. In what has been called "one of the most controversial and famous plays in Series history", Jorge Orta led off the bottom of the ninth with a ground ball to Cardinal first baseman Jack Clark
, who flipped the ball to pitcher Todd Worrell
covering first. First base umpire Don Denkinger
called Orta safe, but television replays later showed that Worrell had beaten him to the base. The call shifted momentum of the Series to the Royals and following the tension and frustration of Game 6, the Cardinals came undone in Game 7. The Royals' Bret Saberhagen pitched a five-hit shutout, allowing the Royals to win 11-0 and clinch the franchise's first World Series title.
AL Kansas City Royals
(4) vs NL St. Louis Cardinals
(3)
: Bret Saberhagen
Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award : Dan Quisenberry
ALCS MVP : George Brett
Gold Glove Award
: Third base—George Brett
Silver Slugger Award : Third base—George Brett
Executive of the Year : General Manager John Schuerholz
Home run
s
Strikeout
s
Saves
1985 Major League Baseball season
In 1985, the Major League Baseball season ended with the Kansas City Royals defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh game of the I-70 World Series. Bret Saberhagen, the regular season Cy Young Award winner, was named MVP of the Series...
Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
season ended with the Royals' first world championship win over their intrastate rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals
1985 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals' 1985 season was the team's 104th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 94th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 101-61 during the season and finished in first place in the National League East division by three games over the New York Mets...
. The Royals won the Western Division
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in ten years. The team improved its record to 91-71 on the strength of its pitching, led by Bret Saberhagen
Bret Saberhagen
Bret William Saberhagen is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Early years:Bret Saberhagen attended Grover Cleveland High School, located in Reseda, California. Saberhagen starred in both basketball and baseball...
's Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
-winning performance.
In the playoffs, the Royals went on to win the American League Championship Series
1985 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 8, 1985 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, OntarioThe Toronto Blue Jays entered the series as the favorite to win the series. The first game featured Toronto pitcher Dave Stieb and Kansas City pitcher Charlie Leibrandt at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto...
for just the second time and the World Series
1985 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 19, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri-Game 2:Sunday, October 20, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri...
for the first time (they lost the 1980 World Series). Both series were won in seven games after losing three of the first four games. The championship series against the Cardinals was forever remembered by umpires' blown calls: one that cost the Royals a run in the 4th, and a "blown call" in Game Six by umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
Don Denkinger
Don Denkinger
Donald Anton Denkinger is a former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1998. Denkinger wore uniform number 11, when the AL adopted uniform numbers in 1980. He is best remembered for an incorrect call he made at first base in Game 6 of the 1985 World...
that eventually led to the tying run.
The team was managed by Dick Howser
Dick Howser
Richard Dalton Howser was an American Major League Baseball shortstop, coach and manager. He is best known as the manager of the Kansas City Royals during the 1980s, and for guiding them to the franchise's only World Series title in 1985.-Playing career:A native of Miami, Florida, Howser grew up...
in his fourth and final full season with the Royals.
Offseason
- January 18, 1985: Danny DarwinDanny DarwinDaniel Wayne "Danny" Darwin , known as the "Bonham Bullet" and "Dr. Death," is a former pitcher of Major League Baseball. He amassed 171 wins and 182 losses over his career for 8 different Major League teams with a 3.84 earned run average...
was traded as part of a 4-team trade by the Texas Rangers with a player to be named later to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Milwaukee Brewers sent Jim Sundberg to the Kansas City Royals. The New York Mets sent Tim Leary to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Kansas City Royals sent Don Slaught to the Texas Rangers. The Kansas City Royals sent Frank Wills to the New York Mets. The Texas Rangers sent Bill Nance (minors) (January 30, 1985) to the Milwaukee Brewers to complete the trade. - February 25, 1985: Jamie Quirk was signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals.
Offense
Pitching
Regular season
The Royals opened the season at home on Monday, April 8, in a three-game series versus the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. In his second straight opening day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
start, Bud Black faced off against the Blue Jay's Dave Stieb
Dave Stieb
David Andrew Stieb [STEEB] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.-Playing career:Born in Santa Ana, California, Stieb played varsity baseball at Southern Illinois University as an outfielder...
and allowed only a single earned run on four hits as the Royals won 2-1. Stieb held the Royals scoreless for 6⅔ innings before giving up the game winning runs on a double by Willie Wilson. Black exited the game in the eighth inning with two outs after giving up a single and a walk. Dan Quisenberry closed out the game for his first save of the new season. The attendance of 41,086 was the highest of any home opener and wasn't exceeded until the 2005 season. It was also the second highest of any of the Royals' regular season home games in 1985.
The Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
had the strongest start in the division—winning their first six games at home by sweeping the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. But the Mariners quickly faded into sixth place as they lost twelve of their next thirteen games. After their losses in Seattle, the Athletics returned home to win seven of their next nine games, and on April 21 were in a three-way tie for first with the Mariners and the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. However, a seven-game losing streak at the end of April pushed them down into sixth place on May 1 and five games below the Angels. At the end of April the Royals had a record of 11-8 (.579), but they had fallen two games behind the Angels who had finished the month with a six-game winning streak and had a 14-7 record.
The Royals began the month of May by losing seven of their first eight games, culminating in a 11-3 loss on May 11 at home to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. The team was three games below .500, in fourth place and 5½ games behind the Angels. Three days and three wins later, with a record of 15-15, the Royals would not drop below .500 at any time during the remainder of the season. (But they would have a .500 record as late as July 10 when they were 41-41.) With two 6-game winning streaks, the team won thirteen of their next seventeen games to enter a first place tie with the Angels on May 29, with a record of 25-19. This stretch of games was highlighted by three complete game shutouts pitched by Bret Saberhagen, Bud Black, and Charlie Leibrandt in which they allowed only a combined 8 hits and 4 walks. And despite being on the road, from May 15 through May 17, the three starters each threw a complete game and allowed a combined two earned runs (a 0.67 ERA), 14 hits, and just one walk.
The Royals struggled to make headway in the divisional race through June and into late July. Between May 30 and July 21 they were 21-25 and fell to 7½ games behind the Angels. With New York arriving in Kansas City to start a six-game home series on Monday, July 22, the Royals began a seven-game winning streak which was the longest in the season to that point. Dan Quisenberry picked up his 19th, 20th, and 21st saves as the Royals swept the Yankees, and he put in relief appearances in three of the next four games—picking up two more saves. On July 29, the Angels' lead had shrunk to 2½ games. They would remain there through September 1 as the Royals were 16-14 during that period and the Angels were 17-15.
The eight-game winning streak (all at home) between September 2 and September 8 was the longest of the season for the Royals. The streak included three games in extra innings. After winning five of their next seven games, the Royals achieved a 2½ game lead over the Angels on September 15. However, the Mariners who had given them trouble earlier in the year—winning five of their six previous contests—shut out the Royals twice in a four-game sweep in Kansas City, dropping the Royals into a tie for first place on September 19. Winning just four of their next nine games, the Royals dropped a game behind the Angels on September 29.
After being swept at home in three games by the Twins and with only seven games remaining in the regular season, the Royals faced a four-game series at home versus the Angels. On September 30 the Royals won the first game 3-1 with Saberhagen pitching a complete game and giving up just one run on a home run by Doug DeCinces
Doug DeCinces
Douglas Vernon "Doug" DeCinces is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the California Angels in 1982 to make room for Cal Ripken Jr. after having begun his career as the successor to Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson...
. Saberhagen collected ten strikeouts in the game and allowed only seven batters to reach first base. The Angels claimed the following game on October 1 by the score of 4-2 with Mike Witt
Mike Witt
Michael Atwater "Mike" Witt is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.At just twenty years of age, Witt made his major league debut with the California Angels in 1981. Standing 6 feet, 7 inches tall and possessing a great curveball as well as a good fastball, Witt's breakout season came in...
pitching. The Royals won the third game on October 2 with Black pitching a complete game shut out and allowing only five batters to reach first base. Three of the four runs scored by the Royals came in the bottom of the first inning with no outs as George Brett hit an inside-the-park home run to center field with two runners on base. The final game of the series on October 3 was won 4-1 by the Royals with Quisenberry recording the final out of the game and his 36th save of the season. Starting pitcher Danny Jackson had given up just one run in 8⅔ innings despite allowing 11 hits. The Royals' runs came on three home runs by Frank White, Steve Balboni, and Brett. With the win, the Royals had a one game lead on the Angels.
The Royals hosted the Athletics for the final three games of the season while the Angels traveled to Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
to battle the Rangers. On October 4, the Royals defeated the Athletics by the score of 4-2, and the Angels were shut out 6-0 by the Rangers' starting pitcher Dave Schmidt
Dave Schmidt
David Joseph Schmidt , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched twelve seasons in the majors from until . He is currently the pitching coordinator for the Orioles.-External links:...
. This gave the Royals a two game lead and assured them of at least a tie for first. The division championship was claimed in a dramatic fashion on the following day as the Royals come from behind to defeat the Athletics in ten innings by the score of 5-4. The final game of the season on October 6 was a loss, and the Royals finished the season with a record of 91-71 (.562).
Notable transactions
- June 3, 1985: Brian McRae was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 1st round (17th pick) of the 1985 amateur draft. Player signed June 10, 1985.
- June 3, 1985: Deion SandersDeion SandersDeion Luwynn Sanders , nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a former National Football League cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder who currently works as an NFL Network analyst...
was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 6th round of the 1985 amateur draft, but did not sign.
Roster
| 1985 Kansas City Royals roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Game 1
Tuesday, October 8, 1985 at Exhibition StadiumExhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in Toronto, Ontario
Game 2
Wednesday, October 9, 1985 at Exhibition StadiumExhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in Toronto, Ontario
Game 3
Friday, October 11, 1985 at Royals StadiumKauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
Game 4
Saturday, October 12, 1985 at Royals StadiumKauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
Game 5
Sunday, October 13, 1985 at Royals StadiumKauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
Game 6
Tuesday, October 15, 1985 at Exhibition StadiumExhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in Toronto, Ontario
Game 7
Wednesday, October 16, 1985 at Exhibition StadiumExhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in Toronto, Ontario
World Series
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in six games in the National League Championship Series
1985 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 1985 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe opening contest in Los Angeles pitted Dodgers screwballer Fernando Valenzuela against the Cardinals' twenty-game winner, John Tudor. The pitchers matched zeroes through the first three innings, but in the bottom of...
, the 1985 World Series
1985 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 19, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri-Game 2:Sunday, October 20, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri...
was destined to become one of the most memorable series for the cross-state rivals. It was popularly known as the Show-Me Series (Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
is "the Show-Me State") and the I-70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
Series.
As they had done in the ALCS, the Royals lost three of their first four games with the Cardinals. The key game in the Royals' comeback was Game 6, a game famous for umpire errors. A blown call in the 4th inning cost the Royals their closest scoring opportunity when Frank White was mistakenly called out after stealing second, and the next batter, Pat Sheridan
Pat Sheridan
Patrick Arthur Sheridan is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1981, 1983–1989, and 1991....
, got a hit. Facing elimination, the Royals trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning before rallying to score two runs and win. In what has been called "one of the most controversial and famous plays in Series history", Jorge Orta led off the bottom of the ninth with a ground ball to Cardinal first baseman Jack Clark
Jack Clark (baseball)
Jack Anthony Clark , also known as "Jack the Ripper," is a former Major League Baseball player. From 1975 through 1992, Clark played for the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox...
, who flipped the ball to pitcher Todd Worrell
Todd Worrell
Todd Roland Worrell is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers from to ....
covering first. First base umpire Don Denkinger
Don Denkinger
Donald Anton Denkinger is a former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1998. Denkinger wore uniform number 11, when the AL adopted uniform numbers in 1980. He is best remembered for an incorrect call he made at first base in Game 6 of the 1985 World...
called Orta safe, but television replays later showed that Worrell had beaten him to the base. The call shifted momentum of the Series to the Royals and following the tension and frustration of Game 6, the Cardinals came undone in Game 7. The Royals' Bret Saberhagen pitched a five-hit shutout, allowing the Royals to win 11-0 and clinch the franchise's first World Series title.
AL Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(4) vs NL St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(3)
| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Cardinals - 3, Kansas City Royals - 1 | October 19 | Royals Stadium Kauffman Stadium Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex... |
41,650 |
| 2 | St. Louis Cardinals - 4, Kansas City Royals - 2 | October 20 | Royals Stadium Kauffman Stadium Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex... |
41,656 |
| 3 | Kansas City Royals - 6, St. Louis Cardinals - 1 | October 22 | Busch Stadium II Busch Memorial Stadium Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005.... |
53,634 |
| 4 | Kansas City Royals - 0, St. Louis Cardinals - 3 | October 23 | Busch Stadium II Busch Memorial Stadium Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005.... |
53,634 |
| 5 | Kansas City Royals - 6, St. Louis Cardinals - 1 | October 24 | Busch Stadium II Busch Memorial Stadium Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005.... |
53,634 |
| 6 | St. Louis Cardinals - 1, Kansas City Royals - 2 | October 26 | Royals Stadium Kauffman Stadium Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex... |
41,628 |
| 7 | St. Louis Cardinals - 0, Kansas City Royals - 11 | October 27 | Royals Stadium Kauffman Stadium Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex... |
41,658 |
Free agents
After the season these players became free agents:- Dane IorgDane IorgDane Charles Iorg is a retired Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder. He played for ten seasons for four teams, including eight seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the brother of former third basemen Garth Iorg; they played against each other in the 1985 American League...
, signed with the San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times... - Lynn JonesLynn JonesLynn Morris Jones is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals...
, re-signed - Hal McRaeHal McRaeHarold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
, re-signed - Jamie QuirkJamie QuirkJames Patrick Quirk is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current bench coach for the Chicago Cubs. Quirk attended Whittier College.-Playing career:Quirk was also a Parade Magazine All-America quarterback at St...
, re-signed
Starters by position
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In; SB = Stolen Bases| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | Avg. | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Jim Sundberg | 115 | 367 | 38 | 90 | 10 | 35 | .245 | 0 |
| 1B | Steve Balboni | 160 | 600 | 74 | 146 | 36 | 88 | .243 | 1 |
| 2B | Frank White | 149 | 563 | 62 | 140 | 22 | 69 | .249 | 10 |
| 3B | George Brett | 155 | 550 | 108 | 184 | 30 | 112 | .335 | 9 |
| SS | Onix Concepcion | 131 | 314 | 32 | 64 | 2 | 20 | .204 | 4 |
| LF | Lonnie Smith | 120 | 448 | 77 | 115 | 6 | 41 | .257 | 40 |
| CF | Willie Wilson | 141 | 605 | 87 | 168 | 4 | 43 | .278 | 43 |
| RF | Darryl Motley | 123 | 383 | 45 | 85 | 17 | 49 | .222 | 6 |
| DH | Hal McRae | 112 | 320 | 41 | 83 | 14 | 70 | .259 | 0 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | Avg. | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy Biancalana Buddy Biancalana Roland Americo "Buddy" Biancalana is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop.Biancalana played for two teams in his career: the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros . He attended Redwood High School in Larkspur and was drafted by the Royals in the first round of the 1978 June Regular Phase... |
81 | 138 | 21 | 26 | 1 | 6 | .188 | 1 |
| Bob Hegman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| Dane Iorg Dane Iorg Dane Charles Iorg is a retired Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder. He played for ten seasons for four teams, including eight seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the brother of former third basemen Garth Iorg; they played against each other in the 1985 American League... |
64 | 130 | 7 | 29 | 1 | 21 | .223 | 0 |
| Lynn Jones | 110 | 152 | 12 | 32 | 0 | 9 | .211 | 0 |
| Omar Moreno Omar Moreno Omar Renan Moreno Quintero was a Major League Baseball outfielder from 1975 to 1986. He was best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter on their 1979 World Series-winning team.Moreno made his first appearance with the Pirates in... |
24 | 70 | 9 | 17 | 2 | 12 | .243 | 0 |
| Jorge Orta Jorge Orta Jorge Orta Núñez is a retired professional baseball player.He made his debut with the Chicago White Sox on April 15, 1972. Through the 1970s, he played usually second baseman but also third baseman and also some outfield... |
110 | 300 | 32 | 80 | 4 | 45 | .267 | 2 |
| Greg Pryor Greg Pryor Gregory Russell Pryor , is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played all or part of ten seasons in the majors, in 1976 and 1978-1986.- Major league career :... |
63 | 114 | 8 | 25 | 1 | 3 | .219 | 0 |
| Jamie Quirk Jamie Quirk James Patrick Quirk is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current bench coach for the Chicago Cubs. Quirk attended Whittier College.-Playing career:Quirk was also a Parade Magazine All-America quarterback at St... |
19 | 57 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 4 | .281 | 0 |
| Jim Scranton | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| Pat Sheridan Pat Sheridan Patrick Arthur Sheridan is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1981, 1983–1989, and 1991.... |
78 | 206 | 18 | 47 | 3 | 17 | .228 | 11 |
| John Wathan John Wathan John David Wathan is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager for the Kansas City Royals. He was considered one of the rare catchers with speed, having 105 stolen bases during his career... |
60 | 145 | 11 | 34 | 1 | 9 | .234 | 1 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bud Black Bud Black Harry Ralston "Bud" Black is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.-College:Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview... |
33 | 205.7 | 10 | 15 | 4.33 | 122 | 59 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Huismann Mark Huismann Mark Lawrence Huismann is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Huismann pitched in all or part of nine seasons in the majors for six different teams from until . Mainly used as a relief pitcher, Huismann started just one game out of 152 total games pitched... |
9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.93 | 9 |
Awards and honors
Cy Young AwardCy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
: Bret Saberhagen
Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award : Dan Quisenberry
ALCS MVP : George Brett
Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
: Third base—George Brett
Silver Slugger Award : Third base—George Brett
Executive of the Year : General Manager John Schuerholz
Batting
TriplesTriple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
- Willie Wilson set the Royals single season record with 21 triples.
Home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s
- Steve Balboni set the Royals single season record with 36 home runs.
Strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s
- Steve Balboni set the Royals single season record with 166 strikeouts.
Pitching
Games pitchedGames pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
- Dan Quisenberry set the Royals single season record with 84 games pitched and finished the season with 444 on the all-time Royals list, passing Paul Splittorff (with 429) for first place.
Saves
- Dan Quisenberry, first on the all-time Royals list, finishes the season with 217.