A Look Back at 1980

“A few moves either way for both teams. That’s pretty much how the whole series has gone.”
-Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt, on the 1980 World Series

By 1980, the still young Royals franchise had accomplished much in their short time, but still had not been able to get past the hated New York Yankees and reach the World Series. That fall they finally broke through and knocked off New York, and became the second fastest expansion team to ever reach the World Series. It was an exciting time to live in Kansas City, and the Royals were led by perhaps the most exciting player in all of baseball – George Howard Brett.

1980 in a Box:

Record: 97-65 (1st place, AL West Champions)
Runs Scored: 809 (4th in AL)
Runs Allowed: 694 (5th in AL)
Park Factor: Batting - 101/Pitching - 100 (over 100 favors batters)

General Manager: Joe Burke
Manager: Jim Frey

Attendance: 2,288,714 (3rd in the AL) - 28,256 per game
Stadium: Royals Stadium
1980 Uniforms

Longest Winning Streak: 8 (June 3 to June 11 and August 12 to August 20)
Longest Losing Streak: 8 (September 20 to September 28)
How they started: The Royals began by taking three of four from the Tigers, but followed that up by being swept in Baltimore. They finished April 10-8.
How they ended: The Royals had the division wrapped up Labor Day and coasted down the stretch, losing eight in a row in mid-September, before winning five of their last six games to end the season.
Best month: The Royals were scorching hot in the August heat, going 23-7, with an eight game win streak, and a pair of five game win streaks. It was not coincidentally, George Brett’s healthiest month, as he played in all thirty games and hit .430 with 30 RBI.
Worst month: September. The Royals clinched the division with two weeks to go in the season, and took it easy in September, going just 8-18.
Best game: No doubt it was on October 10 when the Royals finally beat the New York Yankees 4-2 for their first American League pennant.
Worst game: October 19, Game Five against Philadelphia. The Royals were just three outs away from taking a commanding 3-2 series lead, but the usually reliable reliever Dan Quisenberry blew a one run lead.
Loved to face: Detroit. The Royals finished 10-2 against Sparky Anderson’s crew.
Hated to face: Minnesota. The Royals were 5-8 against the Twins, one of just two teams (Oakland being the other) the Royals had a losing record against.

Say Hello To: Willie Aikens, Dave Chalk, Ken Brett (signed in August), Jose Cardenal (signed in August)
Say Goodbye To: Fred Patek, Al Cowens, Al Hrabosky, Joe Zdeb, Eduardo Rodriguez, Todd Cruz, Steve Braun (released in June), Steve Busby (released in August)

What Went Right: The 1980 Royals fit their home ballpark like a glove. The deep fences and artificial turf lent itself to a team that pitched well, fielded well, hit lots of doubles and stole lots of bases. The Royals did just that. They finished fifth in ERA, and finished third in fewest walks allowed. They stole 185 bases, tops in the league. They led the league in triples and were third in doubles. Despite finishing ninth in home runs, their slugging percentage was fourth in the league. They were well above average in range factor at every single position on the field.

What Went Wrong: Willie Wilson and Frank White, hitting at the top of the Royals lineup, hit just .118 in the World Series, with Wilson setting a World Series record for striking out. Dan Quisenberry had a 5.23 ERA against Philadelphia, and blew leads in Games Two and Five.

Youngsters (25 or under)— 6 semi-regulars (youngest regular was 22 year old Clint Hurdle)
Prime (26-29)—11 semi-regulars
Past-Prime (30-33)—5 semi-regulars
Old Timers (34+)— 2 (oldest player was 37 year old Marty Pattin)
Rookies: Jeff Twitty
Top Prospect— Left-hander Atlee Hammaker put up a 3.35 ERA in 137 innings at age 22 in AA Jacksonville. Twenty-two year old shortstop Onix Concepcion hit .304 with 16 home runs between AA Jacksonville and AAA Omaha.
1980 Draft: Keith Creel (1st round), Frank Wills, Rondin Johnson, Don Slaught, Cliff Pastornicky, Butch Davis, Bob Hegman, Tom Romano

Best OPS+: George Brett 202 (1st in AL)
Most Runs Created: George Brett 137 (1st in AL)
Highest Batting Average: George Brett .390 (1st in AL)
Lowest Batting Average: Darrell Porter .249
Most Home Runs: George Brett, 24 (10th in the AL)
Most RBI: George Brett, 118 (2nd-tied in AL)
Most Stolen Bases: Willie Wilson, 79 (2nd in AL)
Moneyball Award: Darrell Porter, 69 walks (George Brett only had 58 walks, but he had only 22 strikeouts!)
Angel Berroa Award: Frank White, 19 walks in 594 plate appearances
Best Position Player: George Brett
Worst Position Player: Frank White

Most Wins: Dennis Leonard, 20 (4th in AL)
Most Losses: Dennis Leonard, Paul Splittorff, 11
Most Saves: Dan Quisenberry, 33 (1st-tied in AL)
Best ERA: Larry Gura 2.95 (5th in AL)
Worst ERA: Renie Martin 4.39
Most Innings: Larry Gura, 283.1 (3rd in AL)
Best Pitcher: Larry Gura
Worst Pitcher: Steve Busby (6.17 ERA in 42 innings)

All-Stars: George Brett, Darrell Porter, Lary Gura
Career Best Seasons: George Brett, Willie Wilson, John Wathan, Clint Hurdle, Larry Gura
Career Worst Seasons: Amos Otis, Steve Busby

What Could Have Been: Steve Busby was a tremendous pitcher from 1973-1975 for the Royals. In 1976, he tore his rotator cuff and won just nine games over the next three seasons. He attempted a comeback in 1980 and pitched just forty two innings before knee injuries sidelined him once again. He would make his last appearance in a Royals uniform on August 26, with a win over Milwaukee. The Royals would waive him that winter, and at age thirty, Busby was washed up. He would never appear in the big leagues again.

The Other Brett: In August, the Royals signed reliever Ken Brett, the older brother of Royals slugger George Brett. Ken had once been a hotter prospect than his younger brother, and was generally considered the better athlete. Ken had battled injuries and by age thirty-one was considered washed up, but upon joining the Royals he delivered thirteen shutout innings in relief.

What’s in a Name: Royals first baseman Willie Mays Aikens was named by the doctor that delivered him, just a few weeks after the famous catch Willie Mays made in the 1954 World Series. Aikens always wanted to downplay the association with the Hall of Famer, yet wore the number “24”, the same number as Mays.

Season Summary

The 1980 Royals retained many of the same players that had helped them win three straight division titles from 1976-1978. Third baseman George Brett was the star of the team and in the prime of his Hall of Fame career. The 1980 season would be the finest of his career and his only MVP season. Setting the table for Brett was speedy left fielder Willie Wilson, perennially among the league leaders in stolen bases. Willie learned to become an adept hitter and in 1980 finished seventh in the league in batting with a .326 average while leading the league in hits. Designated hitter Hal McRae utilized the deep alleys at Royals Stadium to hit .297 with a team high thirty-nine doubles. First baseman Willie Aikens proved to be a valuable addition as he slammed twenty home runs. Second baseman Frank White and shortstop UL Washington, although light with the bat, provided excellent defense up the middle. Center fielder Amos Otis was in the twilight of his career, yet still provided valuable offense in the post-season. Catcher Darrell Porter had an off-year, but still provided leadership behind the plate. John Wathan proved to be a valuable player in an otherwise thin bench.

Pitching had long been the staple of Royals success. In 1980 they were lead by twenty-game winner Dennis Leonard who amassed 280 innings pitched. Lefty Larry Gura would have perhaps his finest season as a Royal, winning eighteen and finishing fifth in the league in ERA. Longtime Royals lefty Paul Splittorff was starting to show his age, but still managed to win fourteen games, despite just 53 strikeouts in 204 innings pitched. Young Rich Gale bounced back from a disastrous 1979 season with a thirteen win campaign in 1980. Renie Martin proved to be an adequate swingman. The Royals had little use for the bullpen other than closer Dan Quisenberry, who was named Rolaids Relief Man of the Year with his league leading thirty-three saves. Marty Pattin was the only other reliever who made at least thirty appearances.

Managerial Changes

Following a second place finish in 1979, the Royals promptly fired manager Whitey Herzog, who had let them to the only three division titles in franchise history. General Manager Joe Burke revealed that relations between Herzog and his players had grown strained, leading to his dismissal. Indeed there were report of players turning on Herzog, but clubhouse leaders like George Brett, Dennis Leonard and Darrell Porter came out in support of Herzog during the 1979 season. Herzog had a different theory to explain his firing, saying, “The reason for me being fired is the relationship between Joe Burke and me.”

Herzog and Burke had maintained a frosty relationship for years, leading back to Herzog’s demand that Burke trade slugger John Mayberry after his embarrassing and costly performance in the 1977 American League Championship Series. Burke resented Herzog's attempts to control the team and felt his public statements undermined any ability to receive fair trade value for Mayberry. Herzog summed up their differing philosophies by saying, “Me talking baseball with him is like [Henry] Kissinger talking politics with me.”

By firing the popular Herzog, Burke drew the ire of many fans, with a few even publicly dropping their season tickets in protest. As for a replacement, a public poll showed most fans wanted former Royal infielder Cookie Rojas to be Herzog’s replacement. Other rumored candidates were Danny Ozark, the recently fired Philadelphia Phillies manager, Dick Howser, a former Kansas City Athletics infielder and a manager at Florida State University, and there were some rumors thatt former Reds manager Sparky Anderson could be persuaded to manage the club. None would get the job however, and Howser would be hired to manage the Yankees. Several years later he would lead the Royals to their first World Championship.

To replace Whitey, the Royals settled on longtime Baltimore Orioles coach Jim Frey, who had no previous major league managerial experience. Frey had served as a hitting instructor and first base coach for Earl Weaver’s Orioles dynasty in the 70s. Although respected by players, Frey was never considered much of a managerial tactician.

“As far as managing is concerned, I don’t have any complicated theories or ideas. I’ve learned a lot along the way and believe strongly in fundamentals, attitude and effort.”

Winter Moves

The Royals biggest weaknesses from 1979 were pitiful production from first base and a starting rotation that was unusually bad. The Royals looked to bolster their pitching staff, long the backbone of the franchise. Orioles ace Jim Palmer had made it known throughout baseball that he was unhappy with his $265,000 contract. With free agency looming for Palmer, he demanded a contract extension in the neighborhood of five years and $3.5 million. That did not faze the Royals, who supposedly offered a package of Al Cowens and left hander Paul Splittorff for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. In the end, the Orioles held on to Palmer, and he would win just forty-three games over the next five years before retiring.

After trading John Mayberry following the 1977 season, the Royals had turned to Pete LaCock to man first base. LaCock put up a decent 1978 season, with a high average, but none of the power Big John supplied. By 1979, LaCock’s average slipped a bit, and his lack of power became a huge weakness. Late in the year, the Royals acquired the aging George Scott to provide some pop at first base, but the veteran hit just one home run in forty-four games down the stretch.

The Royals headed to the winter meeting looking for a first base bat. The Toronto Blue Jays, still in the infancy of their franchise, had made a major shakeup just a month prior by acquiring first base slugger Chris Chambliss. They already had Mayberry, meaning one would likely be moved. The Royals inquired about both sluggers, with the Jays asking for outfielders Al Cowens or Amos Otis in return.

In the middle of dealing with the Blue Jays, Royals vice-president John Schuerholz found out the Angels had made available a fine rookie first baseman named Willie Aikens. Aikens had hit .280 with 21 home runs in 1979, but with first baseman Rod Carew returning from injury and slugger Don Baylor needing to DH more and more, the Angels found Aikens expendable. Like the Jays, they asked for an outfielder, and the Royals gave it to them by dealing outfielder Al Cowens and shortstop Todd Cruz in return for Aikens and infielder Rance Mulliniks. Schuerholz justified the deal, saying, “Aikens is one of the best young power hitters to come along in several years. We feel his power is equal to Mayberry's and more than Chambliss' and he's a lot younger than either of them.”

The Royals would also lose a pair of free agents in the twilight of their careers. With up-and-coming UL Washington pushing for a starting job, the Royals let longtime shortstop Fred Patek sign with the rival California Angels. The Royals also let colorful reliever Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky sign a huge deal with the Atlanta Braves for five years and $5.9 million deferred over thirty-five years. Hrabosky would pitch just one hundred twenty innings for the Braves and earn seven saves before being released three years into the deal.

Early Season Struggles

The biggest shock of spring training came when catcher Darrell Porter announced he was temporarily leaving to attend to problems with drugs and alcohol addiction. Neither Royals management nor manager Jim Frey seemed to know when he would return. Porter returned in May, but unfortunately he would battle problems with addiction the rest of his life, ultimately leading to his untimely death due to overdose in 2002.

With the defending division champion California Angels losing star pitcher Nolan Ryan to free agency, the Royals looked to be the favorites to win a weak Western Division. The club started slowly at first, hovering around the .500 mark until mid-May. Around this time, labor talks between the Players’ Union and owners began to break down and a season-ending strike loomed over the game. The players set May 23 as a possible strike date unless a deal could get done.

On May 16 the Royals began a homestand against the division rival Angels. They dropped the first game when Rich Gale and Marty Pattin were rocked for eight runs in the third inning in an 11-1 rout. The next night, Carney Lansford hit a solo home run in the first off Larry Gura, and that seemed to be all starter Don Aase would need as he cruised through the first seven innings with a 1-0 Angels lead.

With a loss threatening to drop the Royals to .500, Willie Wilson took the game into his hands by manufacturing a run out of thin air. Wilson dropped a one out single, then stole second off catcher Dave Skaggs. Frank White advanced Wilson by grounding to first, bringing George Brett to the plate. Willie would not even need George’s help as a wild pitch allowed Wilson to score the game-tying run. In the tenth, he would steal another base and score the game winning run on Darrell Porter’s single. The Royals would take two of three from the Angels and win nine of their next ten including a road sweep in a visit to Anaheim.

Money was a constant distraction for the Royals during the season. Early in the year, star player George Brett signed a massive five year contract extension worth over five million dollars. With money available for Brett and the team starting to play well, Frank White, Amos Otis and Hal McRae began to complain that they were underpaid. McRae was so upset with the situation he even requested that the Royals trade him. Eventually, the winning soothed feelings over, although McRae continued to express doubt that he would return the following season.

The Royals Heat Up

In late May, players and owners averted a strike and the season continued uninterrupted. By Memorial Day the Royals were seven games over .500 and in first place. In June they went on an eight game tear that included back to back complete game shutouts by Dennis Leonard. By the All-Star break they were fourteen games over .500 and had an 8.5 game lead in a division in which they were the only team with a winning record.

They began the second half with a tough road trip against the better AL East clubs, and managed to win six of nine against the Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees. That ignited a red-hot stretch for the Royals in which they won thirty-six of forty-seven ballgames, and all but clinched their fourth division title in team history. The team went on cruise control in September, and not even an eight game losing streak could stop them from taking home the 1980 American League Western Division title.

George Challenges History

"The way George Brett is hitting right now, God could have him down no balls and two strikes and he'd get a hit." -- Umpire Steve Palmero

"I wouldn't go that far. If the Lord was up 0-2, He might get George out . . . but God better hit the black." -- Hal McRae, Kansas City Royals

George Brett was a notoriously slow starter, hitting just .264 in the month of April in his Hall of Fame career. Even 1980 would be no exception. By the end of April, Brett was hurt and hitting just .259. As late as Memorial Day, Brett was still hitting just .267.

Then came a three hit game against Oakland. Then three hits against Chicago. Brett had back-to-back three hit games against the Yankees, and a pair of three hit games in Texas.

Injuries would force Brett out for a month in June and July. When he returned, his hitting was hotter than ever. He had a three hit game against the Tigers and another one in Baltimore. On an East Coast road trip, Brett upped the ante with a couple of four hit games in Boston and New York. When the Red Sox returned to Kansas City, Brett answered with another four hit game.

By now Brett’s average was up to .388 and his hot streak had gained national notoriety. Fans began to wonder if Brett could become the first .400 hitter since Ted Williams in 1941. "The only way to pitch him now is way inside, so you force him to pull the ball,” noted Yankee pitcher Rudy May. “That way, the line drive won't hit you."

George Brett’s hot streak was simply phenomenal. He hit a ridiculous.488 in the months of June and July with an .860 slugging percentage. He lifted his average from .301 to .390 during that time. His August was just as hot, as he continued a hitting streak that would last for thirty games, a franchise record. Over the hit streak, he would hit .467 with eighteen multi-hit games, forty-two runs batted in, a.520 on-base percentage and a.746 slugging percentage.

''I'm just going to try to keep telling myself that I'm hot. The thing I don't want to do is put pressure on myself. But it's hard not to think about what I'm hitting. My batting average is in the papers every day and every time I go up to hit in Royals Stadium, it's up there out in center field on the scoreboard that's as high as a six-story building.''

On August 17, Brett went 4-4 against the Toronto Blue Jays, and his double to left in the eighth inning would send his average over the magical .400 barrier. “It was electrifying to stand on second and listen to the crowd,” remarked George.



The pressure really intensified as throngs of media surrounded and scrutinized every George Brett at-bat. Cars were adorned with “George Brett for President” bumper stickers. Former Red Sox slugger Ted Williams endorsed George, saying ''He's a helluva hitter 'with a lot going for him. He's strong, and he's a gutty guy. I hope he makes it.''

Brett’s average would dip below .400 for a few games, but a 5-5 performance in Milwaukee brought it to a season high .407. Brett’s average would be over .400 as late as September 19. An 0-4 performance against Oakland brought his average under .400 and Brett would go on a 4-27 slide that would take his average down to .384. He would fall short of the .400 mark, but it was still a magical season. He ended the season at .390, the closest any hitter had gone to hitting .400 in almost forty-seasons.

Return to New York

After a relatively easy regular season, the Royals returned to post-season play to face a team they were well acquainted with – the New York Yankees. Three times the Royals had faced them in the American League Championship Series, and three times the Yankees had walked away with the American League pennant. Royals slugger George Brett summed up the feeling of the series when he added, “There’s real dislike between the two cities. It’s a tremendous rivalry.”

In 1980, the Yankees had a tough team full of veterans that could both mash the ball and pitch. They were second in runs scored and runs allowed and won a league high 103 games. Anchoring their lineup was “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, who tied for the league lead with 41 home runs. Setting the stage for Jackson were veterans like Bob Watson, Graig Nettles, and former Royal Lou Piniella, along with a few younger guys like Rick Cerone and Willie Randolph. The rotation was well experienced with Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Tom Underwood, Rudy May and Luis Tiant. With closer Rich “Goose” Gossage, the Yankees were all but invincible late in games, winning seventy-seven of seventy-nine ballgames when leading after the seventh inning.

Larry Gura opened the series at home for the Royals. He had handled the Yankees well that year, going 3-0 with a 2.32 ERA against them. The Yankees countered with seventeen game winner Ron Guidry. The Bronx Bombers lived up to their nickname by hitting back-to-back home runs in the second, courtesy of Cerone and Piniella. But the Royals countered with two in the bottom of the second, and added two more in the bottom of the third as Guidry struggled to find his control. The Royals knocked Guidry out for good in the fourth and Larry Gura held the Yankees to just the two solo home runs in a complete game 7-2 victory.

Twenty game winner Dennis Leonard started for the Royals in Game Two against Yankee swingman Rudy May. Left fielder Willie Wilson exploded in the third inning with a two run triple, and later scored on a double by UL Washington, giving the Royals a 3-0 lead. In the fifth, Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles would hit an inside-the-park home run, one of two runs the Yankees would score that inning. Dennis Leonard would escape clinging to a slim 3-2 lead. After giving up a single to Reggie Jackson to lead off the ninth, he gave way to closer Dan Quisenberry. With one out, Quiz would give up a single to catcher Rick Cerone, putting the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on base. But the submariner was able to induce Nettles into a double play, ending the game and bringing the Royals to within one win of their first American League pennant

The series headed to New York where Paul Splittorff got the call against twenty-two game winner Tommy John in a match-up of southpaws. Frank White would homer in the fifth to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. But Frank would give it back in the sixth when his error allowed Reggie Jackson to score. The Yankees would score twice in the sixth, knocking Splitt out of the game with the Yankees up 2-1.

In the seventh, Tommy John retired the first two hitters before Willie Wilson doubled to right. With the AL pennant on the line, Yankees manager Dick Howser turned to Gossage to get the remaining seven outs. The fireman had been dominant that year, saving thirty-three games, and striking out 103 in 99 innings pitched. Unfazed, light hitting shortstop UL Washington dribbled a ground ball up the middle, backhanded by second baseman Willie Randolph. Randolph spun and threw, but Washington, hustling all the way down the line, beat the throw for an infield single.

That brought up the man everyone in Kansas City wanted to see in the batter’s box – George Brett. It was a confrontation every baseball fan could love. Power versus power. The best fastball in the game against the best hitter in the game.

''I just wanted to pull it and get it up in the air,'' said Brett. ''With the right-field fence only 310 feet away, you don't have to hit it very far.''

George Brett deposited a Rich Gossage fastball into the third deck of Yankee Stadium in a majestic three-run home run that gave the Royals a 4-2 lead. The roaring crowd went eerily silent as Brett circled the bases near an erupting Royals dugout.

"I never thought that the happiest moment of my career would be making 56,000 people shut up," said Brett.

''It was my best against his best and you saw the result for yourself,” said Gossage.

The Brett blast had not yet crowned the Royals as league champs, however. In the eighth, Yankees first baseman Bob Watson laced a triple off Quiz, followed by back-to-back walks to Jackson and Gamble. With the bases loaded and no outs, catcher Rick Cerone laced a line drive that looked to tie the game. UL Washington snagged the ball out of the air and threw to second for a double play. Quiz then retired Jim Spencer to end the threat. The Yanks were toothless in the ninth, and Quiz struck out Willie Randolph looking to end the game and the series. The Royals were finally American League Champions.

The Fall Classic


While the Royals were ecstatic about finally overcoming the mighty Yankees, they still had unfinished business to take care of in the World Series. It was the first World Series in franchise history. Their opponent, the Philadelphia Phillies, were almost as unfamiliar with the Fall Classic. Their tough series win over the Houston Astros gave them their first National League pennant in thirty years. On offense, the Phillies were a one-man show, led by MVP third baseman Mike Schmidt. The rest of the team was a veteran cast of role players like Bob Boone, Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa and scrappy Pete Rose, now in the twilight of his career.

The pitching staff was anchored by Cy Young Award winner Steve Carlton, a twenty-four game winner. Dick Ruthven won seventeen games, but the rest of the staff was largely inconsistent. Screwballer Tug McGraw gave manager Dallas Green confidence in the bullpen with twenty saves and a miniscule ERA of 1.46 in ninety-two innings of relief work.

The Game One pitching match-up in Philadelphia looked like a mismatch when Royals twenty-game winner Dennis Leonard faced off against rookie eleven game winner Bob Walk. The Royals got to Walk early with a two-run home run by Amos Otis in the second and a two-run Willie Aikens home run in the third. But the Phillies stormed back in the third off Leonard for a five run inning, capped by a three run Bake McBride home run. “I couldn’t get my breaking pitch over worth beans tonight,” said Leonard afterwards.

The Phillies would add two more runs to extend the lead to 7-4. In the eighth, Willie Aikens hit his second two run home run of the game, pulling the Royals to within a single run and finally knocking Walk out of the game. However with Tug McGraw in the game, the Royals could not muster another run and the Phils took a 1-0 series advantage.

Game Two pitted Steve Carlton against Larry Gura. Carlton allowed a baserunner in every inning he pitched, but managed to get a key strikeout or double play whenever he needed it. He labored over eight innings, throwing well over one hundred sixty pitches but took a 2-1 lead into the seventh. Amos Otis would then double home two runners, leading to a three run inning and a 4-2 Royals lead. With Quiz on the mound in the eighth, the Royals looked ready to tie the Series up headed back to Kansas City.

But the Phillies had other plans. Bob Boone walked. Pinch hitter Del Unser doubled. After a Pete Rose ground out, Bake McBride singled. Mike Schmidt doubled. Rookie Keith Moreland doubled. When the smoke cleared, the Phillies held a 6-4 lead and a Game Two victory.

Game Three brought renewed excitement as the national spotlight shone on Kansas City. George Brett electrified the crowd of 42,380 with a solo home run in the first to give the Royals the lead. Royals starter Rich Gale would give back the lead in the second. When the Royals surged ahead with another run in the fourth, Gale once again gave up the lead. In the seventh, Amos Otis hit his second home run of the series, to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. Yet again, the Royals would cough the lead back up when reliever Renie Martin allowed an RBI single to Pete Rose in the eighth. Phillies starter Dick Ruthven began to wear down in the ninth, giving up two singles, but the Royals could not scrap together a run, and the game went into extra innings tied 3-3.

The Phillies nearly grabbed the lead in the top of the tenth. With two on and one out, Mike Schmidt hit a scorching line drive that looked to give the Phillies the lead. But Frank White made a terrific play on the ball, snaring it out of the air and doubling off Bob Boone at second, ending the threat. In the bottom of the inning, UL Washington lead off against Tug McGraw with a ground ball single just past shortstop Larry Bowa. Willie Wilson walked on four pitches, but Washington was cut down trying to steal third. Undeterred by the caught stealing, Frey sent Willie Wilson to steal second while Frank White missed a bunt attempt. Wilson was safe, but White struck out, and with first base wide open, the Phillies made the easy decision to walk George Brett.

The decision to send Wilson and give the Phillies an excuse to pitch around Brett would have drawn the ire of Royals fans had Willie Aikens not saved the day with a single to left to score Wilson and win the game. Answering to reporters who questioned the call, Frey simply said “You can’t put the load on one or two guys.”

In Game Four, the Royals brought Dennis Leonard back to face the inexperienced Larry Christenson, who had made just fourteen starts all year. The Royals jumped on him early and often with an RBI triple by Brett and a two run home run by Willie Aikens into the water spectacular. Hal McRae would continue the energy with a seemingly routine single to center that he stretched into a double when center fielder Garry Maddox fell asleep. Amos Otis would double him home for the fourth run of the inning. Christenson retired just one batter before giving way to reliever Dickie Noles. Aikens would continue his hot series with a solo home run in the second to give the Royals a 5-1 lead.

Controversy erupted in the fourth when Dickie Noles hummed an 0-2 pitch near George Brett’s head, brushing the slugger off the plate. Manager Jim Frey popped out of the dugout irate at the Phillies pitcher for taking a shot at his star player. On the way to the back of the dugout, he had words with first baseman Pete Rose, who drew boos and catcalls from Royals fans throughout the series. The Phillies would add runs in the seventh and eighth, but Quisenberry shut the door in the ninth for a 5-3 victory, tying the series at 2-2.

Game Five was a pivotal game. A home sweep could send the Royals to Philadelphia just one game away from their first championship. The match-up pitted Larry Gura against twenty-one year old rookie Marty Bystrom, who had just thirty-six innings of Major League experience. Bystrom ran into all sorts of trouble, but managed to escape nearly every jam. Mike Schmidt got the Phillies on the board with a two run home run in the fourth, and the Royals answered with a run in the fifth. Amos Otis tied it up with a solo home run in the sixth, and the Royals took the lead on a sacrifice fly by UL Washington.

Gura was helped out by a trio of spectacular defensive plays by Gold Glover Frank White. By the seventh, he began to tire after a walk to Greg Luzinski and a single to Keith Moreland. Manager Jim Frey turned to Quisenberry to get the remaining eight outs of the game. Quiz would get out of the seventh inning jam and breeze through the eighth and the Royals were just three outs away from taking a commanding 3-2 series lead.

The 1980 Phillies had been dubbed “The Comeback Kids” and they lived up to their name. Mike Schmidt led off with an infield single just off the glove of third baseman George Brett. Pinch hitter Del Unser ripped a ground ball that took a funny hop on Willie Aikens and went by him for a game tying double. Manny Trillo hit a shot just off the glove of Dan Quisenberry for an infield single to score Unser and give the Phillies the lead.

“A few moves either way for both teams. That’s pretty much how the whole series has gone,” said Schmidt.

The Royals had chances to win the game in the ninth. With the game tying run on base, George Brett stepped up to face McGraw. But the slugger proved he was human after all and was called out on strikes. The Royals then loaded the bases on walks giving veteran Jose Cardenal a chance to win the game. Cardenal never had a chance against McGraw’s array of screwballs and sliders and was called out looking to end the game. “I got a chance to be a hero or a bum,” said Cardenal. “Today I’m the bum.”

Dejected, the Royals returned to Philadelphia for Game Six having to face the Phillies ace Steve Carlton. The Royals countered with Rich Gale, but had him on a short leash. In the third, Bob Boone led off for the Phillies with a walk. Lonnie Smith hit a grounder to Frank White, but Frank’s throw to second pulled UL Washington off the bag, leaving men at first and second with no outs. Pete Rose laid down a perfectly placed bunt in front of a surprised George Brett, loading the bases for slugger Mike Schmidt. Schmidt rose to the occasion, ripping a single to right field to score two runs. The Royals had a chance to catch Lonnie Smith after he stumbled around third base, but Jose Cardenal’s throw was cut-off without a relay.

The Phillies added runs in the fifth and sixth to take a 4-0 lead while Carlton was dominating Royals hitters. Through the first seven innings, Carlton had faced just three over the minimum and was working on a three hit shutout. The Royals finally forced Carlton out of the game in eighth by loading the bases. UL Washington got the Royals on the board with a sacrifice fly, bringing up Brett. Brett would load the bases again with a single, but Hal McRae grounded out to end the threat.

With their season hanging in the balance, the Royals mounted another threat in the ninth off Tug McGraw. They loaded the bases on a walk to Aikens and singles by John Wathan and Jose Cardenal. Frank White had a chance to bring the runners home but he was retired on a foul ball that popped out of the mitt of catcher Bob Boone, only to be caught by an alert Pete Rose. With the bases still loaded, McGraw struck out Willie Wilson, the twelfth time Wilson had struck out in the series, setting a record. The Phillies were World Champions while the Royals had fallen just short.

The Royals returned to Kansas City disappointed in falling just short of their goal, but proud of what they had accomplished that year. Manager Jim Frey summed it up, “We’re as proud as we can to be the Kansas City Royals, because we had one great year.” The city held a celebration parade at 5th and Grand concluding with a ceremony at Liberty Memorial to commemorate the memorable season. Kansas City relished being in the national spotlight, and the nation responded with the highest television ratings in World Series history, a record that still stands.

The Royals finally slayed the Yankees, but found that one obstacle still loomed in front of them. It would be five more seasons until they finally climbed the top of the mountain, and for many veterans, it would be worth the wait.