It's Friday night in early May and the Yankees are in first place. In a few minutes, the Yankees begin a 3 game series in Kansas City with an old nemesis. This nemesis(the Kansas City Royals) happens to be playing very well... like old times.
From the mid '70's through the mid '80's, KC was top of the class, nothing like the dreadful Royal teams of recent years. Amos Otis roamed the outfield turf with grace and dominance. Big John Mayberry swatted home runs. Before he was ripping apart offices, Hal McCrae,(the greatest DH who ever lived. Forget Edgar and Papi) drove in runs with relentless efficiency. Pitchers Steve Busby, Paul Splittorf, Dennis Leonard and Larry Gura carved up opponents with workman like skill. Frank White won gold glove after gold glove. Freddie Patek and then U.L. Washington-and his toothpick -played competently alongside the brilliant White. Willie Mays Aikens shined. Willie Wilson slashed 230 hits one year, stole 1,000 bases and had like 50 triples and 30 inside the park homers, at least that's what it seemed like to a nine year old. And don't forget about the Quiz, Dan Quisenberry. He had his comeuppance in 1980 and was one of the best closers around.
Above all, there was George Brett, one of the most notorious Yankee killers to ever swing a bat. When my mom saw his '78 card in my hand, the one with the profile of him chewing tobacco, she said 'who's that?" like she thought he was hot. George Brett was poised to destroy the Yankees, conquer New York City, and take my mother from me.
The Kansas City Royals won their first division title in 1976 and lost to the Yankees in the 5th and deciding game of the ALCS. This was the Chambliss game. This was the game where the great Brett hit a three run homer to tie the game in the 8th inning in Yankee Stadium. The Royals won their second division title the following year and again lost the 5th and deciding game to the Yankees. This time they took a 3-1 lead into the eighth and a 3-2 lead into the 9th. Freddie Patek cried in the dugout. KC won their third consecutive division title in 1978 and lost in 4 games to the Yankees in the ALCS. The great Brett had 3 home runs in one game but it wasn't enough. Three straight cracks at the Yankees in the American League Championship, three crushing defeats.
In the record books, the Royals' crowning achievement is their 1985 World Championship. But for me, it's George Brett's devastating three run homer off Goose Gossage in game 3 of the 1980 ALCS that sent the Royals past the Yankees(finally!) and into the World Series. Luckily, I didn't see this heartbreaking blast. I fell asleep in front of a little black and white TV somewhere around the fourth inning. The last thing I remember is Bucky Dent hustling toward the dugout after making a play to retire the side. I think the Yankees were ahead 1-0. When I woke up the next morning I asked my older brother about the game.
"Didn't see," is what I thought he'd him said
"I'll call sports phone," I said.
But then he repeated himself. I heard him that time. "KC'" he said. Ouch. I hated that evil heartbreaker, George Brett, and his Royals
The Yankees I loved when I came into baseball consciousness were certainly bad asses, especially in '77 and '78. The Bronx Zoo , led by Billy Martin and then Bob Lemon , Thurman, Mick the Quick, Reggie, Gator, Nettles, Sweet Lou, Willie, Goose, Sparky, Bucky, Catfish and Figgie, brought glory back to the Bronx. But even the most ardent of the midnight blue bloods can appreciate, respect, tip a hat, and acknowledge the bad assness of those Royals that admirably challenged the Yankees and then finally took them down.
Baseball keeps on going. The world is full of garbage and flowers, monumental shifts of hope and dread, inspiration, doom, catastrophe, mind boggling advancement, innovation, and wonder.
Baseball is a game that allows us fans to be boys, of course, to dream little dream slivers, to recollect good and great old days, to smell fresh grass, to hope even as we dread and fade and pass through life, even as all kinds of nonsense tarnishes this great, great game.
This summer, maybe the Royal
ball-club will rise again and poke its nose into the Yankees business. Maybe tonight in Kansas City, and maybe this October, a great rivalry will reemerge.
