The Kansas City Royals advanced to the ALDS with a wild, 12-inning, 9-8 win over the Oakland Athletics in the AL Wild Card game on Tuesday. They’ll travel to Anaheim to face the Angels in a five-game series.
Here are 11 awesome things about the Kansas City Royals:
1. Long time, no see
(PHOTO: John Swart/AP Photo)
The Royals haven’t played postseason baseball since 1985, when a team led by George Brett beat the Cardinals in seven games in the World Series. Game 1 of that Series was one day after the original Nintendo console was released.
2. Kansas City’s baseball tradition
Satchel Paige and Jim “Catfish” Hunter during Paige’s 1965 cameo with the Athletics. (PHOTO: Gene Herrick/AP Photo)
The Royals franchise only dates back to 1969, but Kansas City’s baseball history goes back way further. The A’s played in K.C. between stops in Philadelphia and Oakland, and the Kansas City Monarchs were the longest running — and one of the most successful — Negro League teams.
3. Kansas City’s barbecue tradition
Ribs.
They also have ribs. So many ribs. And burnt ends. Lots and lots of delicious barbecue for the people.
4. Many games James
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James Shields has a nickname — “Big Game” James — that does not exactly line up with a career postseason ERA of over 5.00. But Shields is a good pitcher regardless, and one of the league’s most reliable starters. No one has thrown more regular-season innings than Shields since he became a full-time Major Leaguer in 2007.
5. “What speed do”
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The Royals not only steal a lot of bases, but do it at an excellent clip. They rallied to the postseason with the slogan, “That’s what speed do.” And what speed did was clear in the Wild Card game, when the Royals tied a postseason record by swiping seven bags against the A’s.
6. “Country Breakfast”
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Designated hitter Billy Butler is a big man with a tremendous nickname: “Country Breakfast.” Hard to top.
7. Lorenzo Cain’s range
8. Their catcher smells incredible
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Salvador Perez recently confessed to wearing Victoria’s Secret perfume to impress umpires.
9. Their bullpen is ridiculous
Greg Holland (USA TODAY Sports Images)
Royals relievers Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and closer Greg Holland combined to throw 204 1/3 innings with a 1.28 ERA. That’s absurd.
10. Yordano Ventura’s heat
Young starter Yordano Ventura — who made a cameo out of the Royals’ bullpen in the Wild Card game — throws an average fastball of 97 mph. No starter in baseball throws harder.
11. Their powder blue alternates
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Too many MLB teams wear royal blue, but the Royals have arguably the league’s best excuse. And they still manage to work in the powder blue alternates, which are beautiful and which some team should seriously consider for a primary color scheme. Also, the man in the above photo is named Francisley Bueno, which we will always translate to “Frankly Good.”
