Description
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¨C71 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 in Game Six: one that cost the Royals a run in the 4th, and a blown call by umpire Don Denkinger that allowed Jorge Orta to reach first. Orta was later put out on an unsuccessful sacrifice attempt.
The team was managed by Dick Howser in his fourth and final full season with the Royals.
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 in Game Six: one that cost the Royals a run in the 4th, and a blown call by umpire Don Denkinger that allowed Jorge Orta to reach first. Orta was later put out on an unsuccessful sacrifice attempt.
The team was managed by Dick Howser in his fourth and final full season with the Royals.