2014 Year in Review: September Edition
By DJ Smith
Royals Capture 1st Playoff Berth in 29 Years
Oct 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning in game two of the 2014 ALCS playoff at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
As the 2014 MLB season came to a close the Kansas City Royals were looking to do something that hasn’t been done in Kansas City in over 25 years, that’s capturing a postseason berth. After spending the first decade of the 21st century as a the punchline for many baseball jokes, the Kansas City Royals slowly built themselves as legitimate contenders in 2014. Behind veterans such as Billy Butler, and James Shields, as well as newcomers such as Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, the Royals were able to clinch their first playoff berth since 1985 by defeating the White Sox on September 26th. The Royals clinched one of two wild card spots and were entering the postseason on quite a streak, winning 6 of their last 8 games. That momentum would prove to be helpful as they made a very deep run into the 2014 MLB Postseason.