Kansas City Royals Party Like It's 1985

After decades of futility, team rallies to win thrilling playoff game.

ByABC News
October 1, 2014, 6:29 AM
Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain (6) smiles with his teammates after the Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics in the AL wild-card playoff baseball game, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City Royals' Lorenzo Cain (6) smiles with his teammates after the Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics in the AL wild-card playoff baseball game, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.
Charlie Riedel/AP Photo

— -- The Kansas City Royals have been waiting for this since the 1980s.

The energy. The buzz. The heart-pounding moments. Baseball in October.

And somehow, some way, the Royals prevailed, rallying against the Oakland Athletics to win 9-8 in the 12th inning of Tuesday’s American League wild-card game.

The last time the Royals were playing postseason baseball, the 1985 World Series, only 12 of the team’s current players were alive. The franchise has spent the past quarter-century in a state of perpetual rebuild. Star players such as George Brett, Bret Saberhagen, Carlos Beltran and Johnny Damon retired or were traded away or left in free-agency. Prospects fizzled. Springtime optimism turned to summer frustration and fall discontent.

But not this year. Not yet.

PHOTO: Kansas City Royals' Greg Holland celebrates after the Royals' 9-8 victory over the Oakland Athletics, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City Royals' Greg Holland celebrates after the Royals' 9-8 victory over the Oakland Athletics, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.

The Athletics were in control early in Tuesday’s game, building a four-run lead. But Kansas City battled back, scoring three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings.

The teams failed to score in the 10th and 11th innings.

Oakland took the lead in the 12th inning, scoring a run on a single by former Royals player Alberto Callaspo.

Kansas City faced long odds, again. But Eric Hosmer – one of the team’s young stars – drilled a ball to deep center field. Athletics outfielders Sam Fuld and Jonny Gomes tried to make the catch, but instead got tangled up on each other as Hosmer raced to third.

PHOTO: Oakland Athletics left fielder Jonny Gomes, front, and center fielder Sam Fuld cannot catch triple by Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.
Oakland Athletics left fielder Jonny Gomes, front, and center fielder Sam Fuld cannot catch triple by Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.

Christian Colon followed with a chopper that bounced a few feet in front of the plate, a weakly-hit grounder that bounced high enough to accomplish its goal.

Hosmer slid home and pumped his fist. The fans, 40,502 of them, erupted. Pandemonium. Tie game, again.

PHOTO: Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer celebrates after scoring on a single by Christian Colon during the 12th inning of the AL wild-card playoff baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer celebrates after scoring on a single by Christian Colon during the 12th inning of the AL wild-card playoff baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Sept. 30, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.

The tie didn’t last much longer. After Colon stole second base, Salvador Perez smacked the ball past diving third baseman Josh Donaldson to bring home the winning run. The Royals swarmed onto the field, dancing in the October night, champagne-drenched joy after 29 soul-crushing seasons.

PHOTO: Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, left, and right fielder Norichika Aoki, right, celebrate in the clubhouse after the Royals' victory, Oct. 1, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, left, and right fielder Norichika Aoki, right, celebrate in the clubhouse after the Royals' victory, Oct. 1, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo.