posted on 5/22/2010
KANSAS CITY -- It was just like 1985 at Kauffman Stadium.
Good friends, old teammates and once-bitter rivals, reunited at The K before Saturday's Rockies-Royals game to compete in the '85 Classic -- a softball game honoring both teams from the 1985 World Series, featuring former players from those Royals and St. Louis Cardinals teams.
"This is awesome," 1985 World Series hero Dane Iorg said. "To see the guys, see what they're doing and how they're doing, and renew the relationships with them, it's unbelievable. This is why I like it. To see all my old teammates and my friends, it's just awesome."
At the end of seven innings, the Royals were victorious, 4-1, but neither team paid much attention to the game. Each dugout was full of friendly banter and fond memories being shared by both sides.
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| "We believed in each other. We prepared to win and showed some toughness that year. We were down three games to one twice in the playoffs, to the Blue Jays and the Cardinals. The players on that club had a lot of heart." |
| -- Hal McRae |
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The '85 Classic, organized by former Royals speedster Willie Wilson, was put together to raise money for charity. The Royals partnered with Willie Wilson Baseball to host the event.
"Every Royal I called, said 'Yes,'" Wilson said. "So it was kind of fun to do this and bring back 25 years of memories here. So it really makes me feel good that all these guys accepted. This year, we're going to give all the money raised to the Royals Charities and they are going to split it however they want to do it. That's what we do. I have fun doing it."
Wilson was rather vocal in the Royals' dugout, going back-and-forth with former Royals designated hitter, Hal McRae, who was simply excited to be back with his teammates. They included shortstop Buddy Biancalana, left-hander Danny Jackson, outfielder Lynn Jones and right-hander Dennis Leonard. Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett was vacationing in Europe.
"It's nice to come back to Kansas City and this ballpark," McRae said. "It was nice to come back and swap stories. We had a lot of fun together last night."
McRae remembers his team traveling through adversity to achieve their world championship in 1985.
"We believed in each other," McRae said. "We prepared to win and showed some toughness that year. We were down three games to one twice in the playoffs, to the Blue Jays and the Cardinals. The players on that club had a lot of heart."
The 1985 World Series was the stage for one of the most controversial plays in World Series history. In Game 6, the Cardinals, leading the series 3-2, took a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning.
Leading off the ninth for the Royals was Jorge Orta, who hit a ground ball to Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark. Reliever Todd Worrell went to cover first base, and the throw from Clark appeared to beat Orta by a full step. However, first-base umpire Don Denkinger ruled Orta safe.
The Royals went on to score two runs in the ninth and evened the series at 3-3. Bret Saberhagen tossed a complete-game shutout in Game 7, and delivered the Royals' first and only World Series championship.
Twenty-five years later, Orta remembers the play well.
"At the time, I didn't think anything of it because I was so busy trying to run as hard as I could to first base," Orta said. "I knew it was a pretty close play, so I'm glad that I was called safe at first. I put in a good effort trying to go down the line and that was it."
Clark, although on the losing end of that call, also remembers the play. But after 25 years, there are no hard feelings.
"The ball was chopped between me and the pitcher, so I had to go get it," Clark said. "I was more concentrated on leading Todd Worrell and making sure he caught it. Obviously he stepped on the bag and [Orta] was out, but [Denkinger] didn't see it that way. If that play were reversed, that doesn't mean we would've won the game. It's just part of the game, it's fair for both teams."
The Royals struck first in the '85 Classic in the third inning, when Iorg cranked a two-run home run. Iorg, however, didn't care about the homer, he was just glad to be with his friends and teammates again.
"It's like 25 years evaporates and you just kind of talk like you used to talk," he said. "I don't miss being on the field. I miss the locker room. That's where I had the most fun. You know, I love the game of baseball, but the camaraderie, the relationships, the friendships -- that's what I really miss."
