History repeats itself in photos from Royals’ World Series celebrations 30 years apart
“History repeats itself” is a worn out cliché that gets used as if history is repeating itself.
Worn out or not, clichés sometimes express truths that can be readily observed throughout life.
In the case of the Kansas City Royals, seeing history on loop was more about the Ground Hog Day fans lived watching the franchise limp along over long stretches of the 1990s and early 2000s. It’s the kind of history people like to forget.
Memories Royals fans really like to hold on to are the times lightning struck—twice. In 1985, the Royals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series dubbed “The I-70 Series.” It happened again in 2015 when the boys in blue walked all over the New York Mets in five games.
It’s predictable that celebrations ensued when both those teams clinched victory. What might seem odd in this moment of déjà vu is how similar the scenes of celebration look when comparing photos taken 30 years apart.
In 1985, a Kansas City Times photographer captured Royals third baseman George Brett in an embrace, hoisting pitcher Bret Saberhagen off the mound after taking the win over the Cardinals. Thirty years later at Citi Field in New York, it was catcher Drew Butera and relief pitcher Wade Davis captured in a similar moment by a Star photographer. More photos from those epic events decades apart share similarities.
If the sameness in the photos is not history repeating itself exactly, it could be considered history rhyming. Royals fans may be looking for a rhyme to 2015.
See the photos below.
This story was originally published May 14, 2025 at 12:42 PM.