ESPN writer on why Royals missed chance to be part of MLB history in 2014 World Series
Sam Miller undertook the tall task of ranking all 115 World Series in Major League Baseball history, but he dived in with a specific criteria.
Each World Series was ranked based on how close it was, how close the games were, how memorable the series was and how historically significant it was.
The Royals have appeared in four World Series, and three were ranked among the top 30 of all-time. The highest-ranked series involving the Royals is one they lost, but Miller makes the case that the 1980 World Series against the Phillies included the greatest Game 5 in baseball history.
Miller focused on Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, which ranked 29th. He lamented that left fielder Alex Gordon was held at third after a two-out single and an error by the San Francisco Giants.
Had third-base coach Mike Jirschele waved home Gordon, it would have been one of the greatest moments in baseball history, Miller believes.
As it stands, the play ranks as the greatest what-if in Kansas City sports history.
Miller wrote: “Yes, Gordon probably would have been beaten by the throw home. But it would have required a good relay and throw by the Giants’ shortstop, a clean catch at home and a tag, and the play would have been close enough to have been physical. The Royals were the team that, in that postseason and the next, aggressively pushed the other team’s defense until the other team’s defense made a mistake.
“If Gordon had gone for home, meanwhile, then no matter what happened — safe or out — this World Series would be a classic. No matter what happened, that would have been one of the two or three best moments in modern baseball history. This Series would have ranked 16th on our list.”
Miller also wrote about Don Denkinger’s call at first in the 1985 World Series and the great scouting work done by the Royals in 2015.
The story is not part of ESPN+, so you can read it here.
