Kansas City’s Beat(en) Generations*

On October 19th, 1985 Ewing and Muriel Kauffman threw out the first ceremonial pitches to Jim Sundberg, opening the 82nd World Series. It was a series that was filled with heroics, bad calls and Astroturf. Reba McEntire sang the National Anthem in game one in Kansas City. Lou Rawls sang it in St. Louis for game three. Even the first woman in space, Sally Ride, got in on the action throwing out the first pitch before game 6. On October 27th, The Kansas City Royals won game 7 by shutting out The Cardinals 11-0. It would mark the last time The Kansas City Royals would win anything. The Royals would sink lower and lower, becoming the joke of baseball.

That was 29 years ago and a lot has changed. So much so that some readers will no doubt need to Google the people I just mentioned. Now, in 2014, The Kansas City Royals are on the precipice of making it to the post season again. As we begin the September grind, it’s easy to overlook the generation and a half of fans who have no idea what a September grind is, let alone what meaningful September baseball is all about; a group known as Kansas City’s beat(en) generations.

A generation is generally defined as a period of about 20 to 25 years, or the birth of a parent to the birth of a child. For the sake of clarity, we will presume that the last generation that remembers the 1985 Kansas City Royals was born in 1975, making them roughly 9 or 10 in October of 1985. This is basically generation X. Let’s break down the two following generations (which are really generation Y and Z) in to generation K and generation C. Generation K are people born (for this article) in 1976. Generation K would have ended in 2001. Generation C would then begin in 2001 and end in 2036. Obviously, only the very beginning of generation K will be included in this group as the oldest are now 13.

Now that we have established our timeframe of never-seeing-the-Royals-win generations, let’s see how the world has changed. In the 28 years that have followed The Royals post season, The United States has had five presidents. Sixteen different baseball teams have won The World Series. The Berlin Wall fell. West and East Germany united. Ewing and Muriel Kauffman died. The United States has been involved in eight different major military conflicts. The internet was created (Thanks Al!). Eastern-bloc countries have been created, destroyed and then recreated. There have been numerous natural disasters. Facebook was invented. Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Princess Diana, George Harrison, Jerry Garcia, Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash have died while Justin Bieber was born (There is no justice in the world). This list could go on and on and on (and it shouldn’t because now I feel really old).

Of all these things that have happened, there is one constant (probably a lot more), no Royals in the post season. No joy in Mudville. There has been nothing but a generation and a half of kids and adults that have never known the joy of a winning baseball team. And a generation and a half that has never seen Kansas City shut down for a parade that rivals St. Patrick’s.

Sure, there’s tons of blame to go around, but it doesn’t matter now. There is no sense dwelling on the past 29 years. All that matters are tonight’s game against The Rangers and the 23 games that come after that. The Royals are 76-61, in first place, and for the first time in a generation and a half are knocking on the door of the playoffs. One slip or extended losing streak could be disastrous. Excuses will no longer be tolerated. This city has patiently waited long enough. It’s time for The Kansas City Royals to stand and deliver us from the depths of disparity and take us to the promise land of the playoffs. Anything less should and would be considered a failure.

* The Beat(en) Generation Writer(s): Matt Johnson Copyright: Lazarus Music Limited, Sm Publishing Uk Limited

photo credit: roberthuffstutter via photopin cc

Previous Post Fast 4ward On Feb 10 1984 in Lincoln Nebraska a child was born wearing a superman cape and that powered blue #4 jersey. He was a 2 time Gatorade Nebraska player of the year after belting 25 homeruns his senior year in high school. After graduating ... Read more Tweet Next Post Royals Sweep Rangers, Win 4-1 "Snooze-fest" It's an applicable word that could be used to describe this series against the Texas Rangers. Nevertheless, the Royals came away with a sweep. Like Josh Vernier of 610 Sports said earlier, "It's not a beauty contest. It doesn't matter how you look as ... Read more

Facebook Comments

comments