Blue Streak

The Kansas City Royals are one win away from returning to the World Series for the first time since (you guessed it) 1985. And the way they have gone about it is nothing short of historical.

How historical?

Well I am glad you asked. Though the number of series in the postseason, and amount of games per series has expanded time, the Royals have tied the 2007 Colorado Rockies as the only team to have ever won 7 straight playoff games in the same year. That is a little bizarre to the common fan I am sure– two teams that are perennial cellar dwellers are the two teams with the best playoff streaks. However, that is exactly what has happened.

Yet since historians of the game will bark at these numbers, lets look at all time playoff winning streaks held by one team over multiple years. The last time the Kansas City Royals lost a postseason baseball game was game 4 of the 1985 World Series. Since everyone outside of St. Louis will remember the Royals won that series, that means we are carrying over a 3 game streak into the 2014 playoffs. Wow, a streak that spans most of our readers lifetimes! Ok, now lets add to that the current 7 game streak we are on, and that brings us to 10 games in a row that the Kansas City Royals have won during postseason play.

As far back as my research can go (about 1890) I can only find two teams that have won more than 10 consecutive playoff games. The first team to do so is probably the most famous team of all time, the 1927 "Murderers' Row" Yankees (which went on to sweep three World Series in 1927,1928, and 1932). This team of A list Hall of Famers was headlined by Babe Ruth, and Lou Gehrig. These bats were so strong that opposing pitchers, and scouts nicknamed them after the part of a prison which notorious murderers cells were located. Widely acclaimed as the greatest offensive team in history it is fitting they also hold the longest streak of postseason wins in history.

However the 1998-99 New York Yankees also put up a 12 game streak winning the 98 World Series, and coupling that with a sweep in the 99 ALDS. Though not as critically acclaimed as the 27 Yankees, this was the coming out party for one (or should I say "Numba Two") Derek Jeter. This team pretty much dismantled everyone in their way, and started the Yankees back on their winning ways for Championships, as they currently holds the streak for most consecutive series won at 11 (stretching all the way into the 2000 postseason season).

Only three other teams have ever won 10 in a row, and all these teams have been some storied groups. The senior statesman of this group are the 1937,39,and 41 Yankees. It pretty much took WWII to derail this team. The next group include the "Bash Brothers" of the 1989 and 1990 Oakland Athletics. Not even an Earthquake could slow them down. And the final team was the 2012 World Series winning San Fransisco Giants, with a little extra added on this post season. Just think with a win tonight we can eclipse these amazing teams.

With all that being said, I hope Royals are still taking it one game at a time. You have to win one before you can ever win 5. And 5 is the magic number for this team and this town! So let's go out there and Be Royal Kansas City! Tonight might spark the biggest party this town has seen in a generation! I will sure have my broom ready!

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