The St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals renew their “I-70 Series: this weekend. It is an underrated rivalry, and both teams have larger ones. However, it is one that fans of both teams enjoy. In celebration of the renewal of the “I-70 Series”, let’s take a look at some of the memorable moments of the I-70 Series.
Memorable Moments of the “I-70 Series”
1985 World Series
No moment in the history of the Cardinals-Royals rivalry comes close to the drama and controversy of the 1985 World Series. It was the first time the two teams met in a non-exhibition game.
The Cardinals entered the series as favorites after winning 101 games and featuring stars such as Ozzie Smith, Jack Clark, Willie McGee, and Joaquin Andujar. The Royals, meanwhile, were chasing their first championship behind George Brett, Bret Saberhagen, and manager Dick Howser.
The Cardinals won the first two games in Kansas City and led the series, 3-1, before the Royals forced a Game 6. However, the Cardinals were in a strong position to finish off the Royals in Game 6. They held a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning and were three outs away from a championship before one of the most infamous calls in baseball history occurred. Royals pinch-hitter Jorge Orta hit a ground ball to first baseman Jack Clark, who tossed to pitcher Todd Worrell covering first. Replays clearly showed Orta was out, but umpire Don Denkinger ruled him safe.
The Royals took advantage and loaded the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter Dane Iorg blooped a single to right field, scoring two runs and winning the game for the Royals. The Cardinals returned to their clubhouse, where they found champagne still on ice for a celebration that had just been a few outs away.
The Royals blew out the Cardinals in Game 7, 11-0. Bret Saberhagen pitched a complete-game shutout to clinch the Royals’ first championship. Cardinals’ pitcher Joaquin Andujar and manager Whitey Herzog were ejected as part of a chaotic fifth inning, with Herzog telling Denkinger that they would not be playing had he gotten the call right the night before.
It is the only time the Cardinals and Royals have met in the World Series. For the Royals, it was their first championship. For the Cardinals, the 1985 team is considered one of the best, if not the best, teams in franchise history. Yet, they fell short of the championship.
Inaugural Interleague Series
MLB introduced interleague play in the regular season for the first time in 1997. The Cardinals and Royals met in Kansas City in late August for the first time in a meaningful series since the 1985 World Series. Only one player remained who had played in that World Series: Willie McGee.
McGee, who played well in the World Series, had a tie-breaking three-run triple to propel the Cardinals to victory. The second game would see some fireworks. The Royals, already leading 6-1, scored eight runs in the fourth inning. Jermaine Dye hit a grand slam off reliever Mark Petkovsek to make the score 14-1. The next batter, Johnny Damon, was hit by the first pitch in the right ankle. Damon charged the mound, and chaos ensued.
Petkovsek threw a punch intended for Damon, but instead hit his own catcher, Tom Pagnozzi. Benches and bullpens emptied. Coaches Dave Duncan and Jamie Quinn were wrestling on the ground. Royals’ Tim Belcher has his jersey torn off by Cardinals’ Andy Benes.
The final game of the series was high scoring. The Cardinals won, 5-4, to win the first installment of the “I-70 Series.” Since that series, the Cardinals lead the all-time regular-season series, 79-55.
Father’s Day 2009
The Cardinals and Royals met in Kansas City during Father’s Day Weekend in 2009. The Cardinals had taken two of three from the Royals the month before and were looking for more. Albert Pujols, meanwhile, was having one of the best seasons of his career. He entered the first game of the series well on his way to another MVP.
The Cardinals swept the Royals, but the story of the series was Pujols. Pujols hit three home runs and drove in 10 runs, helping the Cardinals outscore the Royals, 20-11, in the series. His best game came in the finale, when he hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six. His grand slam was a moonshot to left field, hitting a window of the Royals’ Hall of Fame museum.
Wacha and the Rain Delay
The Cardinals drafted Michael Wacha with the 19th pick in the 2012 MLB draft. The next season, he made his debut and would go on to win the NLCS MVP.
His debut would be memorable for multiple reasons. It came against the Royals in late May. The Royals, struggling offensively, had just hired Hall of Famer George Brett as their interim hitting coach.
Wacha’s first start would be delayed by an hour because of rain. However, once he threw the first pitch, he was locked in. The right-hander pitched seven innings, striking out six, while giving up just a run on two hits. He retired the first 13 batters he faced, and with the exception of the fifth inning, retired the side in order in each inning. Furthermore, Wacha singled in his first at-bat. It was a great night from every angle, except for the most important part: the victory.
The Royals tied the game in the ninth when Jeff Francouer hit a lead-off home run. After loading the bases, Eric Hosmer hit a two-run double to give the Royals their first lead of the game. Then, the game’s second rain delay started. This one lasted four hours and 32 minutes. The game did not end until 3:14 the following morning. The Royals picked up what was easily their most interesting win of the 2013 season, and quite possibly the most interesting game of the “I-70 Series.”
Best of the Best in 2015
Both teams entered the 2015 season with World Series aspirations. The Cardinals were coming off a frustrating loss in the NLCS, while the Royals were coming off a heartbreaking loss in a seven-game World Series. Both teams were aiming high in 2015, with many hoping for a 1985 rematch.
The teams met six times in the regular season. The Royals won two of three in May, and the Cardinals swept the series in June. Both teams would finish the season with the best record in their respective leagues. The Cardinals finished 100-62, while the Royals finished 95-67.
Unfortunately, a World Series rematch was not to be. The Cardinals were eliminated in the Division Series by the Chicago Cubs. The Royals, however, would return to the World Series, where they finished the job from 2014, defeating the New York Mets in five games.
The “I-70 Series” Today
Both teams have gone in different directions since 2015. The Royals have made the playoffs just once since winning it all, while the Cardinals made it to the NLCS just once since.
The Royals are currently under .500, hovering near the bottom of the American League Central. However, there is hope the team can turn things around and contend. The Cardinals have surpassed expectations so far, only a few games out of first place in the National League Central.
What will the latest chapter in the “I-70 Series” bring? We will have to tune in and find out!
