The 2015 MLB season may be remembered for the year that the odds were broken and the under dogs came through. The playoffs featured teams such as the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates who have World Series droughts dating back 23 years at the very least and 107 years the longest.
Yet two teams whose fans have arguably gone through the most heartbreak, clinched the World Series. The New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals. This was the first time two former expansion teams would meet in the World Series, and the Royals had not won in 30 years while the Mets had not won in 29.
The Kansas City Royals are the second smallest market team in the MLB only ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Royals went through a 27-year playoff drought before making the World Series last season and losing to the San Francisco Giants in game seven.
“Last year at this time we were excited to be here, this year we expected to be here,” Royals manager Ned Yost said in an interview with ESPN.
The New York Mets have been one of the laughing stocks of the league through late season collapses and in the shadow of their older brother, the New York Yankees. The Mets won two titles in 1969 and 1986 but have only witnessed struggles since. The Mets have one of the lower payrolls in the MLB after losing a lot of money in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme scandal.
Nobody expected the Mets to make the playoffs this season, but they exceeded expectations with strong pitching and late season acquisitions that put them on top.
My dad informed me that he had received tickets for the World Series when the Mets clinched, and it was a dream come true for me. I have been to many Mets games at Citi Field over the last few years, but I had never experienced a sporting event with this type of magnitude.
The New York Mets were down 2-1 in the series, and as I arrived at Citi Field, I immediately saw the passion all the New York fans had for their beloved Mets. Many Royals fans were in attendance as well with the Mets looking to even the series.
The Mets took a 3-1 lead in the game and the atmosphere was insane. New York fans forgot about the 2-1 series hole they were in. The confidence was rising and chants began. “Let’s go Mets! Let’s go Mets!” Seemingly everyone was waving the orange rally towels given out before the game. At that moment, my passion for the Mets wasn’t just by me, but it was shared by a crowd of 44,815 fans.
The Royals, who are known for their comebacks, cut the lead to 3-2.
New York fans are very unique, as they love their sport teams and players one moment, and hate them the next. The anger began as the Royals started brewing another comeback.
In the eighth inning, Mets reliever Tyler Clippard walked two men, which led to a disastrous turn of events. Second baseman Daniel Murphy committed an error, which led the Royals to tie it, and all confidence was lost as the Royals took a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning.
The crowd was silent. I was devastated. People started putting their hats inside out as a “rally cap” but it didn’t work. Fans began leaving and the Royals won and took a 3-1 series lead.
As I felt great disappointment as a Mets fan, I reflected on the atmosphere of how amazing it was watching two fan bases who have suffered much agony rooting for their team, be able to cheer and enjoy an experience of a lifetime. The atmosphere was like no other as two teams and two fan bases dueled it out for a World Championship.
Walking out the stadium, fans’ emotions varied; some were upset, others optimistic. Fans started chanting “Ya gotta believe,” a saying by former Mets pitcher Tug McGraw. McGraw’s son, country singer Tim McGraw, threw the first pitch in game four.
The Mets blew another ninth inning lead in game five the next day, which led to the Royals winning their first World Series title since 1985.
The Mets lost this World Series in heartbreaking fashion, but with a young team and strong pitching, they will be back. The Royals are not done and will be a force to be reckoned with again in 2016.
Many small market and low payroll teams are charging to top of the league. The time of baseball has come to an end where teams like the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals are winning year after year. The field is now open for everyone.
Even watching my beloved Mets lose in the World Series, attending the event was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I witnessed two fan bases living in a moment that could never be replaced.
It was a dream of a lifetime.
Congrats, to the Kansas City Royals, the 2015 champions.
Story by: Jason Huber, Sports Reporter