Royals pitchers who clinched a post season Series: From Quisenberry to Saberhagen

It may seem like 3 lifetimes ago, but the Kansas City Royals were once a powerhouse.
From 1976 to 1985, they played in a post season series 7 out of 10 seasons (including the 1981 Divisional Playoff against the A's.)

6 out of those 10 years there were only 4 playoff teams all together. In other words they didn't take advantage of a Wild Card to get in.

Alas in the 26 seasons that followed, the Royals haven't played in another post season and have contended only once since the 1994 strike. In other words they have become the Pirates of the American League. Once mighty, now a farm team for the rest of baseball.

Now of course the team has a ton of young talent and if the small market Twins could turn things around and go on a playoff run, then anything is possible.

But as I continue my "Pitchers who clinched a post season series" I decided to check Kansas City off the list.

Why?
Because they've only won 3 playoff series in their history and I figured this would be a quick one to get out of the way.


Here are the pitchers, the game they pitched, and how was the last out recorded.


DAN QUISENBERRY
1980 American League Championship Series - Game 3
Royals 4, Yankees 2

October 10, 1980
At Yankee Stadium, New York


3 2/3 innings of relief Paul Splittorff for the win.
LAST OUT: Willie Randolph called out on strikes.


1985 American League Championship Series - Game 7
Royals 4, Blue Jays 2

2/3 innings of relief of Bret Saberhagen and Charlie Leibrandt.
LAST OUT: Lloyd Moseby grounds out to second baseman Frank White who threw to first baseman Steve Balboni for the out.


BRET SABERHAGEN
1985 World Series Game 7
Royals 11, Cardinals 0

October 27, 1985
At Royals (Kaufmann) Stadium, Kansas City

Complete Game 5 hit shutout.

LAST OUT: Andy Van Slyke flies out to right fielder Darryl Motley.


There you have it. The two pitchers who experienced that great post season moment for a once proud franchise.

To read the other entries, here's the one for the Phillies and the Red Sox.

It's been too long since a clincher, Royals.
I want to add Joakim Soria to this list.

Remember when Yankees/Royals meant something?

The Yankees and Royals are wrapping up a series today and it is just another series.
Man, when I was a kid Yankees and Royals were legitimate rivals.

I'll say it, maybe bigger than Red Sox/Yankees during that time.
Oh the Red Sox and Yankees fought it out for the Division... but the Royals and the Yankees met 4 times in the ALCS.

And you had a pair of to-the-limit 5 game series...
One ending with a walk off Chris Chambliss shot
Another ending with the Yankees rallying 3 outs from elimination

You had fights, you had Brett homering off of Gossage and years later you had the pinetar game.

And now?
People mention the Royals in the same breath as the Devil Rays, someone named John Bale is starting for the Royals and there is no buzz.

One thing is cool:
One of the two teams is in first place... and it isn't the Yankees.

Well, the Royals series will end tonight and all eyes will be on Red Sox/Yankees series.

But who knows?
If the Royals keep pitching like this they could dust off those old clips.