1980 – Despite having missed 45 games with injuries, George Brett is named American League Most Valuable Player. The 27-year-old third baseman’s .390 batting average was the highest in the major leagues since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. Brett added 24 home runs and 118 RBI to lead the Kansas City Royals to their first AL pennant.
In front of 65,838 fans at Veterans Stadium, the Phillies win their first World Series ever in the 98-year history of the franchise by defeating the Royals in Game 6, 4-1. Winning pitcher Steve Carlton limits Kansas City to 4 hits in seven innings, and Tug McGraw hurls the last two frames to pick up the save.
1980 – George Brett hits an upper-deck three-run home run off relief ace Goose Gossage to give the Kansas City Royals a 4 – 2 victory and a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
Willie Wilson steals second and third base in the 2nd inning of Kansas City’s 5 – 2 win over the Angels, giving him an American League-record 28 consecutive stolen bases without being caught. Ron LeFlore had set the previous record in 1978.
Willie Wilson hits his 5th inside-the-park homer this season in a 6 – 3 loss to Seattle at Kansas City. It is the most inside-the-park homers hit in a season since Kiki Cuyler hit eight for the Pirates in 1925.
On June 9, 1979 At Royals Stadium Willie Wilson slashes an opposite-field off gap shot off Yankee reliever Ken Clay, the hit that gets through to the wall. He will fly around the bases giving the Royals the win via his walk-off inside the park homerun in 13 innings vs the New York Yankees. 9-8.
The Royals set club record of 16 straight wins as they defeat the A’s in ten innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader, 5 – 4.
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