Royals set to celebrate 1985, 2015 World Series teams in reunion weekend

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The first event celebrating both of Kansas City’s World Series-winning clubs took place Thursday night in downtown Kansas City.

A champions’ gala at the Loews Hotel gathered of the 1985 and 2015 Kansas City Royals teams for the start of their respective 40-year and 10-year World Series title anniversary celebrations.

“It’s just special to be able to call yourself a world champion,” said Royals Hall-of-Fame third baseman George Brett.

“I’m just getting chills thinking about it right now,” said Mike Moustakas, who played third base on the 2015 title team. “But it’s just so amazing that we were able to accomplish it, we did it together.”

Whether it’s the 1985 title or the 2015 championship, Kansas City couldn’t have been more excited about either of them.

“That’s the thing we all love about sports, that’s the beauty of it,” said former Royals general manager Dayton Moore, who built the 2015 team. “What it can do for a community, how it unites us for one common purpose. That’s truly the beauty of it.”

This weekend, the Royals will celebrate both teams over a 3-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The final out of the 1985 World Series, in Game 7 against the Cardinals, is Brett’s favorite memory.

All the players have them. Everyone re different moments.

“I just Steve Balboni bear-hugging both of us in those huge arms of his,” Brett said. “And then it was chaos.”

Moustakas’ favorite memory was also in the World Series, his coming at the start of the series rather than the end. The former Royal, who will sign a one-day contract to retire with Kansas City later this month, said Alex Gordon’s extra-inning home run to help beat the New York Mets in Game 1 is his favorite moment.

“That’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen on a ball field,” he said.