27 Reasons The Kansas City Royals Are Becoming America's New Favorite Team

27 Reasons The Royals Are Becoming America's Favorite Team
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 05: Kansas City Royals fans hold up a sign during Game Three of the American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on October 5, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 05: Kansas City Royals fans hold up a sign during Game Three of the American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on October 5, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

With the Kansas City Royals, it seems to be case of baseball fans not knowing what they had got until it was here.

After going nearly 30 years without a playoff appearance, the Royals are making up for lost time, excelling in all phases of the game en route to the World Series. The unheralded squad overcame three deficits to outlast the Oakland Athletics in extra innings during a thrilling win-or-go-home American League Wild Card Game and then swept aside the powerhouse Los Angeles Angels in their American League Division Series matchup. The Royals kept the brooms out to dispatch the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series.

With a combination of breathtaking speed, timely hitting, jaw-dropping defense and questionable managerial moves, the Royals have become the talk of Major League Baseball's 2014 postseason. They've also been pulling the bandwagon of choice for every fan whose team faltered before October.

Here are 27 reasons the Royals are becoming America's favorite MLB playoff team:

The Team's Fans Just Want Puppies (And Playoff Wins)

The Team Hadn't Appeared In The Playoffs Since 1985

1985 world series

With Their Speed And Bunting, They Still Play Like It's The '80s

royals bunt

The Royals Had The 19th Lowest Payroll In MLB On Opening Day 2014

money

With Just Two Players Set To Earn A Salary Greater Than $10 Million

james shields alex gordon

And 17 To Earn Below MLB's Average Salary Of About $4 Million

royals dugout

But 4 Pitchers With Average Fastball Velocity Greater Than 95 MPH

The Royals' First Base Coach Looks Just Like Robert Redford

The Team Steals Bases, Lots Of Them

But Celebrate Like Each One Is Special

(GIF via @cjzero)

Even Slow-Footed Veteran Billy Butler Is Running

billy butler sauce

He'll Rev That Throttle, Too

(GIF via @cjzero)

Speed On The Basepaths Is Complimented By Impressive Defense

That Is Punctuated By Outfield Backflips

(GIF via @FlyByKnite)

The Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat Is Important, Look It up

Those In Other Seats Will Boo Yankees Stars At The Slightest Provocation

The Royals Have Already Given You Bo Jackson's Run Up The Wall

And George Brett's Pine Tar Incident

Brett Later Helped Inspire Lourde's smash hit "Royals"

And Let Fans Understand That Even Hall Of Famers Have Accidents

He Also Totally Gets How It Feels To Be In The Stands

No Player On The Team's Playoff Roster Has Been Suspended For PEDs

royals

The Royals Finished Last In MLB In Home Runs During The Season

hr leaders

But Have Hit Some Timely Extra-Inning Longballs In The Postseason

Manager Ned Yost Will Give You A Chance To Second Guess

And Someone Might Actually Get You That Puppy

Before You Go

Brazil WCup Top Five Highlights

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