The futility of the Kansas City Royals has become as predictable as a Yellowstone geyser. As April has given way to May, the Royals are once again ensconced in last place in the American League Central and manager Buddy Bell is wondering why he was foolish enough to take over the reins of this franchise that has become so accustomed to losing that local fans consider a 100-loss season a modest success. Bell might as well have strapped himself to the bow of the Titanic. The current state of affairs in Kansas City is a shame, considering the glory years the Royal franchise experienced in the halcyon days of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s.

The Royals were born in 1969 and like most expansion teams, struggled for the first few years of their existence. Baseball underwent realignment in 1969, with both leagues splitting into two divisions. The newly minted Kansas City team was placed in the American League West and played reasonably well, considering their youth and lack of experience.

Kansas City’s management was patient, choosing to gradually build a winning team from within. And build a winning team they did.

By 1977 the Royals were perennial contenders, winning the American League West for three consecutive years and advancing to the World Series in 1980. In 1985 Kansas City won it all, defeating the Cardinals in a memorable seven-game series. It was the crowning moment in KC history.

During the glory years, the Royals were an impressive team built to suit the then spacious confines of Kaufman Stadium. Taking advantage of deep power allies and Astro-turf, Kansas City fielded a team of line drive hitting speedsters like Willie Wilson, Amos Otis, Frank White and Al Cowans. Anchoring the offense was Hall-of-Famer George Brett, arguably one of the top five hitters in baseball history.

Brett, of course, is best remembered for two incidents, one involving pine tar and the other centered on a hemorrhoid. During a critical game between the Yankees and the Royals, Brett belted a home run to give the Royals a ninth inning lead. New York manager Billy Martin protested, claiming the pine tar on Brett’s bat went too far up the handle. The home plate umpire examined the bat, walked toward the Royal’s dugout, and signaled Brett was out.

Anyone who has seen the replay knows what happened next. Brett glared out at the ump like somebody just hit him in the back of the head with a two-by-four. Wild-eyed and frothing at the mouth, Brett catapulted out of the dugout like a man with his pants on fire. Charging the ump with his arms flailing, Brett went absolutely ballistic. Dancing around the umpire in circles, veins on the verge of bursting in his neck, Brett sprayed tobacco-laced spittle like a lawn sprinkler buried in mud. The umpire ejected Brett, Kansas City protested the game and, in an unprecedented move, the powers that be eventually overruled the umpire’s decision on the questionable bat.

Brett may have acted like his pants were on fire, but that actually came later during the 1985 World Series. The slugger had to miss a game due to an inflamed hemorrhoid and, when he did play, was visibly slowed. Needless to say, Brett took to utilizing the head first slide. Always the professional, the Royals’ third baseman handled all this notoriety with appropriate humility and in an interview stated that he figured he would play the next day because it would be tougher “to sit another one out.”

Yes, those were the glory days for the Royals. In addition to Brett, Wilson, Cowans, Otis and White, the team had other notables such as Freddie Patek, a 5’4” shortstop, Willie Mays Aikens and Hal McRae. Kansas City also had a utility infielder with one of the greatest names in sports history: Buddy Biancalanca. Most baseball fans had never heard of Biancalanca until the ’85 Series and even then, thought he was married to Mick Jagger.

Rebuilding in Kansas City will be no easy task, whoever takes over. Quality players seem to leave, once their talents have ripened. The reason: Royals’ ownership just can’t afford to keep them. In past years the likes of Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye have gone to greener pastures.

Kansas City not only needs a new manager, the team needs new ownership with pockets deep enough to compete with some of the larger-market teams. Kaufman Stadium, one of the prettiest ballparks in baseball, needs major renovation. The Royals need an infusion of cash or the franchise is in danger of going down for the count.

Will Kansas City be able to rise from the ashes, much as Detroit bounced back from its 119-loss season several years ago? Stay tuned.