Did you know? 10 random facts about Mets, Royals
The 2015 World Series gets underway Tuesday between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets.
Although this is the first time these two squads have matched up against one another in the sport's biggest series, both teams arrive with their own historic story lines.
Here are 10 random facts about baseball's two best teams:
1. ROUGH START
The Mets were one of baseball's first expansion teams, becoming part of Major League Baseball in 1962, and immediately made history: In its inaugural season, the franchise posted a record of 40-120. That still stands as the worst regular-season record since the league went to a 162-game schedule. It's also the most losses in a season since 1899.
2. NOT WHAT YOU THINK
"Kansas City Royals" sounds elegant, but the team's noble title doesn't have aristocratic roots. The nickname actually originates from the American Royal, a livestock and horse show that features a rodeo and a championship barbecue competition. It's been held annually in Kansas City since 1899.
3. BAD CHOICE
"Mr. October" may be remembered as a New York Yankee - or, in some circles, an Oakland Athletic - but another New York baseball franchise actually had the first shot at acquiring Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson. After the Mets finished the 1965 season with a 50-112 record, the team secured the first selection in the draft. With Jackson on the board, the Mets instead opted to draft catcher Steve Chilcott first overall. Chilcott never played a single game in the majors.
4. BO KNOWS
The Royals have their own hard-luck tale involving a man with the name Jackson. Bo Jackson, one of the most talented athletes to grace the sporting world and the first player to make All-Star teams in two different professional sports, could have done so much more in the City of Fountains. Jackson's promising baseball career with the Royals was halted after a football injury earned him his release in 1991, just two seasons after he hit 32 home runs and 105 RBIs while earning MVP at the All-Star Game.
5. HIS ACHY BREAKEY HEART
Country musician Garth Brooks was once a member of the Mets, no word of a lie. After a 1-for-22 stint with the San Diego Padres during spring training in 1999, New York invited him to camp the following spring. He was released after going 0-for-17, but still received one more spring camp invite with the Royals in 2004.
6. CLASS OF HIS OWN
Former Royals slugger George Brett is one of a kind. After winning his third batting title with Kansas City in 1990, the Hall of Famer became the first player in major-league history to win the award in three different decades.
| SEASON | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | .333 | .377 | .462 |
| 1980 | .390 | .454 | .664 |
| 1990 | .329 | .387 | .515 |
7. ONE OF A KIND
Tom Seaver was a special player and the Mets made sure he was honored for his service with the team. The pitcher is the only player to ever have his number (41) retired by the Mets, and also the only player depicted on his Hall of Fame plaque wearing the team's cap. Gil Hodges and Casey Stengel have also had their numbers retired by the Mets, but as managers.
8. SWEET LOU
Speaking of special players, Lou Piniella retired from baseball with a career batting average of .291 before winning 1,835 games as a manager. The former AL Rookie of the Year will always be remembered by Royals fans as the first player to record a hit in franchise history - a leadoff double.
9. CHITI CHITI BANG BANG
Weird things happen in baseball and the Mets added to the ongoing list of the sport's oddities in 1962 when they traded a player for himself. New York acquired catcher Harry Chiti from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later. After Chiti failed to work out as the Mets had hoped, they traded him back to the Indians as the PTBNL of the same deal.
10. THE MENDOZA LINE
The "Mendoza Line" is a familiar term in baseball circles, and it was coined by a famous Royal. George Brett first mentioned it in 1980 when he spoke about being in a slump. Brett told reporters, "The first thing I look for in the Sunday papers is who is below the Mendoza line," referring to Seattle Mariners shortstop Mario Mendoza - who finished his nine-year career with a .215 average.