[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by AJKCFAN

I’m gonna go and start another Game Thread for today and with good reason.

43 years ago, I was born into this world as a Royals fan. Growing up, I thought it was a birthright that the Royals would win on my birthday. No really, August 26 just might be year-in, year-out the most memorable date on “This Date in Royals” history calendar. From 1979 to 1991, the Royals would win all 13 games played on August 26. That took me basically throughout my entire childhood and it was like having one final birthday present to wrap up my happy day.

These all happened on prior August 26’s….

1980 – in the middle of Brett’s run to .400, his batting average peaked that night when he went 5 for 5 in Milwaukee. He got a standing ovation from the Brewers fans at Milwaukee County Stadium as his average climbed to .407 (it was never higher the rest of the season)

1991 – the Royals final no-hitter was thrown 25 years ago today, as Sabes would throw it vs. the White Sox, 3-0. I’m not saying Kennedy will throw one tonight because he won’t, but I will make this prediction right now that a Royals P will throw a no-hitter before 2016 is done (my call is against the Twins on a game they rest Dozier)

There were other moments that were great growing up (1984 Greg Pryor walkoff hit in the 16th inning to beat the White Sox as the Royals continued their rise to win the AL West at a laughable 84-78, 1988 – Royals beat eventual AL Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola as they beat the Twins, 1989 – Royals beat Dave Stewart and the eventual World Champion A’s), but all good things come to an end.

Since 1991, the Royals have been hit or miss, about .500 pretty much. I mean, last year Cueto got torched at home vs. the Orioles and they lost (I’ll never forgive him for that), but the year before however, Alex Gordon hit a very memorable walkoff 2 run HR vs. the Twins (Geoff Perkins) as the Royals won 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th and really kept propelling them to the Wild Card and all that’s happened since (that HR did make Rany’s list by the way and made me very proud…)

So, tonight a huge 3 game set begins tonight at Fenway. Royals need to win this series but they really need to win tonight to set up the entire weekend. Win tonight and then you got Duffy on the hill tomorrow and Ventura Sunday night against a guy with a 5+ ERA (gulp, that kind of pitcher usually kills us) and things will look really good in what has become a tremendous month for the Defending World Series Champions.

Lineups to be posted later – figured to get a head start and see if any of yous remembered any of these moments just posted (yeah, they all happened on August 26…)

I'm exactly 364 days older than you. so you get today's GDT and tomorrow I'll do up the Game Day thread!