Losses are not memorable for the reasons you wish, but some of them are memorable nonetheless. Thirty-one years ago was a perfect example in Royals history when George Brett put on a virtuoso performance at Yankee Stadium in New York.

It was Friday, October 6, 1978 in the Bronx with the Royals and Yankees facing-off for Game 3 of the 1978 American League Championship Series.  The best of five was tied at a game apiece following the first two games in Kansas City. George Brett was hitting lead-off for the Royals and started the game with a HR off Catfish Hunter. He came to the plate again in the third inning with the scored tied 1-1 and launched another HR off Hunter. Leading off the fifth with the Royals trailing 3-2 he blasted a third HR. Classic match-up of Hall of Famer against Hall of Famer and George came away with three HRs in three at-bats against Catfish.

Just A Bit More: The Royals would score two runs in the top of the eighth to take a 5-4 lead only to see the Yankees answer with two in the bottom of the inning. With one out and nobody on in the ninth George hit a deep drive that appeared it might be HR number four – instead it was caught by left-fielder Gary Thomasson at the wall. New York won the game 6-5 and then the series the next day. Who was that pitcher George almost tied the game off of in the ninth? Of course it was Goose Gossage. Sweet revenge would come two years later…

(Curt Nelson, Director – Royals Hall of Fame)