Pop sensation Lorde wrote her biggest hit, "Royals," after seeing a picture of George Brett from 1976. This is a true fact. You can look it up. They have even had their picture taken together since.
Kansas City was one of MLB's model franchises during much of Brett's era, making the postseason seven times in 10 seasons between 1976 and 1985 — and winning the World Series in that final appearance.
It sounds a lot like the Twins' run of six division titles in nine seasons from 2002-10 (minus the World Series, of course). And it is also a reminder that there are no guarantees of a swift return to prominence.
Kansas City waited 29 years before returning to the postseason, cracking the code this year with a Wild Card berth. What happened Tuesday night was nearly three decades in the making. The game could have turned out any number of ways, but the way it did finish — with comeback after comeback by the host Royals, including two runs in the bottom of the 12th after being taken to the brink in the top half by the A's — seemed like it was the only natural way to end.
It was a thrilling, gripping game — very reminiscent of Game 163 between the Twins and Tigers in 2009. Yes, that was only five years ago. It feels like more, but really that was it. The Twins even made it back to the playoffs the next year, too.
Minnesota has a long way to go when it comes to feeling KC's pain of playoff droughts. But when you're on the downswing, as the Twins have been for the past four years, it can start to feel like forever pretty fast.
Lorde declares "we'll never be royals" in her song, which is about something entirely different than baseball. At this point, we're left to shift it to a question: Will the Twins ever be Royals — and if so, how soon?
