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Royals fans soak in the feeling of the team's first playoff game in 29 years (Photos)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As Royals fans poured into Kauffman Stadium Tuesday night for their team's wild card game against the Oakland A's, you had to look harder than usual to spot George Brett jerseys.
Five years ago, the star of the Royals' 1985 World Series win and last playoff appearance might have been the most popular player apparel item. While the links to the ghosts of the Royals' 29-year playoff drought were visible – there were a few fans wearing shirts from that series with the Cardinals, including Mark Gruber's Don Denkinger shirt (pictured at right) – Tuesday night was all about the present.
When you're the fan of a team always thinking back to the glory days of a World Series that gets further and further in the rearview while simultaneously waiting for next year, living in the present is an odd feeling. And one Royals fans were ready to seize.
"I was 6 years old [when the Royals went to the World Series]," Morgan Grippin said while donning a Royals flag like a cape. "I don't remember a thing. This is, in my opinion, my very first playoff game ever."
Chad Ayler was also 6 during the Royals' last success. He was in a full gorilla costume.
Alex Hankins was 11 months old when the Royals beat the Cardinals. When the Royals clinched a playoff berth on Friday night against the White Sox, he terrified his 16-month-old daughter.
"I was screaming so loud that that I scared her," Hankins said. "She started crying and we started jumping together and cheering."
Mike and Donna Shields are Royals season ticket-holders. While the 13 years they've had tickets seems like a long time, it's shudder-worthy when you realize it's less than half the length of the Royals' futility, which was the longest playoff drought in sports.
"We have been and we will continue to be Royals season ticket-holders and come to games," Donna Shields said. "But this is the best feeling ever."
And it's a feeling that Royals fans all know could be fleeting.
"My feeling is: I've got to come tonight because no matter how far we go, we might win the World Series this year, but who knows, it could be 29 years," Grippin said. "Who knows when we'll get back."
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
