5 Things the Kansas City Royals Should Be Thankful For

By Doug LaCerte

5 Reasons Kansas City Royals Fans Should Be Thankful

Eric Hosmer Salvador Perez Kansas City Royals
Ed Zurga - Getty Images Sport

The Kansas City Royals are still less than a month off a postseason run that left them one win away from a World Series title. Now is the time to be thankful, which shouldn't be too tough for Royals fans who just experienced their team’s first legit success since Ronald Reagan was in office and fresh cans of New Coke were still on store shelves. Here are the five best reasons for fans in KC to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

5. Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium Kansas City Royals
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

5. Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium Kansas City Royals
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

The already-gorgeous Kauffman Stadium underwent a $ 250 million renovation after the 2008 season to make it one of the world's most beautiful places to play baseball. Kauffman has already played host to 42 Royals seasons, and after Missouri voters recently expressed their feelings about a possible new stadium in downtown KC, it looks like the Royals will stay put for many seasons to come.

4. GM Dayton Moore

Dayton Moore Kansas City Royals
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

4. GM Dayton Moore

Dayton Moore Kansas City Royals
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

Any Royals fan old enough to remember Allard Baird will shudder to even think of the dark times he brought down on this franchise. They may curse whoever dare speak his name and spit on their shoes; that's how you know they're a true fan. Dayton Moore had his fair share of detractors through his current tenure in KC, but his strategy just brought this city an American League pennant. That level of success will be deeply appreciated.

3. A Surplus of Young Talent

Danny Duffy Salvador Perez Kansas City Royals
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

3. A Surplus of Young Talent

Danny Duffy Salvador Perez Kansas City Royals
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Salvador Perez, Danny Duffy, Yordano Ventura, Kelvin Herrera, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer are all emerging players with high ceilings who are less than 27 years old. That's KC's corner infielders, their catcher, one of the best relievers in arguably the best bullpen in history and their two best starters who aren't currently free agents. Not many teams get a chance to see these many young players grow up and accomplish greatness together.

2. Memories That Will Live Forever

Salvador Perez Kansas City Royals
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2. Memories That Will Live Forever

Salvador Perez Kansas City Royals
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

What happened last month in this city was spectacular and totally unique. That run may have rejuvenated the franchise and its fans and may incite more success in the upcoming seasons, but the postseason Royals fans just witnessed will never be forgotten. Even if KC can win the Fall Classic with this core group of guys, everyone will remember this as the year the Royals made themselves relevant again.

1. Hope

Kansas City Royals 2014 American League Championship Series
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

1. Hope

Kansas City Royals 2014 American League Championship Series
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport

The long and still incomplete list of emerging talent I mentioned earlier brings to this city and its fans a well-founded sense of hope for the first time in decades. Regardless of the club's offseason activity, Royals fans will be ecstatic to see their team play, and play well, in 2015. Thanks to the aforementioned youth of the roster and a newly found faith in franchise management, hope is easy to find in Kansas City.

Doug LaCerte is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DLaC67, “like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.

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