Series #224
1985 Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 75-87
Finish: 5th in NL East
Manager: John Felske
Ball Park: Veterans Stadium
WAR Leader: Mike Schmidt (5.0)
Franchise Record: 7-17
1985 Season Record: 2-2
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1985.shtml
2004 Kansas City Royals
Record: 58-104
Finish: 5th in AL Central
Manager: Tony Pena
Ball Park: Kauffman Stadium
WAR Leader: Zack Greinke (3.7)
Franchise Record: 5-6
2004 Season Record: 8-0
Hall of Famers: (0)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/2004.shtml
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Heaven’s Dugout — Series #224 Preview
Host: Mel Allen
Panelists: Vin Scully, Bill James, Pete Rose, and Frank Thomas
Opening by Mel Allen
"Hello there, everybody! Welcome once again to Heaven’s Dugout, where the cornfields whisper, history walks, and baseball’s past and present clash in eternal competition. Today we turn our attention to Series #224, pitting the 2004 Kansas City Royals against the 1985 Philadelphia Phillies.
On paper, you might not expect these two clubs to cross paths — one a Royals team that finished a long year in transition, the other a Phillies club nearing the end of an era defined by Hall of Fame talent. But here in the Field of Dreams, reputations don’t matter — it’s about who rises in October. Let’s break it all down."
Vin Scully — The Storyteller’s View
"Well Mel, what a contrast we have. The 2004 Royals stumbled to 104 losses, but they do bring a few bright sparks to this field — young David DeJesus patrolling the outfield, Angel Berroa with his flash at shortstop, and the familiar veteran bat of Joe Randa. These are ballplayers hungry for redemption, hungry to prove that even forgotten teams can write golden chapters here.
And then across the diamond, there’s Philadelphia, the 1985 Phillies. You still see the embers of the great 1980 championship club — Mike Schmidt, the great third baseman who remains the centerpiece, alongside Von Hayes, Ozzie Virgil, and a pitching staff that can lean on veterans like Kevin Gross and Shane Rawley. It’s the feel of an aging empire looking to show it can still roar."
Bill James — The Analyst’s Breakdown
"If you strip away the narratives and just evaluate the matchups, the Phillies clearly hold the edge. They were a .500 club in a very competitive NL East, while Kansas City’s 2004 roster was threadbare after years of decline.
The Royals’ pitching staff is their biggest weakness here. Run prevention was abysmal that year, and it’s hard to imagine them stifling the bat of Schmidt or even role players like Juan Samuel and Glenn Wilson. The Phillies don’t have overwhelming pitching, but they’ll look like a juggernaut compared to what Kansas City can throw out there.
If there’s a path for the Royals, it’s chaos: timely hits, a bullpen miracle or two, and maybe someone like DeJesus or Matt Stairs getting hot at the right time. Otherwise, I expect the Phillies to control this."
Pete Rose — The Player’s Perspective
"I’ll tell ya straight — the Phillies are gonna love this matchup. They got my old buddy Mike Schmidt right there in the middle of the order, and if you give him mistake pitches, it’s gonna be a long series for Kansas City.
But I’ll give Kansas City this — no one comes into this tournament expecting them to win, and that can be dangerous. You play loose, you play with nothin’ to lose, and sometimes that bites the favorite. If I’m Philly, I come out swingin’, try to bury them early. Don’t give ‘em life."
Frank Thomas — The Slugger’s Eye
"You know I always look at who can change a game with one swing. The Phillies have Schmidt, no question, one of the greatest power bats we’ve ever seen. But don’t overlook Von Hayes — he could hit for pop and run a little too.
The Royals don’t have a ton of thunder, but Matt Stairs can still muscle one out, and Ken Harvey had some pop in that year. The big challenge is consistency. Philly’s lineup can grind pitchers down; Kansas City’s might go quiet for stretches. That’s dangerous in a best-of-seven."
Closing Thoughts — Mel Allen
"So there you have it. The panel sees the Phillies as heavy favorites, but warns against overlooking the scrappy Royals. It’s baseball, after all, and the unexpected has a way of stepping right out of the cornfields.
When the series begins, the 2004 Kansas City Royals will try to prove that even forgotten summers can yield October glory, while the 1985 Phillies seek to reclaim the magic of a franchise only a few years removed from the mountaintop.
Folks, it’s time to settle it on the diamond. Stay tuned — the corn is rustling, the players are ready, and Series #224 is about to begin."