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The Royals are in the ALCS to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

From 1976-1986, the Royals and Angels combined for nine division titles in eleven seasons. Five times over that period, the two clubs finished first and second together, all of them within five games of each other. The Royals edged the Angels by five games in 1978, but the Angels took the division by three games in 1979. The Angels were supposedly motivated by an interview Royals owner Ewing Kauffman had given where he said he hoped anyone would win the division but the Angels, since they were a high-priced team of mercenaries who played in front of no fans.

The two teams battled again for the division in 1982, with some intense games down the stretch that included quotes in the press from Angels pitcher Geoff Zahn who complained about the Royals’ “cockiness” and All-Star hitter Rod Carew, who called the Royals “crybabies.” Reggie Jackson would bowl into Frank White in a close play at second, causing a bench-clearing brawl. A week later in Kansas City, Jackson would confront a Royals fan for throwing a beer cup at him. The Angels would take the division by three games.

A young Royals unexpectedly got hot and stole the division from the Angels in 1984, setting up a terrific division race in 1985. The Western Division title that year came to a thrilling conclusion in the final week of the season, with the Royals taking three out of four from the Halos to take over first place for good on their way to their first championship.