Out of the Blue The Kansas City Royals' Historic 2014 Season

The Royals’ surprising run to the World Series for the first time since 1985 captured the nation’s attention. In late July, Kansas City sat in third place in the AL Central, eight games out of first place with a losing record. But manager Ned Yost’s team answered the call, posting a 41–27 mark after the All-Star break to capture a spot in the AL Wild Card game. Trailing the A’s 7–3 after seven innings, the Royals’ thrilling, 12-inning comeback win started a record postseason run. The win over the A’s marked the start of a record eight-game winning streak as the Royals swept the Angels and Orioles to set up the unforgettable Fall Classic showdown with the Giants. Packed with unique analysis from veteran Kansas City writer Matt Fulks and vivid color photography, Out of the Blue takes fans through the Royals’ amazing journey, from key off-season acquisitions to the Royals’ thrilling Wild Card win all the way to the thrilling push to Game 7 of the World Series. This commemorative edition also includes feature stories on Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, and other fan favorites.

Matt Fulks is a freelance writer and editor and a regular contributor to various publications, including the Kansas City Star and Royals Baseball Insider magazine, the official publication of the Kansas City Royals. In recent years, he has also written for CBS Sportsline, the Denver Post, and USA Today Sports Weekly. He is the author or coauthor of 15 books, including projects with Royals legends Denny Matthews, Frank White, and Fred White. He lives in Overland Park, Kansas.