Royals fans don't get much more devoted than Andy Berry. A lifelong Kansas Citian, Berry attended the 1980 World Series when the Royals lost to the Phillies, and Game seven of the 1985 World Series when the Royals beat the Cardinals.
On that night when Missouri's two MLB teams clashed, Berry decided to sneak his way down onto the field after the final play. It was there that he got a special piece of memorabilia to remember that night: some dirt from the diamond.
"There was a guy on the field with a cup, and he was just scooping up piles of dirt," Berry said. "I said, 'Please give me some of that dirt,' and he poured some into my pocket because I had nothing to hold it in."
The dirt went into a little baggy and sat inside a mug for the 29-year drought, until Berry got tickets to go to the American League Wild Card game last month.
"The idea just struck me that I just had to put some of this old '85 dirt on the field," Berry said. "People started taking pictures of me, and I was like, 'This is crazy!'"
When the Royals came back to Kauffman for the Division Series, Berry gave a family friend some of the dirt to take along and sprinkle on the field. And he's open to more people carrying on the tradition for the Championship against the Baltimore Orioles.
"I have to carry on the tradition now," Berry said. "I know it doesn't really mean anything, but I'd sure hate not to and think that I jinxed them."
The Royals are up 2-0 against the Orioles and are scheduled to play the third game in the series in Kansas City on Monday.
