2015 World Series
{{Short description|111th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox World Series
| country = World
| year = 2015
| image = 2015 World Series logo.svg
| date = October 27 – November 1
| venue = Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)
Citi Field (New York)
| champion = Kansas City Royals (4)
| champion_manager = Ned Yost
| champion_games = 95–67, {{winpct|95|67}}, GA: 12
| runnerup = New York Mets (1)
| runnerup_manager = Terry Collins
| runnerup_games = 90–72, {{winpct|90|72}}, GA: 7
| MVP = Salvador Pérez (Kansas City)
| television = Fox (United States)
MLB International (International)
| announcers = Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds, Tom Verducci, Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews (Fox)
Matt Vasgersian and John Smoltz (MLB International)
| radio_network = ESPN
KCSP (KC)
WOR (NYM)
| radio_announcers = Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone (ESPN)
Denny Matthews, Ryan Lefebvre, and Steve Physioc (KCSP)
Howie Rose and Josh Lewin (WOR)
| umpires = Gary Cederstrom (crew chief),
Bill Welke (games 1–2), Mike Everitt (games 3–5), Mark Carlson, Mike Winters, Jim Wolf, Alfonso Márquez, Ron Kulpa (replay assistant)
| ALCS = Kansas City Royals over Toronto Blue Jays (4–2)
| NLCS = New York Mets over Chicago Cubs (4–0)
| image2 = 2015 World Series program.jpg
| image_size2 = 219px
}}
The 2015 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2015 season. The 111th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion New York Mets and the American League (AL) champion Kansas City Royals. The series was played between October 27 and November 1, with the Royals winning the series 4{{nbsp}}games to 1, clinching the team's second World Series and first since the 1985 series. It was the first time since 2010 that the Series extended into November.{{cite magazine|last=Jaffe|first=Jay|title=MLB announces 2015 schedule with April start, October finish|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/09/08/2015-mlb-season-schedule-world-series-interleague|access-date=May 23, 2015|magazine=Sports Illustrated|publisher=Time Inc.|date=September 8, 2014|location=New York City}}
The Royals had home field advantage for the series because of the AL's 6–3 victory in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It was the 13th World Series in which home field advantage was awarded to the league that won the All-Star Game, a practice that was discontinued after the 2016 season. The series was played in a 2-3-2 format: the Royals hosted Games 1{{nbsp}}and 2, and would have hosted Games 6{{nbsp}}and 7 had they been needed. The Mets hosted Games 3, 4, and{{nbsp}}5.
The Royals became the first team since the Oakland Athletics in the 1989 World Series to win the World Series after losing in the previous year; and in addition, they became the first expansion team to win the World Series since the Florida Marlins won it all in 2003.[https://www.mlb.com/news/losing-teams-that-returned-to-world-series-c299350220 Teams that lost WS and returned the next year], MLB.com, November 5, 2022 It was also the first World Series played between two expansion teams. Salvador Pérez was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.
Background
{{Main article|2015 MLB Postseason}}
This was the first World Series in which both teams were expansion teams, which are teams that were formed after the 1960 season; the Mets began play in 1962 and the Royals in 1969.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-royals-world-series-is-the-first-between-2-expansion-teams-1.11005696|title=Mets–Royals World Series is the first between 2 expansion teams—Newsday|first1=Neil |last1=Best|work=Newsday|access-date=October 28, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/10-things-to-know-about-the-world-series.html#|title=10 Things to Know About the World Series—NYMag|work=Daily Intelligencer|date=October 27, 2015 |access-date=October 28, 2015}} Additionally, they have been the most successful expansion teams in the major leagues: the Mets and Royals were the first expansion teams in their respective leagues to win not only a league championship pennant (1969 for the Mets and 1980 for the Royals) but the World Series as well (the Mets in 1969 and the Royals in 1985). With five and four pennants respectively, the Mets and Royals have the most league championships among the expansion franchises. Each team was also seeking to end a championship drought; the Royals' previous championship was in 1985, with the Mets' last title coming one year later in 1986.{{cite web |last=Cassavell |first=AJ |date=2015-10-26 |title=DYK: Top facts about Mets-Royals matchup |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/top-facts-about-mets-royals-world-series/c-155452870 |access-date=2025-03-25 |work=MLB.com}}
=New York Mets=
{{main|2015 New York Mets season}}
The Mets made their fifth appearance in the World Series after sweeping the Cubs 4–0 in the 2015 National League Championship Series (NLCS).{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|title=Mets, Team of Big Shoulders, Sweep Cubs to Reach World Series|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/22/sports/baseball/new-york-mets-beat-chicago-cubs-nlcs.html?_r=0|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=October 21, 2015|location=Chicago}} They had split their four previous appearances, winning the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles and the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, while losing the 1973 World Series against the Oakland Athletics and the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees, their cross-town rivals.{{cite news|title=Video: A look back at some memorable moments in Mets World Series history|url=http://abc7ny.com/sports/video-a-look-back-at-some-memorable-moments-in-mets-world-series-history/1049224/|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=WABC-TV|publisher=ABC Inc.|date=October 24, 2015|location=New York City}}
The Mets qualified for the postseason by winning the National League (NL) East, their sixth division title.{{cite news|title=Mets celebrate NL East championship|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/new-york-mets-nl-east-championship-celebration-pictures-1.10894173|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=Newsday|publisher=Cablevision|date=September 27, 2015|location=New York City}} The third-seeded Mets faced the #2 seed Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2015 NL Division Series, winning in five games. In the 2015 NLCS, Daniel Murphy led the team by hitting home runs in each game of the four-game sweep of the fifth-seeded Chicago Cubs.{{cite web|last=Rubin|first=Adam|title=Mets headed to World Series after sweeping Cubs with 8–3 win|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork/mets/post/_/id/112441/mets-headed-to-world-series-after-sweeping-cubs-with-8-3-win|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023111752/http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork/mets/post/_/id/112441/mets-headed-to-world-series-after-sweeping-cubs-with-8-3-win|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2015|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=October 28, 2015|location=Chicago|date=October 22, 2015}} By winning the NLCS, the Mets became the first expansion franchise to play in the World Series five times.{{efn|name=WS|In 2022, the Houston Astros became the second expansion team to accomplish the feat}} In addition, the Mets have made World Series appearances in all but one of their six decades of existence, not appearing in any that were played during the 1990s. This was the first World Series appearance for Mets' manager Terry Collins, who had never reached the postseason as a manager prior to 2015.{{cite news|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|title=Mets manager Terry Collins, a baseball lifer, gets his shot at World Series|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/10/26/mets-manager-terry-collins-baseball-lifer-gets-shot-world-series/74657934/|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.|date=October 26, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2015.shtml|title=2015 New York Mets|date=October 28, 2015|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=October 28, 2015}}
=Kansas City Royals=
{{main|2015 Kansas City Royals season}}
The Royals made their second consecutive appearance in the World Series, both under Ned Yost, and fourth overall. They won the 1985 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, and lost their two other appearances, the 1980 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies and the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/history/postseason_results.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507110519/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/history/postseason_results.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 7, 2007|title=Royals Postseason Results|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 11, 2016}} The Royals qualified for the postseason by winning the American League (AL) Central, their seventh division title and their first since winning the AL West in 1985.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/9/25/9396007/kansas-city-royals-american-league-central-division-clinch|title=Royals are first MLB team to clinch division in 2015|first=Eric|last=Stephen|work=SB Nation|date=September 25, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2016}} The top-seeded Royals faced the #5 seed Houston Astros in the 2015 American League Division Series, winning in five games. They followed that up in the 2015 American League Championship Series, beating the second-seeded Toronto Blue Jays in six games.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/2015.shtml|title=2015 Kansas City Royals|date=October 28, 2015|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=October 28, 2015}}
By winning the ALCS, the Royals became the first team to play in consecutive World Series since the Texas Rangers played in the 2010 World Series and 2011 World Series.{{cite news|last=Nightengale|first=Bob|title=Heartbreak of 2014 has shaped Kansas City Royals' 2015 World Series run|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/10/27/kansas-city-royals-world-series-madison-bumgarner-game-7-new-york-mets-san-francisco-giants/74711360/|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.|date=October 27, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}
=Series preview=
The series began on October 27.{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Mark|title=2015 Postseason Schedule|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2015-mlb-postseason-schedule-set/c-143671252|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP.|website=MLB.com|date=September 24, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2015|archive-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003052916/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/143671252/2015-mlb-postseason-schedule-set|url-status=live}} The American League won the 2015 All-Star Game, therefore the Royals had home field advantage for the series.{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=350714132|title= Mike Trout goes deep right off the bat to carry American League to win|date=July 15, 2015|work=ESPN|access-date=July 15, 2015}}
The Mets and the Royals hadn't played each other since 2013. Though the Mets boasted four starting pitchers who could throw over {{convert|95|mph}}—Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, and Steven Matz—the Royals had the best team batting average against pitches over that speed during the 2015 season. And while the Mets' starting pitchers had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in MLB, the Royals' roster of strong contact hitters led baseball in contact rate. The Royals also had a superior defensive team, finishing second in the majors in Defensive Runs Saved, while the Mets finished 21st.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/10/26/world-series-preview-royals-mets-tv-times/74653836/|title=World Series preview: Making cases for the Mets and Royals|date=October 26, 2015|work=USA Today|access-date=March 31, 2016}} The Royals bullpen, anchored by Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera, also provided a strength.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2015/10/world_series_2015_the_definitive_mets-kansas_city.html|title=World Series 2015: The definitive Mets-Kansas City Royals preview|first=Mike |last=Vorkunov | publisher=NJ Advance Media|work=NJ.com |date=October 27, 2015|access-date=March 31, 2016}} While the Mets hitters performed better against left-handed pitchers than right-handed pitchers, the Royals four starting pitchers, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Vólquez, Yordano Ventura, and Chris Young, and primary relievers, Davis, Herrera, Ryan Madson, and Luke Hochevar, are right-handed.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25354739/world-series-13-things-to-know-about-mets-royals-matchup|title=2015 World Series: 13 things to know about Mets–Royals matchup|work=CBS Sports|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=March 31, 2016}}
Summary
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary =
| winner = Kansas City
| leader =
| score = 4–1
| score1 = New York Mets – 4, Kansas City Royals – 5 (14)
| date1 = October 27
| loc1 = Kauffman Stadium
| time1 = 5:09
| att1 = 40,320
| score2 = New York Mets – 1, Kansas City Royals – 7
| date2 = October 28
| loc2 = Kauffman Stadium
| time2 = 2:54
| att2 = 40,410
| score3 = Kansas City Royals – 3, New York Mets – 9
| date3 = October 30
| loc3 = Citi Field
| time3 = 3:22
| att3 = 44,781
| score4 = Kansas City Royals – 5, New York Mets – 3
| date4 = October 31
| loc4 = Citi Field
| time4 = 3:29
| att4 = 44,815
| score5 = Kansas City Royals – 7, New York Mets – 2 (12)
| date5 = November 1
| loc5 = Citi Field
| time5 = 4:15
| att5 = 44,859
}}
Game summaries
=Game 1=
{{linescore|
|Date = October 27, 2015
|Time = 7:09{{nbsp}}pm (CDT)
|Location = Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri,
|Other={{convert|52|F|C}}, overcast
|Road=New York|RoadAbr=NYM
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=1|R6=1|R7=0|R8=1|R9=0|R10=0|R11=0|R12=0|R13=0|R14=0|RR=4|RH=11|RE=1
|Home=Kansas City|HomeAbr=KC
|H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=2|H7=0|H8=0|H9=1|H10=0|H11=0|H12=0|H13=0|H14=1|HR=5|HH=11|HE=1
|One out when winning run was scored.
|WP=Chris Young (1–0)|LP=Bartolo Colón (0–1)
|RoadHR=Curtis Granderson (1)|HomeHR=Alcides Escobar (1), Alex Gordon (1)
|BoxURL=https://mlb.com/gameday/446273
|Attendance=40,320
|}}
File:-WorldSeries Game 1- Eric Hosmer wins it (22861501026).jpg.]]
The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by George Brett while Andy Grammer sang the national anthem.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/10/27/george-brett-first-pitch-world-series-game-1-mets-vs-royals|title=World Series Game 1: George Brett to throw out first pitch|author=SI Wire|work=SI.com|date=October 27, 2015 |access-date=October 31, 2015}} Matt Harvey started Game{{nbsp}}1 for the Mets, while Edinson Vólquez started for the Royals.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/10/27/9620288/mets-royals-world-series-mlb|title=It's Matt Harvey vs. Edinson Volquez in World Series Game 1|first1=Marc |last1=Normandin|publisher=Vox Media|work=SBNation.com|date=October 27, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015}} Vólquez's father had died earlier in the day.{{cite web|last=Snyder |first=Matt |title=Edinson Volquez's father dies on day of World Series Game 1 |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25355826/reports-edinson-volquezs-father-died-on-day-of-world-series-game-1 |website=cbssports.com |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=October 28, 2015 |location=Kansas City, Missouri |date=October 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028152520/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25355826/reports-edinson-volquezs-father-died-on-day-of-world-series-game-1 |archive-date=October 28, 2015 }} He was not aware of his father's death until after he left the game.{{cite web|last=Gonzalez|first=Alden|title=Volquez learns of father's death after start|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/edinson-volquez-father-dies-before-ws-game-1-c155715406|website=MLB.com|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}
On the first pitch thrown by Harvey, Alcides Escobar hit an inside-the-park home run, the first in a World Series game since Mule Haas in Game 4 of the 1929 World Series,{{cite web|last=Gonzalez|first=Alden|title=Escobar's inside-the-park HR one for the ages|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/155717014/alcides-escobar-hits-inside-the-park-home-run|website=mlb.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP.|access-date=October 28, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri|date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030230559/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/155717014/alcides-escobar-hits-inside-the-park-home-run|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Snyder|first=Matt|title=Alcides Escobar hits 1st World Series inside-the-park HR since 1929|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25355842/alcides-escobar-hits-1st-world-series-inside-the-park-hr-since-1929|website=cbssports.com|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=October 27, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri|date=October 28, 2015}} and the first hit by a leadoff batter since Patsy Dougherty did it in Game 2 of the 1903 World Series.{{cite news|last=Berg|first=Ted|title=Alcides Escobar hits leadoff inside-the-park home run in World Series Game 1|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/kansas-city-royals-alcides-escobar-inside-the-park-home-run-mlb-world-series|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.|date=October 27, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri}} In the fourth inning, Murphy recorded the Mets' first hit, and later scored their first run on a hit by Travis d'Arnaud.{{cite web|last=Bloom|first=Barry|title=No HR, but Murphy has 10-game hit streak|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-daniel-murphy-rides-10-game-hit-streak/c-155724508|website=mlb.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP.|access-date=October 28, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri|date=October 28, 2015}} Curtis Granderson hit a home run in the fifth inning to give the Mets a 2–1 lead.{{cite web |last=Hoch |first=Bryan |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Granderson goes deep, robs hit in Series return |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-curtis-granderson-homers-makes-catch/c-155726960 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=MLB.com}} The Mets took a 3–1 lead in the top of the sixth when Michael Conforto drove in Yoenis Céspedes with a sacrifice fly. Mike Moustakas then saved a run with a diving stop and throw out to first to end the top of the sixth.{{cite news|title=2015 World Series Collector's Edition: 8 Disc-Collection|agency=Official MLB DVD|publisher=Major League Baseball|date=2015}} Eric Hosmer reduced the lead to 3–2 with a sacrifice fly, and set a new Royals' postseason run batted in (RBI) record in the process.{{cite web |last=Flanagan |first=Jeffrey |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Hosmer gets redemption with walk-off RBI |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/eric-hosmer-atones-for-error-with-walk-off-rbi/c-155730434 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=MLB.com}}{{cite news|title=World Series 2015: Mets 4–5 Royals—as it happened|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/oct/27/world-series-mets-royals-mlb|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=October 28, 2015}} A single by Moustakas tied the game at three, but in the top of the eighth, Wilmer Flores reached on an fielding error by Hosmer, allowing Juan Lagares to score the go-ahead run and give the Mets a 4–3 lead. In the bottom of the ninth with the Mets two outs away from taking Game 1, Alex Gordon tied the game for the Royals with a home run to deep center field, as Jeurys Familia blew his first save in six postseason opportunities and his first since July 30.{{cite book|title=2015 World Series Collector's Edition Sleevestats|date=2015|publisher=Major League Baseball|location=United States of America|page=1}}{{cite web |last=Hagen |first=Paul |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Gordon's heroics rewrite Game 1 ending |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-gordon-hits-game-1-homer-in-9th-inning/c-155739428 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=MLB.com}}{{cite web |last=Crasnick |first=Jerry |author-link=Jerry Crasnick |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Eric Hosmer's sac fly in 14th gives Royals dramatic Game 1 win |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/65576/eric-hosmers-sac-fly-in-14th-gives-royals-dramatic-game-1-win |access-date=October 28, 2015 |website=ESPN.com}} With the home run, Gordon became the first player since Scott Brosius in the 2001 World Series, and just the fifth player in history, to tie a World Series game on a home run in the ninth inning.{{cite book|title=Official MLB Collector's Edition 2015 World Series Champions Kansas City Royals|date=2015|publisher=Fenn/McClelland & Stewart|location=United States of America|page=66}}
In the bottom of the 11th inning, Granderson robbed the speedy Jarrod Dyson of a multi-base hit with a running, leaping catch that prevented what probably would have been a lead-off triple. The Mets went on to get out of the inning.{{cite news|title=2015 World Series Collector's Edition|agency=Official MLB DVD|publisher=Major League Baseball, Inc.}} In the bottom of the 14th, Escobar reached first on a throwing error by David Wright, and Bartolo Colón gave up a base hit to Ben Zobrist, allowing Escobar to reach third. Hosmer hit a sacrifice fly to Granderson in right field to drive in the winning run. This was the first time in World Series history that the same player scored both the first run of the game on the first pitch, and the last run of the game on the final pitch. The game ended at 12:18{{nbsp}}a.m. CDT, lasting five hours and nine minutes.{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.us/new-york/mets-fall-to-royals-in-a-14-inning-game-1-world-series-classic/zsJojB---rbX7vBW1w19ho/|title=Mets fall to Royals in a 14-inning Game 1 World Series classic|first=Matt|last=Burke|work=Metro.us|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015}} The game tied the record for the longest game by innings in World Series history, shared with Game{{nbsp}}2 in the 1916 World Series and Game{{nbsp}}3 in the 2005 World Series. However, the record has since been surpassed by Game{{nbsp}}3 of the 2018 World Series, which was 18 innings long.{{cite web |last=McCalvy |first=Adam |date=October 27, 2015 |title=Fall Classic opener longest Game 1 in WS history |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-royals-play-longest-world-series-game-1/c-155744670 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030230624/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/155744670/mets-royals-play-longest-world-series-game-1 |archive-date=October 30, 2015 |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=MLB.com}} The loss made Colón the oldest player ever to lose a World Series game.{{cite web |last1=Verducci |first1=Tom |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Life and death provided backdrop for wild, historic World Series opener |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/10/28/royals-mets-game-1-world-series-life-death |access-date=November 1, 2015 |website=Sports Illustrated}} With the loss, the Mets fell to 0–5 in Game 1 of the World Series, having lost the first game in all 5 of their appearances, including the two years they won the series (1969 and 1986).
{{clear}}
=Game 2=
File:Johnny Cueto on September 11, 2015.jpg was the winning pitcher in Game{{nbsp}}2, pitching a complete game.]]
{{linescore|
|Date = October 28, 2015
|Time = 7:08{{nbsp}}pm (CDT)
|Location = Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri,
|Other={{convert|52|F|C}}, clear
|Road=New York|RoadAbr=NYM
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=1|RH=2|RE=1
|Home=Kansas City|HomeAbr=KC
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=4|H6=0|H7=0|H8=3|H9=x|HR=7|HH=10|HE=0
|WP=Johnny Cueto (1–0)|LP=Jacob deGrom (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=
|BoxURL=https://mlb.com/gameday/446274
|Attendance=40,410
|}}
In Game 2, Jacob deGrom started for the Mets, and Johnny Cueto started for the Royals.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/65617/game-2-pitching-preview-jacob-degrom-versus-johnny-cueto|title=Game 2 pitching preview: Jacob deGrom versus Johnny Cueto|first=David|last=Schoenfield|work=ESPN.com|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015}} The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Medal of Honor recipients Don Ballard, Charles Hagemeister, and Roger Donlon while country singer Sara Evans sang the national anthem.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/world-series-national-anthem-performers-and-first-pitch-tossers-1.11027361|title=World Series national anthems and first pitches|newspaper=Newsday|access-date=2016-10-21}} Cueto walked Curtis Granderson to lead off the fourth and Daniel Murphy one out later. Yoenis Céspedes's hit into a forceout at second before Lucas Duda's RBI single put the Mets up 1–0. Duda produced the Mets' only other hit in the game in the second and Cueto retired them in order through the ninth.
In the fifth inning, deGrom allowed a leadoff walk to Alex Gordon and subsequent single to Alex Rios before Alcides Escobar's RBI single tied the game. Ben Zobrist's groundout moved the runners up and after Lorenzo Cain lined out to center, Eric Hosmer's two-run single put the Royals up 3–1. Kendrys Morales's single moved Hosmer to third and Mike Moustakas's single made it 4-1 Royals.
The Royals blew the game open in the eighth off of Jon Niese, who allowed a leadoff single to Moustakas, subsequent single to Salvador Pérez, and RBI double to Gordon. Addison Reed relieved Niese and allowed a sacrifice fly to Paulo Orlando and RBI triple to Escobar to make it 7-1 Kansas City.{{cite news|title=Royals go up 2–0 on Mets in World Series behind Johnny Cueto's 2-hitter|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=351028107|access-date=October 29, 2015|work=ESPN News Services|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=October 29, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri}}
Cueto walked Murphy with two outs in the ninth before getting Cespedes to fly out to right to finish the complete game, becoming the first AL pitcher to accomplish this feat in the World Series since Jack Morris in Game{{nbsp}}7 of the 1991 World Series, as the Royals defeated the Mets and took a two games to zero lead in the series.{{cite news|title=Johnny Cueto outpitches Jacob deGrom as Royals take 2–0 World Series lead|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/28/world-series-game-2-score-mets-royals-johnny-cueto|access-date=October 29, 2015|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=October 29, 2015}}{{cite news|last=Lacques|first=Gabe|title=Royals' Johnny Cueto makes history with World Series complete game|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/10/29/royals-johnny-cueto-makes-history-world-series-complete-game/74786368/|access-date=October 29, 2015|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.|date=October 29, 2015|location=Kansas City, Missouri}} Cueto became the first AL pitcher since Jim Lonborg in the 1967 World Series to throw a World Series complete game while allowing two hits or fewer.{{cite book|title=2015 World Series Collector's Edition Sleevestats|date=2015|publisher=Major League Baseball, Inc.|location=United States of America|page=3}}
=Game 3=
File:Billy Joel Singing the National Anthem Before Game 3 of the 2015 World Series.jpg sang the National Anthem before Game{{nbsp}}3.]]
{{linescore|
|Date = October 30, 2015
|Time = 8:08{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location = Citi Field in Queens, New York,
|Other={{convert|52|F|C}}, clear
|Road=Kansas City|RoadAbr=KC
|R1=1|R2=2|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=7|RE=0
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|H1=2|H2=0|H3=2|H4=1|H5=0|H6=4|H7=0|H8=0|H9=x|HR=9|HH=12|HE=0
|WP=Noah Syndergaard (1–0)|LP=Yordano Ventura (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=David Wright (1), Curtis Granderson (2)
|BoxURL=https://mlb.com/gameday/446275
|Attendance=44,781
|}}
The series shifted to Citi Field, the home stadium of the Mets, for Game{{nbsp}}3. Yordano Ventura started for the Royals and Noah Syndergaard started for the Mets.{{cite web |last1=Justice |first1=Richard |date=2015-10-29 |title=Ventura vs. Thor a showdown of MLB's hardest throwers |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yordano-ventura-noah-syndergaard-to-face-off/c-155936214 |access-date=2025-03-25 |work=MLB.com}} The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Mike Piazza to catcher Kevin Plawecki while Billy Joel sang the national anthem.{{cite web|last1=Kerber|first1=Fred|title=Mike Piazza kicks off Game 3 with 'doo-doo' 1st pitch|date=October 31, 2015|url=https://nypost.com/2015/10/30/mike-piazza-kicks-off-game-3-with-doo-doo-1st-pitch/|publisher=New York Post|access-date=October 31, 2015}} With no designated hitter (DH) in NL parks, the Mets started Michael Conforto, their DH for Game{{nbsp}}2, in the outfield instead of Juan Lagares, and the Royals did not start Kendrys Morales, their regular DH.{{cite web|last1=Simon|first1=Andrew|title=Conforto in LF for Mets; Morales out for KC|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-royals-lineups-for-world-series-game-3/c-155998274|work=MLB.com|access-date=October 31, 2015}}
Zobrist scored for the Royals in the first inning on a force play. In the bottom of the first inning, Wright hit a two-run homer that also scored Granderson. For the Royals, Alex Ríos drove Salvador Pérez home in the second inning, and scored on a passed ball by d'Arnaud, giving the Royals a 3–2 lead.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2015/10/30/mets-slam-back-into-world-series-with-game-3-domination/|title=Mets slam back into World Series with Game 3 domination|work=New York Post|date=October 31, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2015}} After a Syndergaard single, Granderson hit a two-run home run just over the right field wall in the third inning, and the Mets took a 4–3 lead. The Mets added a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Conforto, and four more in the sixth inning, including an RBI single by Juan Uribe, in his first at bat since September 20.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2015/10/31/michael-conforto-rewarded-collins-faith-with-this-clutch-play/|title=Michael Conforto rewarded Collins' faith with this clutch play—New York Post|work=New York Post|date=October 31, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2015}} The Royals made a few uncharacteristic mistakes in this game, the first coming in the fourth inning when pitcher Yordano Ventura forgot to cover the base on a ground ball to the first baseman, and the second in the sixth inning when Royals pitcher Franklin Morales triple-clutched Granderson's ground ball, allowing all runners to be safe, which led to a 2-run single by Wright.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/10/31/franklin-morales-misplay-costly-royals-game-3-loss-mets/74923170/|title=Franklin Morales' misplay costly to Royals in Game 3 loss to Mets|date=October 31, 2015|work=USA TODAY|access-date=October 31, 2015}}
In the fifth inning, Royals player Raúl A. Mondesí made his Major League Baseball debut, pinch hitting for Danny Duffy. Mondesí became the first player ever to make his MLB debut in the World Series.{{cite web|title=Royals' Raul A. Mondesi, 20, makes World Series history with debut|date=October 31, 2015|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2015/story/_/id/14013316/raul-mondesi-kansas-city-royals-first-player-debut-world-series|publisher=ESPN|access-date=October 31, 2015}}
=Game 4=
File:Ben Zobrist on October 7, 2015.jpg hit his eighth double of the postseason, tying a postseason record previously set by Albert Pujols and David Freese of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals.]]
{{linescore|
|Date = October 31, 2015
|Time = 8:08{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location = Citi Field in Queens, New York,
|Other={{convert|51|F|C}}, cloudy
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|WP=Ryan Madson (1–0)|LP=Tyler Clippard (0–1)|SV=Wade Davis (1)
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=Michael Conforto 2 (2)
|BoxURL=https://mlb.com/gameday/446276
|Attendance=44,815
|}}
The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by country singer Tim McGraw, son of former Mets relief pitcher Tug McGraw while Demi Lovato sang the national anthem.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2015/10/world_series_2015_demi_lovato_to_sing_game_4_natio.html|title=World Series 2015: Demi Lovato to sing Game 4 national anthem, Tim McGraw gets 1st pitch|work=NJ.com|access-date=October 31, 2015}} The starting pitchers for Game{{nbsp}}4 were Chris Young of the Royals and Steven Matz of the Mets.{{cite web |last=Schoenfield |first=David |date=October 31, 2015 |title=Game 4 pitching preview: Chris Young versus Steven Matz |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/65785/game-4-pitching-preview-chris-young-versus-steven-matz |access-date=2024-09-19 |work=ESPN.com}} Conforto scored the game's first run with a home run in the third inning, and Flores scored later in the inning on a Granderson sacrifice fly, when right-fielder Ríos did not make an immediate throw home (thinking his catch was the third out of the inning).{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-alex-rios-loses-track-of-outs-in-game-4/c-156117864|title=Royals Alex Rios loses track of outs in Game 4|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=October 31, 2015}} The Royals cut the deficit to 2–1 in the top of the fifth when Pérez doubled and was then driven in by Gordon.{{cite news|title=2015 World Series Collector's Edition|agency=Official MLB DVD|publisher=Major League Baseball, Inc.|date=2015}} However, in the bottom of the fifth, Conforto hit another home run, becoming the first rookie to hit two home runs in a World Series game since Andruw Jones in 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-michael-conforto-homers-twice-in-game-4/c-156116300|title=Mets Michael Conforto homers twice in Game 4|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=October 31, 2015|archive-date=November 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104024039/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/156116300/mets-michael-conforto-homers-twice-in-game-4|url-status=live}} In the sixth inning, Zobrist hit his eighth double of the postseason, tying a postseason record previously set by Albert Pujols and David Freese of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alcides-escobar-ben-zobrist-notch-records/c-156122240|title=Ben Zobrist hits eighth double, ties record|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=October 31, 2015}} Lorenzo Cain drove in Zobrist in to make it a 3–2 game.
In the eighth inning, after recording the first out, Tyler Clippard walked two consecutive batters to force Terry Collins to bring in Familia. A key fielding error by Daniel Murphy allowed the tying run to score. The Royals took the lead on an RBI single from Moustakas, and then Pérez added an insurance run with another RBI base hit to give Kansas City the 5–3 lead. For Familia, it was his second blown save of the series, and second out of seven opportunities this postseason, though this one could be partly attributed to Murphy's error. Wade Davis converted a two-inning save for the Royals, his fourth overall this postseason.{{cite web|last1=DiComo|first1=Anthony|last2=Flanagan|first2=Jeffrey|title=Figure 8: KC rall-E stuns Mets; WS end tonight?|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-rally-vs-mets-to-game-4-win-c156113714|website=mlb.com|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=November 1, 2015}} Davis pitched a perfect eighth, but got into some trouble with one out in the ninth when Murphy hit a hard grounder that Moustakas could not field cleanly, and then Céspedes got a base hit to bring the winning run to the plate in Duda. However, Duda hit a soft line drive that was caught by Moustakas, who then doubled off Céspedes at first to end the game. Céspedes had started running thinking the ball would hit the ground.{{cite news|last1=Botte|first1=Peter|title=Yoenis Céspedes has another nightmare game for Mets in World Series Game 4 loss|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/yoenis-cespedes-nightmare-game-mets-loss-article-1.2419329|work=New York Daily News|date=November 1, 2015}}
=Game 5=
{{external media
| float = right
| width = 258px
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw85aXy2HRg Game 5 Full replay] on MLB's official YouTube channel
}}
{{multiple image
|direction=vertical
|image1=Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer.jpg
|caption1=Eric Hosmer scored the tying run in the top of the ninth inning.
|image2=Wade Davis Throwing the Last Pitch of the 2015 World Series.jpg
|caption2=Wade Davis throwing the last pitch of the 2015 World Series.
}}
{{linescore|
|Date = November 1, 2015
|Time = 8:18{{nbsp}}pm (EST)
|Location = Citi Field in Queens, New York,
|Other={{convert|61|F|C}}, cloudy
|Road=Kansas City|RoadAbr=KC
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=2|R10=0|R11=0|R12=5|RR=7|RH=10|RE=1
|Home=New York|HomeAbr=NYM
|H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|H10=0|H11=0|H12=0|HR=2|HH=4|HE=2
|WP=Luke Hochevar (1–0)|LP=Addison Reed (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=Curtis Granderson (3)
|BoxURL=https://mlb.com/gameday/446277
|Attendance=44,859
|}}
Vólquez returned to the Dominican Republic for his father's funeral the day after Game{{nbsp}}1, but he returned in time to start Game{{nbsp}}5.{{cite web|last1=Flanagan|first1=Jeffrey|title=Royals expect Volquez to return today|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/edinson-volquez-to-return-for-royals-in-series/c-156022040|work=MLB.com|access-date=October 31, 2015}}{{cite news|last=Waldstein|first=David|title=For Royals' Edinson Vólquez, a Bittersweet Start in His Father's Memory|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/02/sports/baseball/for-royals-edinson-volquez-a-bittersweet-start-in-his-fathers-memory.html|work=The New York Times|date=November 1, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}} Harvey started for the Mets.{{cite web|url=http://www.lohud.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2015/10/31/game-5-matt-harvey-looks-make-his-own-statement/74963860/|title=In Game 5, Matt Harvey looks to make his own statement|date=October 31, 2015|work=lohud.com|access-date=November 2, 2015}} New York City Fire Department firefighter Frank Pizarro sang the national anthem, Tony Bennett performed "America the Beautiful", and the first pitches were thrown by Cleon Jones, Mookie Wilson, and Darryl Strawberry.{{cite web|title=Mets announce that a music legend will sing before Game 5|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2015/11/mets_announce_that_a_music_legend_will_sing_before.html|work=NJ.com|date=November 2015|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
Granderson led off the first inning with a home run for the Mets,{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/curtis-granderson-pleased-with-mets-season/c-156201710|title=Granderson homers to give Mets early le|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=November 2, 2015}} and scored the Mets' second run in the sixth inning. The Mets had a chance to break the game open in that sixth inning as they loaded the bases with no outs, but had to settle for one run after Céspedes lined a foul ball off his leg and was injured, leaving the game after popping up for the first out of the inning. Duda hit a sacrifice fly before d'Arnaud grounded out to end the inning. Harvey pitched eight shutout innings for the Mets, and convinced Collins to keep him in the game for the ninth. He then gave up a leadoff walk to Cain in the ninth inning, and the Royals got a run when Hosmer drove Cain in with a double, prompting Collins to call upon Familia to relieve Harvey. After a groundout by Moustakas advanced Hosmer to third base with one out, Pérez hit a ground ball to third baseman David Wright. Wright, after checking Hosmer at third, threw to first base for the second out; however, Hosmer broke for home as soon as the ball was thrown. Duda, who fielded the out at first, threw wide at home attempting to throw Hosmer out, and the latter scored the tying run. This resulted in Familia blowing his third save of the postseason and the series; his eight save opportunities tied the postseason record set in 2002 by Robb Nen.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25360859/matt-harvey-talks-his-way-in-and-it-backfires |title=2015 World Series: Mets' Matt Harvey talks his way in, and it backfires |first=Dayn |last=Perry |date=November 1, 2015 |access-date=November 1, 2015 |agency=CBS Sports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102200229/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25360859/matt-harvey-talks-his-way-in-and-it-backfires |archive-date=November 2, 2015 }}
In the top of the 12th inning, with Addison Reed pitching for the Mets, Pérez hit a single for the Royals. Pinch running for Pérez, Dyson stole a base and scored on a single by pinch hitter Christian Colón.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2015/story/_/page/playoffs15_StarkGame5/kansas-city-royals-crowned-kings-improbability-mlb|title= Royals crowned kings of improbability and MLB|date=November 1, 2015|work=ESPN|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
Colón scored on a hit by Escobar. The Royals loaded the bases, and Cain drove home three more runs with a double off of Bartolo Colón. Davis pitched a shutout inning for the Royals to complete the series and win the championship.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/11/02/world-series-royals-christian-colon-hit-video|title=Watch: Christian Colon delivers 12th-inning game-winning RBI for Royals|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 2, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/02/sports/baseball/kansas-city-royals-beat-new-york-mets-world-series-game-5.html|work=The New York Times|title=Royals Battle Back Against Mets Then Win World Series With an Outburst|date=November 2, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015|first=Andrew|last=Keh}} With Game 5 having crept well past midnight eastern time, Flores struck out looking to end the game, series, and baseball season, with the Royals winning and ending their 30-year World Series title drought.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/02/royals-win-world-series-mets|title= Royals win World Series as Yost says: 'I couldn't have written a better script'|date=November 1, 2015|work=Guardian|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
Pérez, who batted 8-for-22 (.364) in the series, and caught every inning for the Royals with the exception of the final inning of the series, won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. He became the first catcher to win the award since Pat Borders won it in the 1992 World Series, and the second Venezuelan player, following Pablo Sandoval, who won it in the 2012 World Series.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2015/story/_/id/14034579/salvador-perez-kansas-city-royals-named-world-series-mvp|title=Royals catcher Salvador Pérez named World Series MVP|work=ESPN.com|first=Christina|last=Kahrl|date=November 2, 2016|access-date=March 31, 2016}} Paulo Orlando made history as the first Brazilian player to win the World Series and the third South American to do so, the first was the Venezuelan player Luis Aparicio and the second was the Colombian player Edgar Rentería.
{{clear}}
=Composite line score=
File:Salvador Pérez on August 10, 2012.jpg was named the Most Valuable Player of the series.]]
2015 World Series (4–1): Kansas City Royals (AL) beat New York Mets (NL).
{{linescore|
|Road=Kansas City Royals|RoadAbr=KC
|R1=2|R2=2|R3=0|R4=0|R5=5|R6=3|R7=0|R8=6|R9=3|R10=0|R11=0|R12=5|R13=0|R14=1|RR=27|RH=47|RE=2
|Home=New York Mets|HomeAbr=NYM
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|RoadHR=Alcides Escobar (1), Alex Gordon (1)|HomeHR= Curtis Granderson (3), David Wright (1), Michael Conforto (2)
|TotalAttendance=215,185
|AveAttendance=43,037
|WinPlayerShare=$370,069.03.|LosePlayerShare=$300,757.78.
|}}
Broadcasting
=Television=
File:Joe Buck.jpg, play-by-play announcer]]
Fox broadcast the series in the United States, with play-by-play announcer Joe Buck calling the action along with color analysts Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci and field reporters Ken Rosenthal and Erin Andrews. The pregame and postgame show featured host Kevin Burkhardt with analysts Frank Thomas, Raul Ibanez, Pete Rose, and Alex Rodriguez. Fox Deportes offered a Spanish telecast of the series in the United States. The MLB International feed featured Matt Vasgersian and John Smoltz with play-by-play and analysis, respectively.{{cite news|title=John Smoltz to call games for Fox MLB telecasts|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/03/10/john-smoltz-to-call-games-for-fox-mlb-telecasts/6263005/|access-date=October 28, 2015|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.|date=March 10, 2014|location=New York City}}
Fox suffered an outage during their broadcast of followed by a five-minute delay while officials addressed the availability of video review due to the loss of Fox's feed; the teams agreed to allow the use of footage from the world feed of the game for video review. Fox temporarily switched to the MLB International feed of the game with Vasgersian and Smoltz to restore coverage. The video from the feed was then accompanied by Fox's commentators before the full Fox production was restored.{{cite web|first1=Bryan|last1=Hoch|first2=Mark|last2=Newman|title=Game 1 briefly halted due to FOX outage|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/world-series-game-1-delayed-due-to-fox-outage/c-155724762|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP|date=October 27, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030230603/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/155724762/world-series-game-1-delayed-due-to-fox-outage|url-status=live}}
The World Series started on a Tuesday for the second straight year, instead of a Wednesday as in the past. The practice was to avoid games on Thursday and Monday nights, generally big days of television viewing, where Fox's telecast would face stiff competition from Thursday Night Football, ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime, various popular primetime entertainment shows, and Monday Night Football.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/10/22/the-mets-will-have-five-days-off-before-the-world-series-why/|title=The Mets will have five days off before the World Series. Why?|work=HardballTalk|publisher=NBC Sports|first=Craig |last=Calcaterra|date=October 22, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2016}} Had the World Series gone to a Game 6, it would have competed against Election Day coverage for the first time in World Series history, though 2015 was not a presidential or midterm election. All World Series held since 2015 were scheduled to complete prior to Election Day.
==Ratings==
{{further|World Series television ratings}}
Game 1 of the World Series averaged a 4.6 rating on Fox, making it the most watched Game{{nbsp}}1 since the 2010 World Series.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/ratings-world-series-wicked-city-premiere-1201628800/ | title=Ratings: World Series on Fox Off to Best Start Since 2010; 'Wicked City' Opens Quietly | publisher=Variety | date=October 28, 2015 | access-date=October 31, 2015}} Game{{nbsp}}2 then had a 3.9 rating, up 24 percent from last season's Game{{nbsp}}2.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/world-series-ratings-game-2-mets-royals-gop-debate-arrow-1201597232/ | title=World Series Game 2 Ratings Jump From 2014 & Beat GOP Debate, 'Arrow' Rises | publisher=Deadline Hollywood | date=October 29, 2015 | access-date=October 31, 2015}} The series also recorded the most watched Game{{nbsp}}3 since 2009.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/world-series-ratings-mets-royals-game-3-leah-remini-grimm-fox-mlb-1201600793/ | title=World Series Ratings Hit 6-Year Game 3 High, 'Grimm' Returns Down, '20/20' Surges With Leah Remini Interview | publisher=Deadline Hollywood | date=October 30, 2015 | access-date=November 1, 2015}}
Game 5 went head-to-head with an NBC Sunday Night Football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos (both undefeated). Media sources like Sporting News predicted this heavy competition would result in series-low ratings.{{cite web | url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4659713-sports-ratings-predictions-nfl-packers-broncos-opposite-world-series | title=Weekend ratings predictions: Packers-Broncos, World Series and more | publisher=Sporting News | date=October 29, 2015 | access-date=October 31, 2015 | archive-date=November 2, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102053003/http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4659713-sports-ratings-predictions-nfl-packers-broncos-opposite-world-series | url-status=dead }} While the football game drew the larger audience, the Royals and Mets did average a 10.0 rating, the highest for a World Series Game{{nbsp}}5 since 2003.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/world-series-ratings-royals-mets-sunday-night-football-broncos-packers-nbc-fox-1201603452/|title='World Series' Ratings Hit 12-Year Game 5 Viewership High, 'SNF' Wins Night With 23M Viewers|last=Patten|first=Dominic|publisher=Deadline|date=November 2, 2015|access-date=November 4, 2015}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Game
!scope="col"| Ratings !scope="col"| Share !scope="col"| U.S. audience !scope="col" class=unsortable|Ref |
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| 9.07 || 15 || 13.20 ||{{cite web|last1=Porter|first1=Rick|title=TV Ratings Friday: 'Grimm' returns lower, 'Hawaii Five-0' ticks up vs. World Series|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/10/31/tv-ratings-friday-grimm-returns-lower-hawaii-five-0-ticks-up-vs-world-series/481198/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031175813/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/10/31/tv-ratings-friday-grimm-returns-lower-hawaii-five-0-ticks-up-vs-world-series/481198/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 31, 2015|work=Zap2it|access-date=October 31, 2015}} |
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=Radio=
ESPN Radio aired the series, with Dan Shulman on play-by-play, Aaron Boone handling color commentary, and Buster Olney serving as field reporter. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer served as a guest commentator for selected innings in Games 1, 2{{nbsp}}and 5. Marc Kestecher anchored pre-game and post-game coverage for the network along with Chris Singleton and Peter Pascarelli.{{cite web|url=http://sportsmedianews.com/espns-coverage-of-the-111th-world-series-new-york-mets-vs-kansas-city-royals/|title=ESPN's Coverage of the 111th World Series: New York Mets vs. Kansas City Royals|work=sportsmedianews.com|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015}}
Locally, the series was broadcast on the teams' flagship radio stations with their respective announcing crews. In New York, WOR aired the games in English, with Howie Rose and Josh Lewin announcing, while WEPN-AM aired the games in Spanish, with Juan Alicea and Max Pérez Jiménez announcing. In Kansas City, KCSP broadcast the games, with Denny Matthews, Ryan Lefebvre, Steve Stewart, and Steve Physioc announcing.{{cite web|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/your-2015-world-series-announcing-schedule.html|title=Your 2015 World Series Announcing Schedule|work=Awful Announcing|date=October 27, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2015}} WEPN-FM and WHB, the ESPN Radio affiliates in New York and Kansas City respectively, aired the network's coverage of the series in those cities.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2015/10/world_series_2015_tv_schedule_new_york_mets_vs_kan.html|title=World Series 2015 TV schedule: New York Mets vs. Kansas City Royals live stream: Time, TV, channel, how to watch online|work=NJ.com|date=October 24, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/sports-on-the-air/article42004491.html|title=Sports On the Air|work=kansascity|access-date=October 31, 2015}}
Aftermath
To date, Johnny Cueto's Game 2 pitching gem is the most recent World Series complete game.{{cite web|url= https://www.sportico.com/leagues/baseball/2023/diamondbacks-merrill-kelly-misses-world-series-complete-game-1234743798/|title=D-backs Merrill Kelly Proves the World Series Complete Game Is Dead|website=Sportico|last=Bloom|first=Barry M.|date=October 29, 2023|access-date=October 30, 2023}}
The Royals became the first team and in World Series history to start three pitchers—Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez, and Cueto—born outside the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/kansas-city/story/kansas-city-royals-rotation-puts-the-world-in-world-series-with-dominican-flair-102915|title=Royals' rotation puts the 'world' in World Series with Dominican flair|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=October 29, 2015}} Later, the Astros would accomplish this feat when they started four foreign-born pitchers in the 2021 World Series.{{cite web |last1=McTaggart |first1=Brian |title=Marwin added to WS roster; Meyers off |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-2021-world-series-roster |website=MLB.com |access-date=23 November 2023 |language=en}}
The Mets and Royals met on Opening Day of the 2016 season, on April 3, 2016, for a Sunday Night Baseball game in Kansas City. It was the first ever time in MLB history a defending champion opened against the team they beat in the World Series.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article45502332.html|title=Royals' 2016 opener against the Mets will be on a Sunday night on ESPN|work=Kansas City Star|date=November 19, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2016}} The Mets and Royals split the short two-game series to start the season, while the Mets would sweep the other half of their four games season series at Citi Field in June.{{cite web |title=Mets 2-1 Royals (Jun 21, 2016) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/360621121 |website=ESPN |access-date=25 November 2023 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Mets 4-3 Royals (Jun 22, 2016) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/360622121 |website=ESPN |access-date=25 November 2023 |language=en}}
As was the case with their 1985 championship, the Royals missed the postseason a year after winning the World Series. After 81 and 80-win seasons for the next two years, a pair of 100-loss seasons followed in 2018 and 2019, during which management dismantled the core of the 2015 team and Ned Yost retired from managing. Of the players who played for the 2015 Royals, only Salvador Pérez remained with the team as of 2023. The Mets qualified for the 2016 National League Wild Card Game after an 87-win season, but lost to the San Francisco Giants. This was followed by a 70-win season in Terry Collins' final year as manager.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/ |title= New York Mets Team History & Encyclopedia |last= |first= |date= |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher= |access-date=October 10, 2022 |quote=}} Both teams would next win a postseason series a day apart in 2024 when both won their respective Wild Card Series match-ups (against Baltimore and Milwaukee, respectively) to advance to the Division Series.
This was the only World Series appearance by a New York City team during the 2010s decade.{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|title=For the Yankees, Good Is Not Good Enough in the Age of the Astros|work=The New York Times|date=October 20, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/20/sports/baseball/yankees-astros.html|access-date=October 27, 2019|quote=The Yankees won the World Series in {{wsy|2009}}, but the 2010s will end without a pennant, the first time that has happened since the 1910s.}} The 2010s became the first decade since the 1910s that a team from New York City failed to win a World Series.
=''Back to the Future'' prediction=
In the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II, the Chicago Cubs are depicted as the 2015 World Series champions, defeating a fictional American League team from Miami, whose mascot is an alligator, in a five-game sweep ending on or before October 21. Screenwriter Bob Gale, who co-wrote the script of Back to the Future Part{{nbsp}}II, originally intended it as a joke, saying "Being a baseball fan, I thought, 'OK, let's come up with one of the most unlikely scenarios we can think of{{single+double}}, referencing both the Cubs' long championship drought (at the time, having most recently won the 1908 World Series) and the lack (at the time) of any major-league franchise in Florida. He also explained that the October 21 prediction was based on the postseason structure at the time of writing (prior to Division Series or Wild Card Series), and thus could have been accurate.{{cite news|last=Placek|first=Christopher|title='Back to the Future' writer says 2015 Cubs prediction no longer a joke|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151007/news/151009101/|access-date=October 10, 2015|work=Daily Herald|publisher=Paddock Publications, Inc.|date=October 9, 2015|location=Arlington Heights, Illinois}}
In the actual 2015 postseason, the Cubs advanced to the National League Championship Series (NLCS), but were eliminated in four games by the New York Mets. The final game of that series took place on October 21, the same date as the fictional events in the film.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2015/YPS_2015.htm |title=The 2015 Post-Season Games |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=November 10, 2023}} One year later, however, the Cubs did win the World Series, beating the Cleveland Indians in seven games.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2016/YPS_2016.htm |title=The 2016 Post-Season Games |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=November 10, 2023}}
See also
References
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