A History of Omaha & World Series Game 7s
"Game 7". Two of the best words there are in the sports world. The pinnacle of that is when that Game 7 comes in the World Series. Since the Omaha franchise began play as the Omaha Royals in 1969, there have been 15 World Series Game 7 contests. 2011-12 Storm Chasers lefty and current Chicago Cubs southpaw Mike Montgomery could be just the next in an impressive line of Omaha alums to play for both Omaha and in a Game 7.
| Year | Name (BOLD = won) | Years With Omaha |
| 1982 | Lonnie Smith (STL)* | 1987 |
| Bob McClure (MIL) | 1974, 76 | |
| 1985 | Buddy Biancalana (KC) | 1982-84, 87-88 |
| George Brett (KC) | 1973-74 | |
| Lynn Jones (KC) | 1984 | |
| Darryl Motley (KC) | 1981-82, 86 | |
| Lonnie Smith* (KC) | 1987 | |
| Frank White (KC) | 1973 | |
| Willie Wilson (KC) | 1977 | |
| Terry Pendleton* (STL) | 1998 | |
| 1987 | Vince Coleman* (STL) | 1995 |
| 1991 | Terry Pendleton* (ATL) | 1998 |
| Lonnie Smith (ATL) | 1987 | |
| 1997 | Jeff Conine (FLA) | 1991-92, 98 |
| Jim Eisenreich (FLA) | 1988 | |
| Gregg Zaun* (FLA) | 2000-01 | |
| 2001 | Miguel Batista (ARI) | 2000 |
| 2014 | Gregor Blanco (SFG) | 2011 |
| Lorenzo Cain (KC) | 2011-12, 14 | |
| Alex Gordon (KC) | 2009-10, 15-16 | |
| Kelvin Herrera (KC) | 2011, 13 | |
| Eric Hosmer (KC) | 2011, 14 | |
| Mike Moustakas (KC) | 2010-11, 14 | |
| Salvador Perez (KC) | 2011-12 |
From 1969 through the 1981 Major League Baseball seasons, there were a total of five Game 7 matchups in the Fall Classic. Zero Omaha alums can be found in the box scores of those respective matchups. From that point on, however, seven of the last ten World Series to go the maximum number of games have featured at least one Omaha alum who went on to play in a World Series Game 7.
Southpaw hurler Bob McClure became the first Omaha alum to appear in a Game 7 of the World Series during the 1982 Fall Classic with the Milwaukee Brewers as they faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals. McClure ended up as the losing pitcher in Game 7 of the 1982 World Series, however, as the Cardinals topped the Brewers 6-3.
One of the members of that 1982 World Series winning Cardinals club was 1987 Omaha Royals alum Lonnie Smith, who went on to play in three different World Series Game 7 contests in his career. Though Smith did not actually play with Omaha until 1987, six other players in the box score for Game 7 of the 1985 World Series winning Royals roster did wear an Omaha uniform prior to the 1985 Fall Classic.
Those six included future Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett, fellow future Royals Hall of Fame inductees Frank White and Willie Wilson, as well as Lynn Jones, Darryl Motley and Buddy Biancalana. Those players combined for 11 of Kansas City's 14 hits in their 11-0 blowout victory, which included a four-hit effort from Brett, as well as three hits (including a longball) from Motley. That team was also the last club to win the World Series after trailing three games to one, a feat the Cubs will look to finish off tonight.
29 years later, seven more former Storm Chasers players found themselves in the middle of Game 7 of the 2014 Fall Classic, as the Royals squared off against the San Francisco Giants. 2011 Omaha outfielder Gregor Blanco would be victorious in that contest over the six other alums on the Royals, though that group would win the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets, only needing five games to do so.
The Omaha franchise also has some connections with other World Series Game 7 matchups through coaches. While Game 7 of the 2002 World Series did not see any former Omaha Royals players in the box score, a pair of alums were on the coaching staffs with Bud Black serving as the Anaheim Angels' Pitching Coach and Ron Wotus serving as the San Francisco Giants' Bench Coach. In addition, 2016 Storm Chasers Pitching Coach Andy Hawkins was the Texas Rangers' Bullpen Coach during the 2011 World Series, which the St. Louis Cardinals won in seven contests.
In total, 21 different Omaha players have also played in a World Series Game 7. Of those alums, 13 were victorious and earned a ring. If he enters Wednesday's matchup, Mike Montgomery would become the 22nd different player.