The Kansas City Royals have won their first World Series title in 30 years after beating the New York Mets 7-2 in game five. The Royals’ 12-inning victory over the Mets on Sunday at Citi Field saw them take the best-of-seven series 4-1. It is their first title since 1985 but they had to come from behind to win it, rallying from 2-0 down in the ninth. Eric Hosmer scrambled home to tie the game and they then broke away in the 12th inning. The Royals’ triumph came a year after their agonizing loss in game seven of last year’s World Series to the San Francisco Giants. Catcher Salvador Perez was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. Those who put a bet down on this game (there is more here about how to do that), may be jumping for joy today or sitting back in silence, either way, it is a great day for the people of Missouri who are huge lovers of baseball and can’t believe they saw their team win for the first time in 30 years.

Did You Know?

• The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team, founded in 1969 and based in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Baseball is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of nine players each who take turns batting and fielding.
• This game was brought by immigrants to North America, where the modern version developed. By the late 19th century, baseball was widely recognized as the national sport of the United States.
• Baseball is now popular in North America and parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and East Asia.
• After being admitted to the Olympics as a medal sport beginning with the 1992 Games, baseball was dropped from the 2012 Summer Olympic Games at the 2005 International Olympic Committee meeting.
• It remained part of the 2008 Games.