In a surprise upset the Yankees, who had only made it into the Playoffs on the last weekend of the season, shook off an opening game beat down and used clutch hitting to go with stellar pitching to sweep the next three in stunning the favored Kansas City Royals.

Oct 8, 1980                   1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1980 New York (A) 0-1         0 1 0   0 0 1   0 0 0      2  7  0
1980 Kansas City 1-0          3 3 1   7 0 0   0 0 -     14 16  0

GWRBI-Otis
Game MVP:Larry Gura
Royals Stadium     Time 3:01, 67ø     Day Game

GAME #1
No contest as KC blows out Yankee starter Ron Guidry and his replacement Tim Lollar to the tune of an 14-1 lead after four, and it was uglier than that! Royals cruise to easy 14-2 opening win.
KC LEADS SERIES 1-0.

Oct 9, 1980                   1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1980 New York (A) 1-1         1 0 0   0 0 0   6 1 0      8 12  0
1980 Kansas City 1-1          0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0      1  3  0

GWRBI-Watson, B 
Game MVP:Rudy May 
Royals Stadium     Time 3:40, 67ø     Night Game

GAME #2
Tight 1-1 contest is blown open by the Yankees in the top of the 7th as they send five batters up against KC Closer Dan Quisenberry, and all five end up scoring in what would be a six run outburst. Yankees win 8-1 behind Rudy May. SERIES TIED AT 1 GAME A PIECE.

Oct 10, 1980                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1980 Kansas City 1-2          0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0      1  4  1
1980 New York (A) 2-1         0 0 2   0 0 0   4 0 -      6 10  1

GWRBI-Dent 
Game MVP:Tommy John 
Yankee Stadium II     Time 2:21, 61ø     Night Game

GAME #3
The Series shifts to New York, and Yankee starter Tommy John has got it working as he goes all the way in 6-1 win giving only an unearned run. Tight 2-1 game in blown open by New York in the 7th as the first five hitters reach on four singles and an error that lead to four run rally. YANKEES LEAD SERIES 2-1

Oct 11, 1980                  1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9      R  H  E
1980 Kansas City 1-3          0 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 0      1  7  0
1980 New York (A) 3-1         0 0 2   0 2 0   0 0 -      4  8  0 

GWRBI-Jackson, R 
Game MVP:Reggie Jackson 
Yankee Stadium II     Time 2:34, 67ø, Clear, Light Rain     Night Game

Yankees take care of business as starter Tom Underwood goes a solid six giving up only one run before being relieved. Making their first appearances in the Series Ron Davis goes two scoreless before Goose Gossage closes out the game and series with a scoreless 9th to get the Save. A two run blast by Mr. October Reggie Jackson in the 3rd proved to be the difference, though New York did add two more later on for 4-1 series clinching win to advance to the World Series. YANKEES WIN ALCS 3 GAMES TO 1.