Royals' amazing 2014 run captured in short film

6:19 PM UTC

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals’ 2014 American League championship season has been brought up countless times this year, not only because it’s the 10-year anniversary of that incredible postseason run, but this year’s Royals are doing their best to emulate that team as well as the '15 club that delivered Kansas City its second World Series title.

Crowds are packing Kauffman Stadium again, a sight and feeling that reminds shortstop -- the pivotal player of this postseason push the Royals are making -- of the videos he’s seen from 2014-15.

“Any time you hear that roar, any time you hear them in it, it gives me chills just thinking about it,” Witt said after Saturday’s comeback win over the Twins. “You watch those videos of 2014-15, you could hear it. That’s kind of what it brought me back to. You could hear the buzz. It was just like an eruption.”

Fans will get another chance to relive the 2014 team with a short film that’s being released on Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT. Created in conjunction with former first baseman ’s new media company, MoonBall Media, the Royals take a look back on the reunion that happened in May and revisit the 2014 run, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s ‘14 run and its celebration earlier this season.

The video will be available at royals.com/2014 or on the Royals’ YouTube page.

“To see everybody, to be back in Kansas City, was a blast,” Hosmer said Monday. “And to be able to watch this team now, there’s a lot of similarities. There’s a lot of hunger in the fans and the team to get back to the postseason. It’s crazy that it’s already been 10 years since that ‘14 team run, but it was fun to be back, to celebrate that and to see this team playing as well.”

The collaboration with Hosmer gave the Royals unprecedented access to the team and the stories from that season, which was Hosmer’s goal with MoonBall Media, his podcast, social media and projects like this short film.

“That’s what we’re trying to do with MoonBall,” Hosmer said. “Trying to continue to promote the game of baseball, show how good and talented these players are and what they’re doing and just trying to find different ways to tell those stories and share perspectives from all the players and people I’ve gotten to come across throughout the league.”

In the 2014 film, players reminisce on that season, going through the ups and downs before the Royals clinched their first playoff berth in 29 years. They look back on the walk-off AL Wild Card Game win over the A’s and their run through October before losing the World Series to the Giants in seven games.

“There was a workout the day before the Wild Card Game, and you always have your jitters, whether it’s the first game of the season, first day of spring, all that stuff,” Hosmer said. “We learned in the postseason that’s a … whole new feeling, whole new jitters you’ve got to get over.”

It also gives fans a look into what the reunion was like with all the players and coaches who flocked to Kansas City for a weekend. There are tons of stories about the games, but Hosmer’s favorite things to look back on are the small moments with his teammates, the people Hosmer calls his “brothers.”

“Just so many fun times to look back and think on, to hear the fun stuff that came up on the bus rides, the plane rides,” Hosmer said. “Getting into Anaheim [for the AL Division Series] at like 5 a.m., 6 a.m. There are family buses, staff buses, babies are crying. There was one time Raúl Ibañez actually went to sit in the bathroom with his baby because the baby kept crying, and we finally realized that he went in the bathroom to get away from everybody and not make noise. We’re like, ‘What are you doing? Get out here.’ And Jarrod Dyson took the baby from him, started rocking the baby on his shoulder, and the baby fell asleep within like five seconds.

“Just little stories like that were all so fun to go back and catch up with everybody.”

It’s fun to reminisce and remember what it was like 10 years ago. But the Royals are also hoping the film helps fans get excited and ready for what a potential postseason run could bring in 2024.

“It’s a fun time of the year,” Hosmer said. “Football is kicking off. The Royals are playing good, looking like they’re going to make the postseason. It’s a great time in Kansas City right now.”