Heather Bradley Photography

The first installment of the I-70 series was played over the weekend between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals with the Royals besting their cross-state rivals in a three-game series.

The rivalry has always existed between the two teams, but the dynamic has been ever-changing. The most turbulent moment in the rivalry was when the Royals and Cards crossed paths in the 1985 World Series. The Royals ended up winning the series in seven games; some would say it was because of a blown call by the first base umpire. But that’s beside the point.

In the twenty-first century, the two teams have gone in opposite directions. The Cardinals have increased their number of World Series victories to 11 while the Royals have remained at one. The biggest difference now is between opposing fan bases. Royals fans are typically bitter, frustrated, angry fans that have to deal with below .500 winning percentages year after year. Cardinals fans are arrogant, snobby and always right.

This relationship is put on display every night at local bars when Cardinals and Royals fans alike can be heard moaning and groaning for their different reasons. Royals fans continue to be frustrated and nothing-is-ever-good-enough mentality is still obvious on the face of each Cardinals fan.

The rivalry continues this weekend when the series heads to Kansas City for the second yearly installment. Can the Cardinals make a come back, or will the Royals take both series?