1980 postseason During the 1980 post-season, Brett led the Royals to their first American League pennant, sweeping the 1980 American League Championship Series in three games from the rival 1980 New York Yankees season who had beaten K.C. in the 1976 American League Championship Series, 1977 American League Championship Series and 1978 American League Championship Series playoffs. In Game 3, Brett hit a ball well into the third deck of Yankee Stadium (1923) off Yankees closer Rich Gossage. Gossages previous pitch had been timed at 97 mph, leading ABC broadcaster Jim Palmer to say, "I doubt if he threw that ball 97 miles an hour."  A moment later Palmer was given the actual reading of 98. "Well, I said it wasnt 97", Palmer replied.  Brett then hit .375 in the 1980 World Series, but the Royals lost in six games to the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies season. During the Series, Brett made headlines after leaving Game 2 in the 6th inning due to hemorrhoid pain. Brett had minor surgery the next day, and in Game 3 returned to hit a home run as the Royals won in 10 innings 4–3. After the game, Brett was famously quoted "...my problems are all behind me".  In 1981 he missed two weeks of spring training to have his hemorrhoids removed.. How many years in a row did the Yankees beat K.C. in the American League Championship Series?