KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Game 7 of the World Series between the Giants and the Royals is set for Wednesday evening in Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium. This stadium has once before held a Game 7 of the Fall Classic, and it found the Dick Howser-led Royals winning their only title in franchise history.

While taking over as manager late in the 1981 season, Howser led the Royals to the postseason three times in five tries, culminating with the '85 championship.

Tragically, the last game Howser would manage would be the following All-Star Game, as he had developed a cancerous brain tumor that could claim his life on June 17, 1987.

In all, Howser managed only 770 games in the regular season for the Royals along with 20 in the postseason. That's not a long tenure, but it was a meaningful one here in Kansas City, as Howser remains as revered as anyone in this ballpark. He's got a statue in right center field:

As noted on the statue, Howser tried to come back to managing in the spring of 1987, but his declining state of health wouldn't allow it.

Even with his tenure being cut short by cancer, Howser is second in franchise history in wins and third in winning percentage. And, again, he owns the only World Series championship to date.

With the Royals set to play their second Game 7 of the World Series in franchise history, I felt it was worth taking a quick moment to reflect back on their skipper who steered the ship for the first one. He was taken from us far too early, but left quite a bit of memories in his wake.