Here are 10 critical facts and figures you need to know about a World Series showdown featuring two sides craving a return to glory:
• The Mets-Royals matchup represents the seventh time in history that two teams will meet in the Fall Classic riding World Series droughts of at least 29 years. The last occurrence was 2010, as the Giants, who hadn't won since 1954, knocked off the Rangers -- whose franchise history dates back to 1961 and remain without a title. It also happened in 2005 (White Sox-Astros), '02 (Angels-Giants), 1995 (Braves-Indians), '75 (Reds-Red Sox) and '72 (A's-Reds).