Motley began 1985 as the Royals' starting left fielder, but after he struggled to begin the season, the team acquired Lonnie Smith on May 17 and moved the right-handed hitting Motley to right field to platoon with the left-handed hitting Pat Sheridan.
Motley, a right-handed hitting outfielder, hit a 2-run home run for the Royals against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series to give Kansas City an early 2–0 lead. Motley's home run into the left field bleachers came on a 3–2 pitch, after he had hit the preceding 3–2 pitch to the same area in the stands, but foul. Motley, upon seeing the ball curve foul, slammed his bat into the home-plate area, breaking it. After selecting a new bat from the bat-boy, Motley delivered the fatal blow to the Cardinals. He also caught Andy Van Slyke's fly ball for the final out of the Series.
In 1986, Motley contended with Sheridan for the right field job. This time, the Royals released Sheridan at the end of spring training, but they signed Rudy Law to platoon with Motley, then traded Motley very late in the year, on September 23, to the Atlanta Braves for Steve Shields.

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