Royals receive their diamond-studded AL championship rings

American League kings need killer bling.

So the Royals on Monday presented players and staff with one-of-a-kind rings commemorating their AL championship season of 2014.

Designed by Jostens and crafted from 10-karat white gold and an array of gemstones, the rings were given to the players during a special pregame ceremony at Kauffman Stadium that also including the raising of the club’s third American League pennant.

Players were sized for the rings early in spring training in Surprise, Ariz., several months after the final out of the 2014 World Series. The prized pieces of jewelry were delivered by armored vehicle Monday to The K, then readied for the presentation by white-gloved Jostens representatives.

“Every team’s goal is to celebrate its on-field accomplishments,” said Royals president Dan Glass, “and it is with tremendous pride that we present this custom ring symbolic of the effort that went into winning the 2014 American League pennant.

“It will be cherished by every team member.”

Each of the rings weighs approximately 1.9 carats and features 146 interlocking diamonds on its top and perimeter. Thirty-four diamonds outlined by a glittery blue stone form the KC logo; also depicted atop the ring is a “field” framed by three bases and home plate, with home plate and each base represented by four princess-cut diamonds.

The ring’s right side features the American League’s iconic eagle logo in yellow gold, three round diamonds — one for each of the team’s three AL pennants — and the “Royals” script logo and “2014” in white gold.

The left side features the player’s or staffer’s name, a banner commemorating the Royals’ historic 8-0 playoff streak last October, and the club’s crown logo. The top of the crown is cast in yellow gold, with a blue KC stone shining through the white gold shield.

“ALCS rings, it’s unbelievable,” third baseman Mike Moustakas said. “We worked so hard to get there last year, and to cap it off today with that flag raising and that ceremony was awesome.”

These aren’t the first rings Jostens has prepared for a Kansas City team. The Minneapolis-based company also created the Chiefs’ Super Bowl IV rings and Sporting Kansas City’s 2013 MLS championship rings.

“Jostens is honored to partner with the Kansas City Royals to celebrate their remarkable playoff journey with this championship ring,” said Chris Poitras, the company’s vice president. “The 2014 American League championship ring is customized to reflect a milestone in the Royals’ history and recognizes the significant accomplishment of their players, coaches and the entire organization.”

The Royals will give away one authentic ring in a raffle. You can enter at Royals.com/ring. Entries are $10 each and proceeds go to Royals Charities.

Similarly styled jewelry is available to fans for purchase at Jostens.com/royals.

“The collection offers every Kansas City Royals fan the chance to own a piece of Royals history,” Poitras said.

While the rings were immediately admired and ogled by the players during the on-field ceremony, Monday was business as usual for Royals manager Ned Yost.

Asked what he planned to do with his ring, the seventh he’s won (the first half-dozen he earned as a member of Bobby Cox’s staff in Atlanta), Yost said he’d wear it for a while, then “throw it in a box with the other six.”

Players no longer with the team, such as longtime designated hitter Billy Butler (who signed with Oakland in the offseason) and pitcher James Shields (now with San Diego), were also fitted for their rings during spring training.

Butler will receive his during the Royals’ next homestand, which includes a three-game series with the A’s, said Mike Swanson, the Royals’ vice president for communications and broadcasting. General manager Dayton Moore will determine how to get Shields his ring, possibly couriering it to him at some point this season.

Former Royals left-hander Bruce Chen, who was released from the team before last year’s playoffs, was on hand Monday to receive his ring.

This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Royals receive their diamond-studded AL championship rings."