The Royals had not competed in a World Series since 1985. They played the San Francisco Giants, who edged them out 3-2 in Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium.
To get to the World Series, the Royals notched eight straight victories: first against the Oakland A’s, then against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and finally against the Baltimore Orioles.
During their stellar postseason play, The University of Kansas Hospital has kept the Royals players in peak form. The hospital is entering its fifth year as the official healthcare provider for the team and its fans.
Vincent Key, MD, and Joseph Noland, MD, are on site to assist players with health issues. Dr. Key, an orthopedic surgeon, is the Royals team physician and addresses all players’ injury concerns. Dr. Noland attends the first and last games of each home stand to take care of player medical concerns like allergies or cold and flu symptoms.
Drs. Key and Noland traveled with the team to the American League Division Series in Anaheim. Dr. Key accompanied the team when it advanced to the ALCS and World Series.
At every home game, 12-14 medical staff members are on site at Kauffman Stadium. They treat everything from minor medical issues to major health problems over the course of the Royals 81-game home schedule. During a regular season, staffers in the two first aid stations treat about 30 patients per game.
In the 2014 season, the Royals played 89 home games and medical staffers treated 3,067 fans. In the postseason alone, over eight home games, they treated 510 fans, or about 64 fans per game. Most patients required basic first aid like bandages and sunscreen.