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The Commissioner's Trophy is a trophy presented each year by the Commissioner of Baseball to Major League Baseball's (MLB) World Series champion. The trophy depicts flags representing each team in Major League Baseball. [1] [2] It is the only championship trophy of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada in North America that is not named after a particular person [3] (contrasting with the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup, [4] Major League Soccer's Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, [5] the National Basketball Association's Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, [6] and the National Football League's Vince Lombardi Trophy). [7]
Although it was named in 1985, the trophy was first awarded in 1967, when the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Boston Red Sox. [8]
The trophy was not without precedent in Major League baseball: the Dauvray Cup (named after actress Helen Dauvray) was awarded to the winner of the World Series between the National League and the American Association from 1887 to 1890, and when a solitary major league remained, to the winner of the National League pennant, from 1891 to 1893. The Dauvray Cup was to be held by the victorious team and was to be relinquished the following year when (and if) a new champion team emerged. [9] The Dauvray Cup mysteriously vanished following the 1893 series and has never been located. From 1894 to 1897, the Temple Cup was awarded to the winner of a postseason contest between the two top National League clubs. [10]
A new Commissioner's Trophy is created each year, much like the Anschutz Trophy, the O'Brien Trophy and the Lombardi Trophy, and unlike the Stanley Cup, which is passed from champion to champion. [11] Historically, the trophy was only presented in the winner's locker room, but beginning in 1997, the presentation occurred on the field if the champion clinched the title in their home stadium. [12] Since 2017, when the Houston Astros won the World Series at Dodger Stadium, the championship presentation occurs on the field even if the champion clinches the title on the road. [13]
Since its inception, the only year that the Commissioner's Trophy has not been awarded was 1994, when the players' strike ended the season on August 12, resulting in the cancellation of the entire post-season. [14] The New York Yankees have won the most Commissioner's Trophies, winning seven World Series since 1967. [15] The St. Louis Cardinals have won four trophies, a National League record. [15]
On October 31, 2018, during the parade celebrating the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series, the trophy was damaged by a beer can thrown by a spectator of the parade; [16] it was subsequently repaired.
In 2020, in discussing the punishments for the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal, which did not include stripping the Astros of their 2017 championship, commissioner Rob Manfred referred to the Commissioner's Trophy as "a piece of metal." Following criticism for the dismissive nature of the remark, Manfred issued a public apology. [17]
The current trophy design was made by Tiffany & Co. and unveiled in 2000. [18] It is 24 inches (61 cm) tall, excluding the base, and has a diameter of 11 inches (28 cm). [1] It weighs approximately 30 pounds (14 kg) [19] and is composed of sterling silver. The trophy features 30 gold-plated flags, one for each Major League team. The flags rise above a silver baseball which is covered with latitude and longitude lines, symbolizing the world, [11] and which features 24-karat vermeil stitching. [1] The base contains an inscription copy of the signature of the commissioner [1] and the words "Presented by the Commissioner of Baseball". [19]
The original 1967 trophy was designed by Balfour Jewelers of Attleboro, Massachusetts, was modeled after Wrigley Field, and cost $2,500 (equivalent to $21,941in 2022). [20] It initially featured 20 gold-plated flags, representing the then-20 Major League Baseball clubs, and a new flag was then subsequently added for each expansion team that joined Major League Baseball. The flags rose above two objects in the center: a golden ring and a golden baseball. The two participating teams in each year's World Series were represented by two press pins set on the base of the trophy.[ citation needed ]
This table lists the teams that have won the Commissioner's Trophy since it was introduced in 1967. For a complete history of MLB championship teams, see List of World Series champions . The only team to win a World Series and not possess at least one Commissioner's Trophy are Cleveland Guardians/Indians having last won the World Series in 1948 or 19 years before its introduction.
Team | Trophies | Seasons |
---|---|---|
New York Yankees | 7 | 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009 |
Boston Red Sox | 4 | 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018 |
Oakland Athletics | 4 | 1972, 1973, 1974, 1989 |
St. Louis Cardinals | 4 | 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011 |
Cincinnati Reds | 3 | 1975, 1976, 1990 |
San Francisco Giants | 3 | 2010, 2012, 2014 |
Los Angeles Dodgers | 3 | 1981, 1988, 2020 |
Atlanta Braves | 2 | 1995, 2021 |
Baltimore Orioles | 2 | 1970, 1983 |
Detroit Tigers | 2 | 1968, 1984 |
Houston Astros | 2 | 2017, 2022 |
Kansas City Royals | 2 | 1985, 2015 |
Miami Marlins | 2 | 1997, 2003 |
Minnesota Twins | 2 | 1987, 1991 |
New York Mets | 2 | 1969, 1986 |
Philadelphia Phillies | 2 | 1980, 2008 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 1971, 1979 |
Toronto Blue Jays | 2 | 1992, 1993 |
Arizona Diamondbacks | 1 | 2001 |
Chicago White Sox | 1 | 2005 |
Chicago Cubs | 1 | 2016 |
Los Angeles Angels | 1 | 2002 |
Texas Rangers | 1 | 2023 |
Washington Nationals | 1 | 2019 |
The National League Championship Series (NLCS), also known as the National League Pennant, is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the winners of the two National League (NL) Division Series. The winner of the NLCS wins the NL pennant and advances to the World Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the American League's (AL) Championship Series. The NLCS began in 1969 as a best-of-five playoff and used this format until 1985, when it changed to a best-of-seven format.
The American League Championship Series (ALCS), also known as the American League Pennant, is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. The winner of the ALCS wins the AL pennant and advances to the World Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the National League's (NL) Championship Series. The ALCS began in 1969 as a best-of-five playoff and used this format until 1985, when it changed to its current best-of-seven format.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization. One of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, MLB comprises 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. Formed in 1876 and 1901, respectively, the NL and AL cemented their cooperation with the National Agreement in 1903, making MLB the oldest major professional sports league in the world. They remained legally separate entities until 2000, when they merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball. MLB is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
The Vince Lombardi Trophy, also known simply as the Lombardi Trophy or even just the Lombardi, is the trophy awarded each year to the winning team of the National Football League's championship game, the Super Bowl. The trophy is named in honor of NFL coach Vince Lombardi, who led the Green Bay Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowl games.
Professional baseball leagues, amateur-baseball organizations, sportswriting associations, and other groups confer awards on various baseball teams, players, managers, coaches, executives, broadcasters, writers, and other baseball-related people for excellence in achievement, sportsmanship, and community involvement.
Andrew Jay Hinch is an American professional baseball coach and former player who is the manager of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Hinch played catcher for the Oakland Athletics (1998–2000), Kansas City Royals (2001–2002), Detroit Tigers (2003), and Philadelphia Phillies (2004).
This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.
Jose Alexander Cora is a Puerto Rican baseball manager and former infielder who is the manager of the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for 14 seasons with the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals. After retiring as a player, Cora served as the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they won their first World Series title in 2017. Cora was named Boston's manager the following season, winning a franchise-best 108 games and leading the team to victory in the 2018 World Series. He is the fifth MLB manager to win the World Series in his first season and the first Puerto Rican manager of a World Series-winning team.
The Temple Cup was a cup awarded to the winner of an annual best-of-seven postseason championship series for American professional baseball from 1894 to 1897. Competing teams were exclusively from the National League, which had been founded in 1876 as the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. There was only one major league at the time, following the folding of the American Association after the 1891 season, and the series was played between the first and second-place teams of the surviving National League. The series played for the Temple Cup was also known as the "World's Championship Series".
This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the New York Mets professional baseball team.
The St. Louis Cardinals, a professional baseball franchise based in St. Louis, Missouri, compete in the National League (NL) of Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the NL in 1892, they were also a charter member of the American Association (AA) from 1882 to 1891. Although St. Louis has been the Cardinals' home city for the franchise's entire existence, they were also known as the Brown Stockings, Browns, and Perfectos.
A championship ring or premiership ring is a ring presented to members of winning teams in North American professional sports leagues, and college tournaments.
The Sprint Cup Trophy is the trophy that was presented to the championship winner of the premier series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) from 2004 to 2016.
A game seven is the final game of a best of seven series. This game can occur in the postseasons for Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). The game is generally played at the site of the team holding the home advantage across the series.
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It is held during late October to early November. It has been contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff, and the winning team is awarded the Commissioner's Trophy.
Robert Dean Manfred Jr. is an American lawyer and business executive who is serving as the tenth commissioner of Major League Baseball. He previously served as MLB's chief operating officer. Manfred succeeded Bud Selig as commissioner on January 25, 2015.
The Dauvray Cup was a championship trophy awarded in professional baseball from 1887 to 1893. Named after stage actress Helen Dauvray, who presented the cup, it was initially awarded to the winner of the World Series between the National League and American Association. It was the first World Series trophy. The last National League-American Association series was in 1890, with the latter collapsing after the end of the following season. The cup was then awarded to the winner of the National League pennant. Like the Stanley Cup of ice hockey, the same trophy was used each season rather than a new one being made. The Dauvray Cup has since been lost.
The 2017 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball for the 2017 season. The winners of the Division Series would move on to the League Championship Series to determine the pennant winners that face each other in the World Series. This was the first edition of the postseason in which home field advantage in the World Series was awarded to the team with the better regular season record, rather than the winner of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
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