What is the Coolest Major US Sports Trophy? [List/Poll]
As a wave of "Blue Flu" is spreading around Ocean County today, Giants fans are making the pilgrimage to New York City and Met Life Stadium for a glimpse of the Super Bowl Champion Giants hoisting their newly won championship trophy. This made me think, which major sport has the coolest trophy? Read a little bit about each, then vote in the poll at the end!
The Vince Lombardi Trophy (NFL)
Football's ultimate prize, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, was first awarded to the Green Bay Packers in 1967 in the "AFL-NFL World Championship Game". The trophy was named after the legendary Packers coach following his death in 1970. A separate award is made every year by Tiffany & Co.
Commissioner's Trophy (MLB)
Like the NFL, Major League Baseball teams up with Tiffany & Co. to create a new award every year to present to the World Series champions. Also awarded first in 1967, each baseball team is represented by a gold plated flag surrounding a baseball, with the winning team's name inscribed on the base.
The Stanley Cup (NHL)
The Stanley Cup has, by far, the richest history of the major trophies. First awarded in 1892 as a medium sized chalice, the trophy has grown every year since, as the names of every player, coach, and management staff is inscribed onto the base. When a ring runs out of room, a new level is added, old levels have been removed over the years as well when the tower got too unwieldy. Unlike the other major awards, the Stanley Cup is a single trophy that is passed from champion to champion every year. There are also some rather interesting traditions and anecdotes surrounding the history of the Cup.
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy (NBA)
If I'm being honest, before writing this article I had no idea what the NBA championship trophy even looked like, not to mention that it actually had a name. The current trophy was designed in 1977 and named after former NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien in 1984. Continuing the major sports association with Tiffany & Co, a new trophy is made every year to be presented to the NBA Championship team.