The Los Angeles Dodgers recently received their championship rings, a tradition as ingrained in American sports as the seventh-inning stretch. As is customary in the United States, the start of the baseball season marks the moment to bestow upon the champions their coveted rings. But why rings, and not medals like in most other sports around the world? The answer, as with many deeply held traditions, lies in the history of American baseball and a desire for a lasting, personal symbol of victory.
The practice isn’t entirely foreign to the US, as evidenced by Major League Soccer (MLS) awarding medals. However, in baseball, the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), and the National Basketball Association (NBA), the tradition of the ring reigns supreme. The roots of this tradition stretch back to the incredibly beginnings of professional baseball.
Interestingly, the first time medals in the gold-silver-bronze format were awarded was at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri – right here in the United States. So, the concept of awarding medals wasn’t unknown at the time, but it didn’t take hold in the professional leagues in the same way.
The Old Ball Game
The tradition began a year before those Olympic Games. In 1903, the players of the Boston Americans – now known as the Boston Red Sox – requested personalized pocket watches as a reward for winning the first World Series in Major League Baseball history, the oldest of the professional sports leagues in the United States. This wasn’t just a trophy; it was a personal keepsake, something they could carry and display daily, a constant reminder of their achievement.
Subsequently, champions began receiving brooches, small medallions, and further iterations of personalized pocket watches. These early awards were about individual recognition and a tangible connection to the team’s success.
It wasn’t until 1922, after the New York Giants defeated the Yankees in consecutive years, that the players requested something different: a 14-karat gold ring with a diamond and the inscription “Giants World Champions 1922.” This marked the birth of the championship ring as we know it, establishing the design elements that would become standard.
Shaping the Sport
The impact wasn’t immediate, but the rings were well-received by the St. Louis Cardinals, who won in 1926 and 1931, rewarding their players with rings on both occasions. This cemented the trend, and since 1931, every MLB champion has received a ring. The rings quickly became more elaborate, incorporating more diamonds and personalized details, reflecting the increasing prestige of the championship.
The tradition spread to other American leagues. The NFL began awarding rings to its champions with the first Super Bowl in 1967. The NBA followed suit, awarding rings since its inaugural 1946-47 season. The NHL (hockey) adopted the practice in the 1960s, though it had earlier precedents dating back to the 1920s and even 1893, when the Stanley Cup was contested, but the league itself didn’t yet exist.
Preserving Traditions
it comes down to tradition. Different countries celebrate different traditions. A clear example is the FA Cup in England, which has awarded medals to champions since its first edition in 1872. Football is a deeply ingrained tradition in England, and that’s why MLS is the only one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States to award medals.
Baseball is often called “America’s Pastime.” It clings to its traditions and has, on more than one occasion, shaped the way the country develops and celebrates its other sports. The championship ring isn’t just a piece of jewelry; it’s a symbol of a team’s collective effort, a lasting reminder of a shared triumph, and a tangible piece of baseball history.
This time it’s the Dodgers, but next in line are the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL, the next NBA champion, the NHL champion, and so on, repeating the cycle of a unique tradition in sports. The rings represent not just a win, but a legacy.
The Dodgers’ rings, like those of champions across American sports, are more than just symbols of victory; they are a testament to the enduring power of tradition and the unique way American sports celebrate its heroes.
Next up for the Dodgers is a three-game series against the San Diego Padres starting April 4th at Dodger Stadium.
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