Temple Cup

For the Henley Royal Regatta event, see Temple Challenge Cup.

The Temple Cup was a cup awarded to the winner of a best-of-seven, post-season championship series in the National League, from 1894–1897. The 30-inch-high silver cup was donated by coal, citrus, and lumber baron William Chase Temple, the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates at the time. There was only one major league at the time, so the Series was played between the first- and second-place teams. The Temple Cup was also known as the World's Championship Series. If one team won three titles, that team would have permanent possession of the Cup.

History

In the 1880s, there had been postseason play between the winners of the National League and the American Association, but in 1892 the National League absorbed the Association, becoming a 12-team league, and played a split season. In 1893 the Pittsburgh Pirates had finished second to the Boston Beaneaters (today's Atlanta Braves). Pirates' president, William Chase Temple, felt that his team should have the option of having a playoff series to claim the title. As a result, Temple had his $800 trophy minted and donated it to the league. The revenue was to be split 65% to 35%; however, the players of the first series (1894) decided to evenly split the money. However, after the series the New York Giants cheated some Baltimore Oriole players out of their money, tainting the Cup and prompting Temple to sell the Pirates in disgust^{[citation needed]}.

Lack of enthusiasm on the part of the players doomed the series; their apathy spread to the fans, who stayed away in droves in later years. Interest in the Series faded quickly, as it seemed artificial, with the second-place team winning three of the four series. However, the concept would be revived in 1900 with the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup. The Baltimore Orioles appeared in every Cup, winning the last two series. The team won two Cup series and came the closest to having permanent possession of the trophy.

After the Cup was ended, the trophy was returned to Temple, whose Pirates team never finished higher than sixth place in the standings during the Cup's existence. In 1939, the Cup itself was tracked down by The Sporting News. It was in the possession of a Temple family member in Florida. The Cup was displayed at the 1939 New York World's Fair. The Temple family later sold the Cup for $750 to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, where it remains today.

Summary of Temple Cup Series

• 1894: Baltimore 1st, New York 2nd - New York won Series, 4 games to 0
• 1895: Baltimore 1st, Cleveland 2nd - Cleveland won Series, 4 games to 1
• 1896: Baltimore 1st, Cleveland 2nd - Baltimore won Series, 4 games to 0
• 1897: Boston 1st, Baltimore 2nd - Baltimore won Series, 4 games to 1

References

• Glory Fades Away, by Jerry Lansche, 1991, Taylor Publishing, ISBN 0-87833-726-1
• Baseball Reference.com Temple Cup