Trophy time: Baseball's Commissioner Trophy will appear in Tulsa the next four days
BY BARRY LEWIS World Sports Writer
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
3/14/12 at 3:37 AM
After last October's Game 7, when St. Louis Cardinals all-star Lance Berkman held over his head in celebration the Commissioner's Trophy given to the World Series champions, he called it "exhilarating."
During the next four days the Commissioner's Trophy will be in Tulsa, beginning with the stop from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the U.S. Cellular store at 6703 E. 41st St. It also will appear at U.S. Cellular locations on Thursday and Friday before being on display during DrillersFest at ONEOK Field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
It's a rare opportunity for Tulsans to see a major pro sports trophy in their hometown. The Commissioner's Trophy also was featured at U.S. Cellular locations after the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series. U.S. Cellular is presenting the three-month trophy tour that includes more than 50 stops through Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma.
The Tulsa stops are the only ones in Oklahoma. In the trophy tour that took part in early 2007, the trophy traveled 8,832 miles to 55 U.S. Cellular locations with an average of 317 visitors per stop, with four stops in Tulsa. The attendance in Tulsa was higher than the national average, according to U.S. Cellular Tulsa area sales manager Nik Arroyo.
"Five years ago our stores were packed with people wanting to see the trophy," Arroyo said. "Since it was announced the tour was coming back to Tulsa, I ran into a fan from Bartlesville who came here five years with his family and said he was planning to load up the van to do it again. At the stop in Joplin, it was great seeing families come out wearing their Cardinals jerseys for their favorite players. It is a family experience."
Tulsa Drillers public-address announcer Kirk McAnany also is savoring the opportunity to see the trophy just as he did five years ago.
"As someone who grew up in St. Louis and has seen all of the Cardinals' World Series trophies side by side in the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame there, I am thrilled to get to see last year's trophy," McAnany said. "I had my picture taken with my kids last time and plan to do it again. It's thrilling to see the trophy for what it represents, a reminder of amazing moments that occurred last October.
"Besides the Stanley Cup, I think the Commissioner's Trophy is the coolest looking of all the major sports trophies."
Fans are invited to bring their own cameras and have their photo taken with the trophy at no cost. For fans without their own camera, U.S. Cellular associates will take their pictures and can send the photos directly to their email accounts.
A LOOK AT THE MAJOR PRO SPORTS TROPHIES
MLB
Commissioner’s
First Awarded: 1967
Grade: A
Size: About 2 feet tall, 30 pounds
Fact: Features 30 gold-plated flags representing each major league team
History: The current version debuted in '67 after the Cardinals defeated the Red Sox. The trophy received its current name in 1985 when the Royals defeated the Cardinals.
NHL
Stanley Cup
First Awarded: 1893
Grade: A-plus
Size: Nearly 3 feet tall, 35 pounds
Fact: Only major trophy that can be taken home by players
History: A decorative punch bowl was donated in 1892 by Lord Stanley of Preston, Governor General of Canada to honor that country's best amateur team. The NHL champion began receiving it in 1926.
NFL
Vince Lombardi
First Awarded: 1967
Grade: B-minus
Size: 22 inches tall, seven pounds
Fact: Designed by Tiffany and Co.
History: Renamed for the Packers coach, who won the first two Super Bowls, after he died in 1970. First given as the Lombardi Trophy to the Baltimore Colts after edging the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V. The silver trophy features a regulation size football on a stand.
NBA
Larry O’Brien
First Awarded: 1977
Grade: B
Size: About 2 feet tall, 15 pounds
Fact: Designed by Tiffany and Co,
History: Was renamed in 1984 for the NBA commissioner (1975-83) who preceded David Stern. Was originally named for Walter A. Brown, who was the Boston Celtics founder.
TROPHY TOUR IN TULSA
Wednesday: U.S. Cellular store, 6703 E. 41st St., 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday: U.S. Cellular, Woodland Hills Mall, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: U.S. Cellular, 7370 S. Olympia Ave., 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: DrillersFest, ONEOK FIeld, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Original Print Headline: Trophy time
Barry Lewis 918-581-8393
barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
AP photo
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