Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup
Encyclopedia
Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup was a silver trophy donated to the American Professional Football Association (renamed the National Football League
in 1922) by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Tire Division.
According to the September 17, 1920 founding meeting minutes of the NFL-AFPA, the trophy was a "silver-loving cup", donated to the Association by a "Mr. Marshall". It was then to be presented to the team "awarded championship by the Association". This wording established the precedent for the 1920 season
of awarding the title by a vote of the league's managers, rather than who finished at the top of the standings.
The minutes also state that "any team winning the cup three times should be adjudged the owner [of the trophy]". The motion to include the cup as the Association's trophy was moved and seconded and a vote of thanks was extended by the secretary to "Mr. Marshall".
The Akron Pros
were awarded the 1920 AFPA Championship
on April 30, 1921 after posting an 8–0–3 record. However disputes arose from the Buffalo All-Americans and the Decatur Staleys (renamed the Chicago Bears
in 1922) who had been tied, but not beaten, by the Pros that year. Even though the Pros were given the trophy in 1920, the league lost track of the event and for a long time published in its own record books that the 1920 championship was undecided. It took until the 1970s for the NFL to remember its early vote on awarding the Akron Pros the 1920 championship. What happened to the cup afterwards remains a mystery. The minutes of AFPA and NFL meetings never mention it again. Had the trophy survived, the Green Bay Packers
would have gained permanent possession of the trophy upon winning their third consecutive league title in 1931.
Starting with the Championshiop 1934 game, 13 years after the original was awarded, a replacement trophy was finally commissioned, and the league's championship team from that season onward received the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy
. The trophy was named after Ed Thorp, a noted referee, rules expert, and sporting goods dealer. Thorp died in 1934, and a large, traveling trophy was made that year, passed along from champion to champion each season with each championship team's name inscribed on it (just like its predecessor). Teams would also receive a replica trophy. The trophy was last awarded to the Minnesota Vikings
in 1969.
Both trophies remain missing to this day.
Since 1970, the league has issued the Vince Lombardi Trophy
to the winners of the league's title; unlike its two predecessors, a new one is produced each year. (The Lombardi Trophy dates to 1967 and the first Super Bowl
, and was retained when the NFL and the American Football League
merged
).
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 1922) by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Tire Division.
According to the September 17, 1920 founding meeting minutes of the NFL-AFPA, the trophy was a "silver-loving cup", donated to the Association by a "Mr. Marshall". It was then to be presented to the team "awarded championship by the Association". This wording established the precedent for the 1920 season
1920 NFL season
The 1920 APFA season was the inaugural regular season of the National Football League which was called the American Professional Football Association in 1920 and 1921...
of awarding the title by a vote of the league's managers, rather than who finished at the top of the standings.
The minutes also state that "any team winning the cup three times should be adjudged the owner [of the trophy]". The motion to include the cup as the Association's trophy was moved and seconded and a vote of thanks was extended by the secretary to "Mr. Marshall".
The Akron Pros
Akron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
were awarded the 1920 AFPA Championship
1920 NFL season
The 1920 APFA season was the inaugural regular season of the National Football League which was called the American Professional Football Association in 1920 and 1921...
on April 30, 1921 after posting an 8–0–3 record. However disputes arose from the Buffalo All-Americans and the Decatur Staleys (renamed the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1922) who had been tied, but not beaten, by the Pros that year. Even though the Pros were given the trophy in 1920, the league lost track of the event and for a long time published in its own record books that the 1920 championship was undecided. It took until the 1970s for the NFL to remember its early vote on awarding the Akron Pros the 1920 championship. What happened to the cup afterwards remains a mystery. The minutes of AFPA and NFL meetings never mention it again. Had the trophy survived, the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
would have gained permanent possession of the trophy upon winning their third consecutive league title in 1931.
Starting with the Championshiop 1934 game, 13 years after the original was awarded, a replacement trophy was finally commissioned, and the league's championship team from that season onward received the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy
Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy
The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy was the trophy awarded to the Champions of the National Football League from 1934 until 1969. The trophy was named after Ed Thorp, a noted referee, rules expert, and sporting goods dealer...
. The trophy was named after Ed Thorp, a noted referee, rules expert, and sporting goods dealer. Thorp died in 1934, and a large, traveling trophy was made that year, passed along from champion to champion each season with each championship team's name inscribed on it (just like its predecessor). Teams would also receive a replica trophy. The trophy was last awarded to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in 1969.
Both trophies remain missing to this day.
Since 1970, the league has issued the Vince Lombardi Trophy
Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the trophy awarded each year to the winning team of the National Football League's championship game, the Super Bowl.-History:...
to the winners of the league's title; unlike its two predecessors, a new one is produced each year. (The Lombardi Trophy dates to 1967 and the first Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, and was retained when the NFL and the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
merged
AFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
).