The six-month marathon, which this year extended to the first day of November, of the Major League Baseball season is now officially history.
Regardless of personal rooting interests, the record-setting seven-game thriller between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays will go down as one of the best World Series ever played. There were thrills in every game, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, often accused of bowing to front-office decisions in how he manages the game, seemed to push every right strategic button as each game unfolded, especially the last three innings of the seventh game.
While the fan-packed added to the electric atmosphere, those watching at home contributed to making Game 7 the most-watched since the 2017 World Series between the Dodgers and the Astros. Nielsen TV ratings recorded an average TV audience of 26 million, with a peak of 31.5 million viewers tuned in for the final innings of Game 7.
While sharing the sentiments of a growing number of fans turned off by the money-mania of today’s professional athletes, no matter how much money is in their bank accounts, it is enjoyable to see how much fun grown men can have turning into little boys celebrating a team accomplishment.
Hypocritical may be too strong a word in this instance, but watching MLB commissioner Rob Manfred stand on the podium presenting the coveted World Series trophy (known as the Commissioner’s Trophy) to Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter caused instant flashbacks to 2020 when Manfred described the World Series trophy as “a piece of metal” during an ESPN interview.
To be fair, Manfred later issued an apology for his remarks, stating, “There’s no excuse for it. I made a mistake. I was trying to make a point, but I should’ve made it more effectively, and again, I want to apologize for it.”
Make no mistake about it, the trophy is a very sought-after piece of metal for those who play the game and the fans who cheer them on. Nearly all competitors that play a game and win a championship, from Little League on up, long for a cherished memento that will provide lifelong evidence of what they worked so hard to accomplish.
MLB is not like the NHL, where players on the winning team have an opportunity to spend quality personal time with the Stanley Cup, celebrating in a variety of ways. While MLB players hoist the trophy and smile for the camera, almost immediately after the championship is won, their thoughts turn to what their championship rings will look like.
The tradition of receiving rings for a World Series victory first began with the New York Giants in 1922 after defeating the New York Yankees. Before the 1922 World Series-winning team received other commemorative items such as medals, pins, and watches from their owners.
Team owners make the final call on who gets rings. Active roster players and coaches are guaranteed rings. Former players who participated during the season but were traded may also get rings, in addition to injured players. Many times, office staff, support staff, trainers, and groundskeepers are also included.
In the 103 years of the ring giving tradition, one thing is certain — the rings seem to get bigger and more expensive each year. In a recent ESPN article, author Louisa Frahm recounted some of the more elaborate ring designs.
• 1979: The Pittsburgh Pirates incorporated their theme slogan “We Are Family” into their ring, a reference to the team’s song by Sister Sledge. (Yes, I know it is hard to believe, Pirates fans — we have won a World Series before).
• 2011: The St. Louis Cardinals incorporated their unofficial rally squirrel mascot into their ring design.
• 2014: The San Francisco Giants included three special diamonds on their rings to represent their three titles in five years.
• 2016: The Chicago Cubs incorporated 108 diamonds on their rings to represent the end of their 108-year World Series drought.
• 2017: The Houston Astros included a removable ring top that uncovered the team’s slogan “Earned History.”
• 2018: The Boston Red Sox had “DAMAGE DONE” engraved on the inside of their rings to pay tribute to the team’s rally cry throughout the season.
• 2021: The Atlanta Braves incorporated a ring top that opened up to a miniature version of their home stadium, Truist Park, with 11 rubies set into stadium seats to represent the exact landing locations of the Braves’ 11 World Series home runs.
• 2024: The Los Angeles Dodgers ring featured 34 sapphires, honoring legendary Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who wore number 34.
The flashy ring wear spends most days tucked away in safe deposit boxes, only worn by most players on special occasions. But everyone who has ever been presented with one carries daily pride for what it represents. For the record, Yankees players have accumulated the most rings. Yogi Berra has 10 World Series rings; Joe DiMaggio has 9, Bill Dickey has 8, and Frankie Crosetti, Lou Gehrig, Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizzuto, and Babe Ruth have 7.
The active player list is headed by Mookie Betts with 4, followed by Max Muncy, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Enrique Hernandez, and Blake Treinen with 3. Dodger players on this list will add another when their 2025 championship rings are presented.
