Prior to the introduction of interleague play, the current Cincinnati and Cleveland franchises had only met in spring training or other exhibition games.

The Ohio Cup series was originally created in 1989 and was an exhibition game between the two teams played in the state capital of Columbus at Cooper Stadium just prior to the start of the season.

[6][7] The teams met again two years later, as members of the National League, after Cleveland joined the NL in 1889 and Cincinnati in 1890.

Over the 10 seasons both were part of the National League, the Reds and Spiders played 138 times, with Cincinnati winning 75, Cleveland 60, and three ties.

The AL declared itself a major league for the 1901 season with the Cleveland franchise, then called the Blues, as a charter member.

Because the two teams are part of different leagues, however, the only chance for them to meet prior to the introduction of Interleague Play in 1997 was in exhibition games or in the World Series.

In July 1910, the Cincinnati manager challenged the Cleveland Naps to a seven-game "Championship of Ohio" series, which was held after the conclusion of the regular season.

[11] Sitting between Cleveland and Cincinnati, the city was always divided when it came to allegiance to the state's big league teams.

The first Ohio Cup match-up was marred by 40 °F (4 °C) temperatures made colder by constant rain and brisk wind.

It remained scoreless until the top of the eighth inning when a throwing error by Reds outfielder Herm Winningham allowed Luis Aguayo to score the only run.

Minor league pitcher Greg McMichael received the win while Reds' reliever Mike Griffin was credited with the loss.

In the 1990 contest, catchers Sandy Alomar Jr. and Joel Skinner combined for six RBI as the Indians won their second straight Ohio Cup before a standing-room only crowd.

Cory Snyder hit a monster blast off Danny Jackson that traveled well past the 400-foot sign in straightaway center field.

Mike Bielecki stopped Cincinnati on one run and four hits in six innings and Albert Belle had a three-run single as the Tribe won their fourth Ohio Cup in five years in the 1993 contest.

Mark Clark pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and three runs, walking one and striking out five to gain the win.

With the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike only coming to an end on April 2, replacement players traveled to Columbus to take part in the 1995 edition.

With temperatures near freezing and replacements Tim Delgado and Rich Sauveur taking the mound, only a couple thousand fans made it out.

A line drive single by Julio Franco in the fifth inning broke a 3–3 tie as Cleveland defeated Cincinnati 5–3 to win the final Ohio Cup in 1996.

Manny Ramírez had given Cleveland a 3–1 lead with a three-run homer to left field in the second off the Reds' Mark Portugal.

Hal Morris drove in two runs for the Reds with a first-inning single and a double in the third, with Bret Boone scoring both times.

Indians' designated hitter Kevin Seitzer recorded the first ever hit in a Battle for Ohio game when he doubled in the bottom of the first inning.

Manny Ramírez hit the first Buckeye Series home run in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough to prevent the Reds winning the inaugural game 4–1.

[12] In the revived trophy's inaugural season, the Reds swept the first three-game series at home, which took place May 16–18 2008, after three strong performances by Edinson Vólquez, Aaron Harang, and Johnny Cueto.

As the series moved back to Cleveland on June 27–29, with the Indians' CC Sabathia throwing a 6–0 shutout against the Reds in the first game.

Ballots were passed out in the middle of the final game for the MVP, awarded to Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, who had a combined five home runs and 10 RBI in the series.

In 2023, under the MLB's new balanced schedule, they permanently adopted the four-game series format, with two games in each ballpark every season.