World Series ring

World Series rings are uniquely commissioned by the winning team each year and presented to deserving players and staff early in the next season.

Rings became an annual tradition beginning in 1926 when the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Yankees in the World Series.

[4] In past years, players often requested other items in place of rings, including cufflinks and tie clips.

Frankie Crosetti and Tommy Henrich requested shotguns from the Yankees following World Series championships.

[6] Members of the 1973 World Series champion Oakland Athletics were upset when team owner Charlie O. Finley, following salary disputes with his players, presented his team with rings that were identical to the ones received after winning the 1972 World Series, except without the one-carat diamond.

[11][12] Teams have also increasingly added distinctive touches to make their rings unique from previous versions.

[15] For their 2014 World Series rings, the San Francisco Giants included three diamonds on the top bezel and five on the bottom, representing their three titles in five years, and eight championships overall.

[16] The 2016 World Series rings for the Chicago Cubs each contain 108 diamonds around the bezel, one for each year that the team went without a championship, and also include an image of a goat on the inner band.

[18] Companies that have been commissioned to create World Series rings include Jostens, Tiffany & Co., Dieges & Clust, and the L.G.

In modern years, the importance of World Series rings to players has increased, whereas decades ago during the reserve clause era, players typically emphasized more the bonus World or League Championship check rather than the ring.

[35] Sergio Romo of the 2010 World Series champion San Francisco Giants said of his ring: "In all reality, this is why we play right here.

[37] When Lenny Dykstra went through bankruptcy in 2009, his 1986 World Series ring sold for $56,762.50 through Heritage Auctions, three times as much as was expected.

[42] However, the ring that once belonged to disgraced pitcher Brandon Puffer, when offered for sale on the August 15, 2013, episode of Pawn Stars could not be sold.

The shop declined to make an offer, claiming Puffer's off-field problems destroyed the resale value of the ring.

[29] The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum contains an exhibit on World Series rings.