Photo: Roger Ho
Baseball rivalries have long been a source of intrigue, but rarely is a musician involved in inspiring a matchup. Despite the oddity, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder is the source behind the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres’ Monday, August 25 battle for the Vedder Cup, which pitted his California hometown team against the grunge-tinged Emerald City, also known as Pearl Jam’s rainy backdrop. Seattle took home the victory as well as a new Vedder-designed trophy.
The baseball series highlights the teams’ competition for the cup, which was modeled after Vedder’s 1963 Fender Telecaster, with the same body and neck dimensions. The award features a silver and black wave that was hand-drawn by the musician and spans from the top to the strap button. Vedder’s signature also adorns the front of the headstock, and both teams’ logos are featured on the volume and tone controls, highlighting the specialty of the competition.
As a special mention to Vedder’s solo work, the trophy boasts the silhouette of his debut 2007 LP, Into the Wild. Solidifying the connection, the musician’s handwriting reads “Vedder Cup, Est. 2025 by Major League Baseball, along with the MLB logo.”
Adding a personal and charitable layer, the Vedder Cup represents more than just a baseball rivalry. It’s a symbol of hope and support, with the nonprofit organization, EB Research Partnership, established in 2010 by Vedder and his wife, Jill, to help fund epidermolysis Bullosa research, being prominently featured on the trophy guitar’s stockhead and supported by both teams.
The tale from guitar to trophy extends back to the rivalry between the Mariners and Padres’ annual matches, which began in 1997 [except 2017], and was only officially deemed the Vedder Cup this year, cementing the importance of both teams to the artist.
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