The Four Trophies Every Fan Should Know
Championship hardware is the ultimate currency in American pro sports. Each of the four major leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL — has its own iconic award, each with a distinct history and a grueling path to earn it. Whether you're a lifelong fanatic or a casual viewer tuning in for the playoffs, understanding what these trophies represent makes every postseason moment hit harder.
| NFL Championship Trophy | Vince Lombardi Trophy (NFL / Super Bowl history) |
| NBA Championship Trophy | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy (NBA) |
| MLB Championship Trophy | Commissioner's Trophy (MLB) |
| NHL Championship Trophy | Stanley Cup (First awarded 1893) |
| Wins needed to claim the Stanley Cup | 16 playoff wins (NHL playoff format) |
| Super Bowl games played to reach the trophy | 4 playoff games (3 rounds + Super Bowl) (NFL playoff format) |
For fans who want to go deeper on how repeated winning changes a franchise's DNA, check out our piece on how dynasties are built across the major leagues.
NFL: The Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Vince Lombardi Trophy — awarded to the Super Bowl champion — is arguably the most recognized piece of sports hardware on the planet. Crafted from sterling silver and standing about 22 inches tall, it depicts a regulation-size football in a kicking position. It's named after the legendary Green Bay Packers coach who won the first two Super Bowls.
To win it, an NFL team must navigate a 17-game regular season, then survive three rounds of single-elimination playoff games before reaching the Super Bowl. There are no second chances in the NFL postseason — one loss and you're done. That pressure-cooker format is a big reason why the Lombardi is considered so hard to repeat. Trade deadline decisions in October often set the stage for who's still standing come February.
NBA: The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy
The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy goes to the NBA Finals winner, named after a former NBA commissioner who served from 1975 to 1984. Standing nearly two feet tall and cast in sterling silver with 24-karat gold overlay, it features a basketball poised above a stylized hoop — a design that's remained consistent since 1977.
An NBA champion must win 16 playoff games across four best-of-seven series. That gauntlet typically runs two full months, making depth, coaching adjustments, and injury management as important as raw talent.
Best-of-seven series
A playoff format where two teams compete until one wins four games. It rewards consistency and adaptability over multiple games, unlike single-elimination formats.
Single elimination
A playoff format where one loss ends a team's season immediately. The NFL postseason uses this format, heightening the stakes of every game.
Commissioner's Trophy
The award given annually to the World Series champion in MLB. A new physical trophy is created each year and features flags representing all 30 franchises.
Engraving (Stanley Cup)
The NHL tradition of permanently adding the names of players, coaches, and staff from each championship team directly onto the Stanley Cup's metal rings.
Why NBA Stars Chase 'Rings'
In basketball culture, championship rings — given to every member of a winning roster — are the shorthand for a player's legacy. The Larry O'Brien Trophy goes to the organization, but a ring is personal. This is why player movement around the league at trade deadlines often centers on championship contention rather than salary alone.
MLB and NHL: The Commissioner's Trophy and the Stanley Cup
In Major League Baseball, the Commissioner's Trophy goes to the World Series champion. Unlike other major awards, a new Commissioner's Trophy is crafted each year — no team physically holds the same object its predecessors lifted. It features 30 gold and silver flags representing every MLB franchise, arranged in a circle atop a base of sapphire blue crystal. A team must win 11 playoff games across three rounds to claim it.
The Stanley Cup stands apart from all others. First awarded in 1893 — decades before any other major North American championship trophy — it's a genuine relic. The Cup is unique because winning teams don't receive a replica: each champion's players, coaches, and staff have their names physically engraved on the trophy's rings. NHL teams must win 16 games across four best-of-seven series, often battling through two full months of the most physically punishing postseason in professional sports.
The rivalries forged on the road to these trophies often define entire eras. See how those grudge matches took shape in our look at the rivalries that shaped their leagues.
1893
Year the Stanley Cup was first awarded
The Stanley Cup predates all other major North American professional sports championship trophies by several decades.
16
Playoff wins required to lift the Stanley Cup or Larry O'Brien Trophy
Both the NHL and NBA require teams to win four best-of-seven series — 16 games total — to claim their respective championships.
30
Franchise flags on the Commissioner's Trophy
Each of MLB's 30 franchises is represented on the Commissioner's Trophy by a gold or silver pennant flag.
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