On November 22 1890 the Harvard University football team beat Yale University 12-06. It's widely considered the most important gridiron affair in the history of Harvard as the Crimson broke an eight-game losing streak to its bitter rival Yale to complete its first undefeated season and claim the college football national championship. But the significance extendsbeyond that inaugural glory. These early Ivy League battles were instrumental in shaping the evolution of the sport altering the rule book the field size and the uniforms worn. This particular game in 1890 was the first Harvard vs. Yale battle waged on neutral ground played in Springfield Mass. the same town where Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball just one year later.

This would be the first of multiple meetings between the schools at Springfield with each game growing increasingly more violent until the "Springfield Massacre" of 1894 which resulted in a two-year suspension of the tradition. This is the most important relic to emerge from these games and arguably the most significant Harvard football collectible ever. The sterling silver trophy mug was issued to a tackle/guard on the victorious team and beautifully engraved: "Harvard 12 - Yale 6 Springfield Nov. 22nd 1890 James Ralph Finlay From Harvard Graduates in New York." The particulars of the presentation have largely been lost to history but the relic's status as the only known trophy from the game that brought Harvard its first national title elevates it to the top of football collecting. It has survived 127 years with little more than some tarnishing and the scattered light dent to document its advanced age. It measures six inches(6") tall by four inches (4") across the top of the chalice not including the handle. "Whiting" maker's mark on base indicating it was created by the most prestigious silver trophy maker of the day. The engraved serial number (“2930”) dates the cup to 1890. Any astute football historian would no doubt agree that that the historical importance of this cup places it among therarest and most significant football trophies ever produced.