MLB unveils ‘The Vedder Cup’ trophy to celebrate Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder
Ahead of a recent match between the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, the MLB unveiled The Vedder Cup Trophy in homage to Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder.
The rock icon designed the trophy, which is a custom Fender guitar that is similar to the one that he plays on stage with Pearl Jam. Vedder, who is a huge baseball fan, has links to both Seattle and San Diego, which is why these two teams were in contention for the Vedder Cup.
The annual series is also for a good cause. It is raising money for the Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) Research Partnership, a charity co-founded by the Pearl Jam singer and his wife, Jill Vedder.
Although it was previously announced in March, the MLB kept the actual trophy under wraps until the event, which also features nods to both teams as well as Vedder’s career and his love of The Who.
In an interview with The Seattle Times, Pearl Jam’s equipment manager, George Webb, revealed that Vedder even played the guitar: “We spent about an hour with it. He gave it a good run through.”
Webb continued: “He always likes to feel like he puts a little energy, you know, spiritual energy, into an instrument. Not just hand off something that’s brand-new, never-touched kind of thing. So yeah, jammed on it for about an hour. Had a good time.”
Vedder also wants it to be played rather than hung up in a trophy cabinet, Webb shared, “He wanted to make something that potentially could live in the team’s clubhouse during the season and be played by players, and appreciated and used.”
The guitar tech added, “He doesn’t want it to be a hang-on-the-wall trophy piece. He wants it to be played. That’s his attitude with everything. It’s a living, breathing instrument. It sounds great.”
On the pitch, it was the Seattle Mariners who were victorious in the inaugural edition of the Vedder Cup and will have to defend it next year against the Padres.
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