On November 13, 1930 the Martinsburg, WV police department escorted Hack Wilson, several civic leaders, and a pair of marching bands from Wilson’s home on John Street to the town square, where thousands had gathered to celebrate the home run hero. Local luminaries, including Mayor Chris Dailey, spoke at a grand ceremony that culminated in the presentation of a “handsome silver loving cup, suitably engraved” to Wilson. Photographers from World Wide Photo and the Associated Press snapped pictures of Wilson posing proudly with the trophy in front of his home.

Hack Wilson’s 1930 season for the Cubs was one for the ages. Wilson set the National League record with 56 home runs, only the second player besides Babe Ruth to have eclipsed fifty in a season at the time. He slashed .356/.454/.723. (In fact, his 1.177 OPS is still a Cubs’ team record.) Wilson’s 1930 season, however, is probably best remembered for those 191 RBIs, a record that stands today—and may never be broken.

After Wilson’s Cubs teammate Rogers Hornsby was voted National League MVP in 1929, the league abandoned the custom (and the accompanying $1000 reward). The Baseball Writers’ Association of America conducted an informal MVP vote following the 1930 season and Wilson was the top vote-getter, topping Cardinals’ infielder Frankie Frisch by six votes. However, this putative MVP Award has never been officially recognized by baseball. Accordingly, a loving cup presented by some admiring locals wound up being the most enduring hardware commemorating Wilson’s incredible season. But what ever became of that handsome trophy?

Well, it turns out the award survived and is archived at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. The cup has tarnished and sustained some damage, including the loss of the ballplayer that appeared to have adorned the top.

The engraving is still legible, however:

PRESENTED TO

Lewis R. “Hack” Wilson

HOME RUN KING 1930

By

Citizens of Martinsburg

A loving cup, indeed.

Notes:

Very special thanks to Tom Shieber for allowing the author to see and hold the subject loving cup and Jason Schwartz for arranging the viewing with Tom in advance.

Sources:

“1930 Home Run King is Voted ‘Most Valuable’,” Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Kentucky), October 8, 1930. (The Cubs agreed to pay Wilson $1000 prize that had previously accompanied the award.)

“Martinsburg Does ‘Whalen’ for Hack,” Evening Sun (Hanover, Pennsylvania), November 14, 1930.

“Cubs’ Home Run King Greeted in Home Town,” Chicago Tribune, November 17, 1930.

“Home Run King Who Succeeded Ruth Poses with His Family and Trophy,” Portland (Maine) Press Herald, November 17, 1930.