“The Vedder Cup” Officially Formalized in 2025 by the NBL, Fender Builds Silver Telecaster Trophy

Written by Thomas Crago

Fender builds a silver 1963 Telecaster electric guitar, designed by Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder, to serve as a trophy for the newly formalized “Vedder Cup” --a previously informal competition between the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres dubbed “The Vedder Cup,” a reference to Eddie Vedder’s history with both cities, and being a lifelong fan of baseball.

In March of 2025, the competition was turned into an official rivalry series by the NBL, years after its inception.

(Taken by Steph Chambers): After a 5-1 victory for the Mariners, Cal Raleigh took home the Vedder Cup guitar whilst discussing his 50th home run; becoming one of the very few Mariners to achieve this feat.

The trophy was modeled directly after Vedder’s personal guitar, featuring his hand-drawn designs, the two teams logos and references to Vedder’s discography imprinted on multiple components, mimicking his own guitar; an arrow on the pick guard referencing his favorite band while growing up, “The Who.” And his signature, of course.

Vedder has one request considering the practicality of the trophy, “He doesn’t want it to be just a hang-on-the-wall trophy peice,” Says Pearl Jam’s Equipment manager of 34 years, George Webb. Vedder wants it to be played. Before it officially became the event’s trophy, he gave it quite the test run, considering it is a very real guitar despite the formality.

Similar to the Stanley Cup, there will only be one Vedder Cup that will fall into the hands of the winning team, hence the notches on the front and back of the guitar meaning to be filled by the logos of the teams over the next few years. 

One last design on the rear of the headstock lies the logo of the EB Research Partnership, which Eddie and his wife, Jill Vedder, co-founded more than a decade ago to participate in finding a cure and various treatments for Epidermolysis Bullosa: an exremely threatening genetic skin disorder that causes blisters to form all over the skin. Both of the teams have joined in on supporting the cause. As well as the actual trophy representing it.

The Mariners and Padres play again in the next Vedder Cup on May 16-18th and August 25-27th of 2026. Granting the Padres a chance to not only receive the guitar, but to earn a notch on it.