In 1893, Pittsburgh businessman William Temple offered an ornate silver Cup, 30” high, to the winner of a seven game series between the first and second place teams in the National League. This “post season” series came to be known as the Temple Cup, and was played from 1894 - 1897, with the National League Champion Baltimore Orioles appearing in all four series. The popularity of the Temple Cup led to the creation of the offered steel engraving by renown artist Hy Sandham. Produced in 1894, the print features a magnificent rendering of the Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants in action in the original Polo Grounds during the ‘94 Temple Cup. The top border depicts twenty individual portraits of baseball executives of the time, including Ned Hanlon, John Ward, Andrew Freedman, A.G. Mills, Harry Wright, Chris Von Der Ahe, A.G. Spalding, Frank Selee and John Brush. The bottom border depicts twenty-four individual portraits of stars of the National League including Hugh Duffy, Billy Nash, Cy Young, Wilbert Robinson, Charles Comiskey, Ed Delahanty, James Ryan, Cap Anson, Roger Connor, Amos Rusie and George Davis. The engraving is signed on the lower right border by the artist, Hy Sandham, in pencil. A magnificent 19th Century baseball relic, in overall EX-MT condition with no foxing, staining or tears. 39 x 53 inches.