14 Retro Sports Trophies That Aren’t Awarded Anymore
Here's a nostalgic look at 14 once-prestigious sports trophies that have vanished from the winner’s podium over the years.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Over time, sports evolve, and with them, the trophies that once defined athletic excellence. Some awards were replaced by modern versions. Others disappeared as leagues dissolved entirely. This list revisits iconic trophies that once symbolized triumph.
1. Stanley Cup Bowl (Original Format)
The West End on Flickr
Before it became the NHL’s prize, the Stanley Cup was a challenge trophy passed between teams across leagues. Its early format was chaotic but historic. Today, only NHL champs lift it in a far more organized system.
2. Intercontinental Cup Trophy (Soccer)
Tekteu on Wikimedia Commons
Awarded to the winner of the annual match between Europe’s and South America’s top clubs, this silver prize had prestige. It was replaced by the FIFA Club World Cup in 2004.
3. Commissioner’s Trophy (Old MLB Version)
WBUR Boston’s NPR News Station on Flickr
The current design differs from the one handed out during the 1970s and ’80s, which had a different shape and flair. Though still named the same, the original version is no longer in use. It’s now a collector’s item.
4. WHA Avco World Trophy (Hockey)
Kieran Chenier on Wikimedia Commons
Given to World Hockey Association champions, this gleaming piece represented an alternative to the NHL. When the WHA folded in 1979, the trophy vanished with it.
5. Bledisloe Cup (Old Rugby Format)
Hpeterswald on Wikimedia Commons
Though still contested, the original multi-match format and its unique presentation style have been altered. The traditional trophy is now just symbolic, with new protocols replacing the old.
6. ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year
Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
This non-league award celebrated individual excellence across all sports. Once a TV staple, it faded as the show itself was canceled. Its legacy remains in highlight reels and retrospectives.
7. NCAA Helms Foundation Trophy (Basketball)
Ucla90024 on Wikimedia Commons
Awarded retroactively and annually for college basketball champs before the NCAA tourney standardized selection. The foundation ended its awards in the ’80s. It’s mostly referenced in historical contexts now.
8. U.S. Open Golf’s Medal of Merit (Early Version)
FOX Sports on Wikimedia Commons
This small silver medal once went to amateurs with top finishes, but it was retired as formats shifted. Though replaced with modern honors, the original design has deep history.
9. America’s Cup (Pre-1983 Format)
Gambo7 on Wikimedia Commons
The pre-modern iteration of the yacht racing trophy followed traditional, long-standing rules. That structure changed drastically after Australia’s historic win.
10. NBA Skills Challenge Trophy (Classic Style)
Anna Shvets on Pexels
Earlier editions of the NBA’s All-Star skills prize had a unique, chunkier design. It’s since been redesigned multiple times for branding and visual appeal. The old one isn’t handed out anymore.
11. Continental Basketball Association Championship Trophy
Anna Shvets on Pexels
The CBA was once a major minor league in the U.S., and its trophy was a sign of future NBA promise. The league folded, and with it, the trophy’s relevance.
12. NFL All-Iron Award
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Handed out during CBS broadcasts for the Thanksgiving Day game MVPs, this novelty prize included a full iron skillet. It was fun, quirky — and eventually retired. Fans loved the humor it brought to the holiday tradition.
13. European Cup (Pre-Champions League)
Smabs Sputzer on Wikimedia Commons
Before UEFA rebranded the competition, this trophy was handed to the best club in Europe. It was swapped out when the Champions League began in the 1990s.
14. AAFC Championship Trophy (Football)
Erik Drost on Wikimedia Commons
The All-America Football Conference awarded this to its best team before merging with the NFL. Though the league was short-lived, its prize marked early pro football innovation.