Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: The trophy that I brought today was given to me as a small boy through my father from Rogers Hornsby, which was a, a good friend of his.

APPRAISER: For people that don't know of Rogers Hornsby, he played 23 seasons between 1915 and 1937.

You and your son have had a really fun project in learning more about the trophy.

GUEST: Very much so.

Well, he did a lot of legwork.

The other name, I thought it was a St. Louis politician.

APPRAISER: Mm.

Mm.

GUEST: ...and here it turned out to be the boy that wrote an essay.

APPRAISER: Hornsby was presented this trophy for being voted the most popular player in the National League by the youth of America.

13-year-old Alfred Dornheim...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...who's the boy who won the national essay contest, was transported to St. Louis so he could actually be at the ballpark down on the field...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...and present this to Rogers Hornsby on opening day in April of 1926.

GUEST: Yeah.

APPRAISER: But also gets his name engraved on the trophy.

Rogers Hornsby, he won the NL batting title seven times.

GUEST: (chuckling): That's tough, man.

APPRAISER: He's regarded as one of the top hitters ever.

Rogers Hornsby's lifetime batting average was .358, so third of all time.

Ty Cobb, best all time, at .366...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...and Oscar Charleston at .364.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: So the trophy itself is made-made by Gorham, and it is a sterling trophy.

GUEST: Hm.

APPRAISER: It's hand-hammered, what we call a loving cup.

I would say, for you and your family, for insurance purposes, you're going to want to insure this for $10,000.

GUEST: Mm-hmm, okay.

Well... (voice breaking): there's-there's more to-to that than the money.

Took it out of the house, it's like taking my arm off, the way I felt about it.I don't have too many-- too much emotions about a lot of things, but my kids and old Hornsby.

(chuckles)