ST. LOUIS, April 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The St. Louis Cardinals presented the 2011 World Series Championship rings to players during an on field ceremony before this afternoon's game at Busch Stadium. The 2011 World Series ring symbolizes the team's 11th World Championship while paying tribute to the 10 Cardinals championships that preceded it. The rings were delivered earlier in the week by Jostens, a leading designer and producer of custom championship jewelry.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120414/CG87618 )
"We are excited to present the 2011 team with their rings," said Bill DeWitt III, President of the Cardinals. "We worked hard to design a ring that would tell the epic story of 2011 and also pay tribute to the great history of the franchise."
The top of the ring features the classic Cardinal bird-on-bat crafted out of faceted red rubies and surrounded by a 14 karat yellow gold frame that brings out the deep red color in the authentic rubies. The rest of the ring is made of 14 karat white gold. Surrounding the bird on top is a field of 103 round diamonds. The words "WORLD CHAMPIONS" frame the iconic insignia with diamonds set behind words which is a first in championship ring design.
One ring side features the player's name, jersey number and a ruby-filled "StL" emblem surrounded by the World Series leaf treatment that was used in the 2011 version of the MLB Fall Classic logo. This ring side also features the "Rally Squirrel" jumping over home plate which was a positive omen to players and fans in last year's playoffs.
The opposite side of the ring features Busch Stadium's Gate 3 bridge including the famous Musial Statue underneath with a ruby-embellished "11" sitting above the phrase "World Series Titles". The years 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982 and 2006 are displayed on the bottom shank of the ring to give prominence to the team's 10 previous World Series titles and connect this year's team with the earlier Cardinals World Series champion teams.
Intricate and custom engraving on the underside of each ring enhances the distinct and one-of-a-kind design. This engraving shows the three playoff series scores from the playoffs and ends with the phrase "Happy Flight" below them. Fans will remember the phrase as a common refrain in the clubhouse as the team won an uncanny number of games at the end of road trips during the second half of the 2011 season.
"Jostens is honored to have the opportunity to work with the St. Louis Cardinals to design and produce their 11th World Series Championship ring," said Chris Poitras, director, Sports Sales and Marketing, Jostens. "Working with Bill Dewitt III and the Cardinals, Jostens master jewelers artistically translated the team's unique story into a stunning ring that blends the 2011 team's achievement with the Cardinals championship history and serves as a lasting symbol and reminder of the 2011 championship season."
As a way to help Cardinals fans celebrate the championship season, the team worked with Jostens master jewelers to create a custom selection of personalized jewelry and collectibles with designs inspired by the championship rings that players received. The collections are available at www.cardinals.com/rings and offer every fan the chance to own a piece of Cardinals history. The team will also work with Jostens to help fans participate in the championship experience by hosting a series of events during the team's first two home series.
Custom designed rings are produced at Jostens-owned facilities in Dallas, Minneapolis and Montreal.
About Jostens
Minneapolis-based Jostens is a leading designer and producer of championship products, programs and services that help athletic champions and their fans tell their stories and celebrate their achievements. The company's products also include school yearbooks and other memory book products and scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products. Jostens is a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, a marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and educational and trade publishing segments.
SOURCE Jostens
