Significant 1939 Walter Hagen Cup Trophy
(Cancelled Ryder Cup Matches During WWI)

With the outbreak of World War II, The Ryder Cup was suspended from 1939-1945, and the U.S. retained the trophy from its 1937 victory. The United States continued the spirit of the contest by selecting a 10-member team that participated in "challenge" matches against already-selected Ryder Cup Team for the American Red Cross, various service organizations and other war-related efforts. The American Ryder Cup Team was Captained by Walter Hagen. They faced a team dubbed the "Hagen Challengers", which was led by Gene Sarazen, who was controversially left off the 1939 Ryder Cup Team. This 1939 exhibition match (and the yearly matches that would follow) brought together the greatest American players of the era.

Instead of the Ryder Cup trophy, the teams competed for The Walter Hagen Cup - named after the venerable American captain. The players on the winning squad were each awarded a smaller "player" version of the Hagen Cup.

Offered here is one of those historic Hagen Cups. To our knowledge, only one other Hagen Cup has ever been publicly offered for sale (Sam Snead's). The trophy itself measures 4" tall atop of 1/2" green marble base. The base is missing a piece where Florida should be.