The Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres have officially announced a new annual tradition, the Vedder Cup, to begin in 2025.
This exciting new rivalry between the two teams will celebrate their unique connection to rock legend Eddie Vedder, who has strong ties to both cities. The winner of the season series between the Mariners and Padres will take home the coveted Vedder Cup trophy, designed by Vedder himself and featuring a guitar personally provided by the iconic Pearl Jam frontman.
For years, the Mariners-Padres matchups have been affectionately dubbed the “Vedder Cup” by fans, and in 2025, the clubs will make it official. With six games scheduled between the teams in 2025, the series will culminate in a friendly competition for the trophy that bears Vedder’s name. The event will not only showcase intense baseball rivalry but will also help raise awareness for a cause dear to Vedder’s heart: the EB Research Partnership, a nonprofit co-founded by Eddie and Jill Vedder to fund research for the rare disease Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
“We are thrilled that we were able to bring the Vedder Cup concept to life in such a fun and impactful way,” said Trevor Gooby, Executive Vice President and COO of the Mariners. “Creating and sharing memorable events like this with Mariners fans is extremely gratifying, and I am very thankful for Eddie, his team, EB Research Partnership, and the Padres for sharing the Mariners’ vision and commitment to celebrating and serving the Seattle community.”
Padres CEO Erik Greupner echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’re proud to partner with the Mariners and Eddie Vedder to announce the creation of the Vedder Cup, a special interleague rivalry series that celebrates the unique connection between our cities through the rock legend and Pearl Jam frontman. This West Coast showdown will create some cool, fun, and memorable moments for our fans while bringing meaningful awareness to EB research. We can’t wait to see this rivalry series grow and look forward to battling the Mariners for the Vedder Cup.“
Vedder Cup Details:
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Vedder Cup Trophy: A trophy designed with Vedder’s input, including a guitar he personally provided, will be unveiled prior to the first matchup of the season.
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Joint EB Donations: Both the Mariners and Padres will make annual donations to EB Research Partnership.
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Vedder Cup Theme Game: On May 17, the Padres will host a Vedder Cup Theme Game during their series against the Mariners at Petco Park. Exclusive tickets for this event will be available for purchase at Padres.com/Vedder.
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Mariners Vedder Cup Ticket Special: Fans attending the Mariners’ final game of the season series at T-Mobile Park on August 27 will have access to a special ticket offer, with details available at Mariners.com/VedderCup.
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Vedder Cup Merchandise: Fans can buy exclusive Vedder Cup merchandise at both Seattle and San Diego Team Stores during the series.
The season series will be played across two sets of games: from May 16–18 at Petco Park in San Diego, and from August 25–27 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
In the case of a tie in the season series, tiebreakers will be decided by the following criteria:
- Run Differential: The team with the highest run differential wins.
- EV (Exit Velocity): If run differentials are equal, the team with the highest exit velocity recorded on a hit during the series will claim the Vedder Cup.
Eddie Vedder’s Connection to Seattle and San Diego
Eddie Vedder’s ties to both cities make the Vedder Cup even more meaningful. Born in Evanston, Illinois, and raised in San Diego, Vedder found his love for music in the surf culture of Southern California before moving to Seattle in the early ’90s, where he would join Pearl Jam and become a cornerstone of the grunge movement. His personal and professional journey has created lasting legacies in both communities, celebrated through the Vedder Cup.
About EB Research Partnership
The EB Research Partnership was co-founded by Eddie and Jill Vedder to fund innovative research for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic condition that causes the skin to blister and tear. The organization aims to discover treatments and cures for EB, using strategic investments in scientific advancements and collaborations with researchers and medical professionals.
For more information on the inaugural Vedder Cup series, visit Mariners.com/VedderCup.
About the Mariners and Padres
The Seattle Mariners, established in 1977, and the San Diego Padres, founded in 1969, are two iconic teams with passionate fanbases. This new rivalry promises to bring exciting baseball to fans in both cities while supporting a charitable cause that will have a lasting impact.
For further details about the Vedder Cup series, ticket information, and merchandise, fans can visit the Mariners’ website at Mariners.com/VedderCup.
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, Dead Kennedys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, R.E.M.