Vanderbilt Trophy Winners

The Vanderbilt Trophy for the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams was donated in 1928 by Harold S. Vanderbilt, who won the event in 1932 and 1940. The Vanderbilt was contested annually in New York as a separate championship, until 1958 when it became part of the Spring North American Championships.

A list of Vanderbilt winners and runners-up reads like a Who's Who in Bridge -- or a Bridge Hall of Fame roster. Howard Schenken won the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams 10 times. John Crawford had nine wins; B. Jay Becker, eight; Oswald Jacoby, seven; and Edgar Kaplan, six. Barry Crane never won the event but had two seconds and a third.

Vanderbilt winners receive replicas of the trophy, which is a practice initiated by Vanderbilt from the first running of the event and perpetuated by a $100,000 trust fund administered by ACBL under the terms of Vanderbilt's will. On display at ACBL Headquarters in Memphis are replicas donated by the families of Caroline Taylor, who won the Vanderbilt in 1928, and Helen Sobel Smith, a Vanderbilt winner in 1944 and 1945.

Here's a look at Vanderbilt action through the years:

1. Oswald Jacoby won his first Vanderbilt in 1931 and his last in 1965.

2. Two father-son partnerships have won the Vanderbilt: Oswald Jacoby and son Jim in 1965 and B. Jay Becker and son Michael in 1981.

3. Edith Freilich and Billy Seamon are the only brother-sister partnership to win the Vanderbilt. Their team won in 1963 -- the last time a woman won a major open team championship.

4. The only time that a team won consecutively three years in a row in the Vanderbilt came when B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Howsmolenard Schenken and Sidney Silodor captured the championship in 1955, 1956 and 1957.

Previous winners and runners-up:

1928
1-2. Ralph Richards, Gratz Scott, Edwin Wetzlar, Wilbur Whitehead

1-2. Abraham Brown, Mrs. Sidney Lovell, Caroline Taylor, Nils Wester

1929
1. Michael Gottlieb, Lee Langdon, Jean Mattheys, Harry Raffel

2. Ralph Leibenderfer, Gratz Scott, Edwin Wetzlar, Wilbur Whitehead

1930
1. Ely Culbertson, Josephine Culbertson, Theodore Lightner, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

2-3. Winfield Liggett, Walter Malowan, George Reith, Howard Schenken

2-3. Huber Boscowitz, Oswald Jacoby, Willard Karn, P. Hal Sims

1931
1. David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby, Willard Karn, P. Hal Sims

2. Walter Malowan, Jean Mattheys, Howard Schenken, Sherman Stearns

1932
1. Willard Karn, P. Hal Sims, Harold S. Vanderbilt, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

2. David Burnstine, Richard Frey, Charles Lochridge, Howard Schenken

1933
1. Phil Abramsohn, Benjamin Feuer, Francis Rendon, Sydney Rusinow

2. Mitch Barnes, Richard Frey, Sam Fry Jr., Louis H. Watson

1934
1. David Burnstine, Richard Frey, Michael Gottlieb, Oswald Jacoby, Howard Schenken

2. Huber Boscowitz, Charles Goren, Charles Lochridge, Johnny Rau

1935
1. David Burnstine, Michael Gottlieb, Oswald Jacoby, Howard Schenken, Sherman Stearns

2. Sam Fry Jr., Edward Hymes Jr., Merwyn Maier, Louis H. Watson

1936
1. Phil Abramsohn, Irving Epstein, Harry Fishbein, Fred Kaplan

2. Walter Beinicke, Charles Goren, Lee Langdon, Jean Mattheys

1937
1. David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby, Merwyn Maier, Howard Schenken, Sherman Stearns

2. B. Jay Becker, Theodore Lightner, Charles Lochridge, Harold S. Vanderbilt, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

1938
1. David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby, Merwyn Maier, Howard Schenken, Sherman Stearns

2. B. Jay Becker, Edward Hymes Jr., Theodore Lightner, Charles Lochridge, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

1939
1. Melville Alexander, Sigmund Dornbusch, Syl Gintell, Lee Hazen, Harry Raffel

2. Wingate Bixby, Theodore Lightner, Robert McPherran, Mrs. S. W. Peck

1940
1. Edward Hymes Jr., Charles Lochridge, Robert McPherran, Harold S. Vanderbilt, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

2. Al Brodsky, Louis Lipschitz, Herbert Rosenzweig, Alexander Schultz

1941
1. John Crawford, Myron Fuchs, Robert McPherran, Sherman Stearns

2. B. Jay Becker, Oswald Jacoby, Theodore Lightner, Merwyn Maier, Howard Schenken

1942
1. Lester Bachner, Sigmund Dornbusch, Richard Frey, Lee Hazen, Samuel Stayman

2. Sam Fry Jr., Benedict Jarmel, George Rapee, Helen Sobel

1943
1. Harry Fagin, Harry Fishbein, Fred Kaplan, Alvin Roth, Tobias Stone

2. Phil Abramsohn, Morrie Elis, E. O. Keller, Charles Van Vleck, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

1944
1. B. Jay Becker, Charles Goren, Sidney Silodor, Helen Sobel

2. Richard Frey, Lee Hazen, Charles Lochridge, George Rapee, Samuel Stayman

1945
1. B. Jay Becker, Charles Goren, Sidney Silodor, Helen Sobel

2. Edward Hymes Jr., Theodore Lightner, Howard Schenken, Samuel Stayman, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

1946
1. John Crawford, Oswald Jacoby, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Samuel Stayman

2. Samuel Katz, Bertram Lebhar Jr., Peter Leventritt, Simon Rossant, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

1947
1. David Clarren, Harry Feinberg, Harry Fishbein, Larry Hirsch, Joseph Low

2. Lee Hazen, Samuel Katz, Bertram Lebhar Jr., Peter Leventritt

1948
1. Robert Appleyard, Jay T. Feigus, William Lichtenstein, Harry Sonnenblick, Albert Weiss

2. Ambrose Casner, Herman Goldberg, Fred Hirsch, Mrs. Ira Strasser, Albert Wolfe

1949
1. Morrie Elis, Harry Fishbein, Lee Hazen, Larry Hirsch, Charles Lochridge

2. B. Jay Becker, Myron Field, Charles Goren, Oswald Jacoby, Helen Sobel

1950
1. John Crawford, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor, Samuel Stayman

2. B. Jay Becker, Myron Field, Charles Goren, Helen Sobel

1951
1. B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Samuel Stayman

2. Barry Crane, Jack Hancock, Emanuel Hochfield, Gloria Turner, Hortense Evans

1952
1. Ned Drucker, Irvin Kass, Sidney Mandell, Milton Moss, Jesse Sloan

2. B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Samuel Stayman

1953
1. Richard Kahn, Edgar Kaplan, Peter Leventritt, William Lipton, Ruth Sherman

2. Myron Field, Charles Goren, Alvin Roth, Sidney Silodor, Helen Sobel

1954
1. Dr. Kalman Apfel, Francis Begley, Ned Drucker, Sidney Mandell, Milton Moss

2. Morrie Elis, Stanley Fenkel, Simon Rossant, Peggy Solomon, Charles Solomon

1955
1. B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor

2. Charles Goren, Boris Koytchou, Peter Leventritt, Harold Ogust, Helen Sobel

1956
1. B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor

2. Leonard Hess, Jane Jaeger, Lewis Jaeger, William M. Lichtenstein, Joseph Low

1957
1. B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor

2. Rudolf Bortstiber, Raoul Lichtenstein, Ozzie Ray, Moe Rubenfeld

As an event the Vanderbilt Trophy was contested in New York City as a separate championship until1958, after which the event was conducted at the Spring North American Championships.

1958
1. B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, Norman Kay, George Rapee, Sidney Silodor, Tobias Stone

2. Charles Goren, Paul Hodge, Peter Leventritt, Harold Ogust, Howard Schenken, Helen Sobel

1959
1. B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, Norman Kay, George Rapee, Sidney Silodor, Tobias Stone

2. Charles Goren, Paul Hodge, Peter Leventritt, Harold Ogust, Howard Schenken, Helen Sobel

1960
1. John Crawford, Norman Kay, Sidney Silodor, Tobias Stone

2. Russell Arnold, Edith Kemp, Robert Reynolds, William Seamon, Albert Weiss, Waldemar von Zedtwitz

1961
1. Charles Coon, Robert Jordan, Eric Murray, Arthur Robinson

2. Ollie Adams, Harold Guiver, Eddie Kantar, Marshall Miles, Ron von der Porten

1962
1. Larry Kolker, Carolyn Levitt, Jerry Levitt (husband), Garrett Nash, George de Runtz

2. Charles Goren, Boris Koytchou, Peter Leventritt, Harold Ogust, Howard Schenken, Helen Sobel

1963
1. Harold Harkavy, Edith Kemp, Alvin Roth, Clifford Russell, William Seamon, Albert Weiss

2. Harold Guiver, Lew Mathe, Erik Paulsen, Ron Von der Porten, Edward Taylor

1964
1. Bob Hamman, Eddie Kantar, Don Krauss, Peter Leventritt, Lew Mathe, Howard Schenken

2. B. Jay Becker, Ivan Erdos, Dorothy Hayden, Kelsey Petterson, Helen Portugal, Morris Portugal

1965
1. Philip Feldesman, John Fisher, James Jacoby, Oswald Jacoby, Ira Rubin, Albert Weiss

2. Robert Jordan, Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Boris Koytchou, George Rapee, Arthur Robinson

1966
1. Philip Feldesman, Bob Hamman, Sami Kehela, Lew Mathe, Ira Rubin

2. Bill Eisenberg, Ivan Erdos, Bobby Goldman, Leonard Harmon, Tobias Stone

1967
1. James Jacoby, Michael Lawrence, Lew Mathe, Bobby Nail, Ron Von der Porten, Lew Stansby

2. Sidney Lazard, Peter Leventritt, Paul Levitt, George Rapee, Howard Schenken

1968
1. Robert Jordan, Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Arthur Robinson, Bill Root, Alvin Roth

2. Bob Hamman, Eddie Kantar, Ira Rubin, Gerald Westheimer

1969
1. Gerald Hallee, Paul Soloway, John Swanson, Richard Walsh

2. Philip Feldesman, Victor Mitchell, Ira Rubin, Samuel Stayman, Tobias Stone, Gerald Westheimer

1970
1. Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Sami Kehela, Sidney Lazard, Eric Murray, George Rapee

2. Bill Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman, James Jacoby, Michael Lawrence, Bobby Wolff

1971
1. Bill Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman, James Jacoby, Michael Lawrence, Bobby Wolff

2. Chuck Burger, Eddie Kantar, Kyle Larsen, Ron Von der Porten, Ira Rubin, Paul Soloway

1972
1. Steven Altman, Eugene Neiger, Thomas Smith, Alan Sontag, Joel Stuart, Peter Weichsel

2. Jack Blair, Fred Hamilton, Howard Perlman, Paul Soloway

1973
1. Mark Blumenthal, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman, Michael Lawrence, Bobby Wolff

2. Larry Cohen, Bill Eisenberg, Eddie Kantar, Dr. Richard Katz, Bud Reinhold

1974
1. David Crossley, Robert Crossley, Eric Kokish, Joey Silver

2. Ron Andersen, Mark Feldman, Stephen Goldstein, Merle Tom, Kathie Wei

1975
1. Roger Bates, Larry Cohen, Dr. Richard Katz, John Mohan, George Rosenkranz

2. Richard Freeman, Alvin Roth, Cliff Russell, Alan Sontag, Stan Tomchin, Peter Weichsel

1976
1. Roger Bates, Larry Cohen, Dr. Richard Katz, John Mohan, George Rosenkranz

2. Malcolm Brachman, Bill Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Eddie Kantar, Mike Passell, Paul Soloway

1977
1. Mike Becker, Mark Blumenthal, Fred Hamilton, Michael Lawrence, Ron Rubin, John Swanson

2. Ron Andersen, Gerald Caravelli, Hugh MacLean, Milt Rosenberg, Kathie Wei

1978
1. Malcolm Brachman, Bobby Goldman, Eddie Kantar, Billy Eisenberg, Mike Passell, Paul Soloway

2. Mike Becker, Lou Bluhm, George Rosenkranz, Ron Rubin, Tom Sanders

1979
1. Lou Bluhm, Richard Freeman, Mark Lair, Cliff Russell, Tom Sanders, Eddie Wold

2. Ron Andersen, David Berkowitz, Jeff Meckstroth, Judi Radin, Kathie Wei

1980
1. Russ Arnold, Bobby Levin, Jeff Meckstroth, Bud Reinhold, Eric Rodwell

2. Ron Andersen, Mark Feldman, Eric Kokish, Peter Nagy

1981
1. B. Jay Becker, Michael Becker, Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Ron Rubin

2. Ira Corn, Bob Hamman, Fred Hamilton, Ira Rubin, Alan Sontag, Peter Weischsel, Bobby Wolff

1982
1. James Jacoby, Jeff Meckstroth, Mike Passell, Eric Rodwell, George Rosenkranz, Eddie Wold

2. Marty Bergen, Mark Cohen, Jerry Goldfein, Warren Rosner, Luella Slaner

1983
1. Bill Root, Richard Pavlicek, Norman Kay, Edgar Kaplan

2. Eddie Kantar, Bill Eisenberg, Fred Hamilton, Jim Cayne, Alan Sontag, Marty Bergen

1984
1. Chip Martel, Lew Stansby, Hugh Ross, Peter Pender

2. Cliff Russell, Robert Levin, Curtis Smith, Peter Nagy, David Berkowitz, Harold Lilie

1985
1. Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth, Ron Rubin, Michael Lawrence, Michael Becker, Peter Weichsel

2. Barry Crane, Bobby Nail, Dan Morse, Ira Chorush, Tom Sanders, John Sutherlin

1986
1. Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Bill Root, Richard Pavlicek

2. Jim Whitaker, Chris Compton, Ira Corush, Bart Bramley, Lou Bluhm

1987
1. Peter Pender, Peter Boyd, Lew Stansby, Hugh Ross, Steve Robinson, Chip Martel

2. Jack Schwencke, Drew Casen, Jim Krekorian, Jim Becker, Howard Chandross

1988
1. Eddie Kantar, Alan Sontag, John Mohan, Roger Bates

2. David Berkowitz, Billy Cohen, Ron Smith, Zia Mahmood

1989
1. Ron Rubin, Michael Becker, Bart Bramley, Robert Levin, Lou Bluhm, Peter Weichsel

2. Eddie Kantar, Alan Sontag, Dan Rotman, Bill Eisenberg, Larry Cohen, Cliff Russell

1990
1. Dan Morse, John Sutherlin, Michael Kamil, Ron Gerard, Tom Sanders, Bill Pollack

2. Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Seymon Deutsch, David Berkowitz, Larry Cohen, Marty Bergen

1991
1. Steve Robinson, Peter Boyd, Kit Woolsey, Ed Manfield

2. Zia Mahmood, Mike Rosenberg, Seymon Deutsch, Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth

1992
1. Andy Goodman, John Mohan, Roger Bates, John Schermer, Neil Chambers

2. Steve Robinson, Peter Boyd, Kit Woolsey, Neil Silverman, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby

1993
1. Howard Weinstein, Peter Nagy, Dan Morse, John Sutherlin, Tom Sanders, Russ Arnold

2. Cliff Russell, Sam Lev, David Berkowitz, Bjorn Fallenius, Mats Nilsland, Larry Cohen

1994
1. Seymon Deutsch, Gaylor Kasle, Michael Rosenberg, Zia Mahmood, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby

2. Ron Gerard, George Steiner, Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Sidney Lazard

1995
1. Bill Root, Richard Pavlicek, Michael Polowan, Marc Jacobus

2. George Steiner, Joey Silver, Ron Gerard, Michael Kamil

1996
1. Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Seymon Deutsch, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby

2. Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bobby Wolff, Bob Hamman, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell

1997
1. Richard Schwartz, Mark Lair, Steve Robinson, Peter Boyd, Paul Soloway, Bobby Goldman

2. James Cyne, Mark Feldman, Chuck Burger, Mick Passell, Michael Seamon, Alan Sontag

1998
1. Chip Martel, (ACBL District 16 Dan Morse), Lew Stansby, Mark Lair, Richard Schwartz (npc), Paul Soloway, Bobby Goldman

2. James Cayne, Chuck Burger, Michael Seamon, Mike Passell, David Berkowitz, Larry Cohen

1999
1. George Jacobs, Ralph Katz, Peter Weichsel, Alan Sontag, Lorenzo Lauria, Alfredo Versace

2. Steve Robinson, Peter Boyd, Michael Becker, Mike Kamil, Fred Stewart, Kit Woolsey

2000
1. Paul Soloway, Nick Nickell, Bob Hamman, Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth, (ACBL District 17 Dan Morse), Richard Freeman,

2. Steve Weinstein, Zia Mahmood, Robert Levin, Richard Schwartz, Drew Casen, Michael Rosenberg

2001 1. Adam Zmudzinski, Andrew Gomov, Cezary Balicki, Aleksander Petrunin,

2. George Rosenkranz, Sam Lev, John Mohan, Piotr Gawrys, Jacek Pszcola

2002 1. John Mohan, Reese Milner (npc), Sam Lev, Marc Jacobus, Piotr Gawrys, Jacek Pszczola, (George Retek - ACBL President)

2. Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth

2003 1. Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell, Eric Kokish (coach), Bob Hamman, Richard Freeman, Paul Soloway

2. Richard Pavlicek, Lee Rautenberg, Barnet Shenkin, Michael Kamil, Martin Fleisher, Bob Jone

2004 1. Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Eric Rodwell, Jeff meckstroth, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway

2. Richard Schwartz, Michael Becker, Larry Cohen, David Berkowitz, Andrea Buratti, Massimo Lanzarotti

2005 1. Richard Schwartz, Michael Becker, Larry N. Cohen, David Berkowitz, Massimo Lanzarotti, Andrea Buratti

2. John Onstott. Jim Robison, Drew Casen, Jim Krekorian, Samuel Cohen and Chris Compton.

List of Ranking and Participants

2006 1. Fred Chang, Seymon Deutsch, Gunnar Hallberg, Jack Zhao, Fu Zhong

2. Bjorn Fallenius, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby, Adam Zmudzinski, Cezary Balicki (Captain), Roy Welland (Captain)h

List of Ranking and Participants

2007 1. Christal Henner-Welland (Captain), Bjorn Fallenius, Antonio Sementa, Roy Welland (husband), Adam Zmudzinski, Cezary Balick

2. Lou Ann O'Rourke (Captain), Marc Jacobus, Eric Greco, Geoff Hampson, Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin

Note: Norberto Bocchi and Giorgio Duboin are two members of the reigning Bermuda Bowl champions from Italy.

Note: This is the first year of the Vanderbilt event that both first and second winners were captained by women. Christal Henner-Welland is the first woman to win the Vanderbilt since Edith Kemp in 1963. The last husband and wife on the same winning Vanderbilt team were Carolyn and Jerry Levitt in 1962.

List of Ranking and Participants

Claus and Raymond

Conventions

Bridge Sites

Home Page Bridge Winners Home Page II

1.	Oswald Jacoby won his first Vanderbilt in 1931 and his last in 1965.
2.	Two father-son partnerships have won the Vanderbilt: Oswald Jacoby and son Jim in 1965 and B. Jay Becker and son Michael in 1981.
3.	Edith Freilich and Billy Seamon are the only brother-sister partnership to win the Vanderbilt. Their team won in 1963 -- the last time a woman won a major open team championship.
4.	The only time that a team won consecutively three years in a row in the Vanderbilt came when B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Howsmolenard Schenken and Sidney Silodor captured the championship in 1955, 1956 and 1957.