THE OCEAN CITY CUP

A History of the Ocean City Casting Tournament and The Cup

By R. Bruce Balderson

It was mid-August 1913 on what must have been a sweltering day in the

sun. On the beach in Ocean City, three surf anglers - Churchill Hungerford,

Sr., Fred H. Campion, and Peter F. Wright – had fished the entire flood

tide and most of the ebb tide without a single catch to show for their efforts.

After bemoaning their bad luck, Campion looked down the hard-level

beach as far as he could see, stepped forward a few paces, and, with the

wind at his back, completed a cast that was stepped off at 175 feet. Wright

and Hungerford quickly followed.

The trio continued their good-natured competition right up until dusk, with

Hungerford holding the winning distance at 216 feet.

That day was the genesis of Tournament Casting in Ocean City, a

competition that would attract the best surfcasters from throughout the

East Coast for 70 years.

In 1914, Charlie Magennis, an ardent surfcaster and member of the Ocean

City Fishing Club (incorporated on September 4, 1913), conceived the

idea of expanding the competition to include other fishing clubs. To

implement his plan, the Ocean City Fishing Club decided to create a

Trophy Cup which would be awarded annually to the winning team to be

held for one year.

With the help of a $500 appropriation from Ocean City’s advertising

budget, Magennis and the fishing club, through the J.E. Caldwell

Company of Philadelphia, commissioned the Gorham Silver Company to

craft the Cup.

The result was a truly magnificent trophy - a sterling silver Cup that

measured 43 inches in height, including the wooden base on which it was

firmly attached. The silver weighed 220 ounces. The workmanship was of

the highest class. Perched at the top of the Cup was the winged Roman

goddess, Victory, along with a mermaid employing a triton to protect the

capture of a fish.

Atop the obverse side was the seal of Ocean City mounted over two

crossed casting rods surrounded by sprays of laurel. A panel extending

down the front was produced by placing a casting rod on one side and a

gaff on the other. In the panel the following words were inscribed:

OCEAN CITY CUP

A perpetual Trophy

For Annual Competition

In Casting

Presented by

Ocean City, New Jersey

To The

Ocean City Fishing Club

The reverse of the Cup was left plain for engraving the names of the

winning teams for years to come. When the names of the winning teams

filled the Cup to capacity, a bottom base was provided for the names of

future winners.

The Ocean City Fishing Club is the only club to field a team in every

tournament during the history of the contest. The first Ocean City Cup

Casting Tournament was held on August 12, 1916. The clubs entering the

competition would send five men, each of whom made five casts, and the

team whose twenty-five casts averaged the greatest distance would be

declared the winner. The Cup would be awarded to them for the ensuing

year. It was not until August 7,1918, that the Ocean City Fishing Club team

would win the Cup. The club’s 1919 Yearbook reflects the exhilaration as

members learned that the coveted trophy was returning home to Ocean

City.

“Come, fisherman, in trousers white and caps of royal blue;

With fishing poles on your shoulder, come join the Grand Revue!

We won the Ocean City Cup, and proud the flag we fling;

Back Home to Stay Forever, is the joyous song we sing.”

The spirits ran so high, the Yearbook reported, that on August 29, 1918

the Club members “marched from the Clubhouse to the Music Pavilion,

carrying rods and reels.”

Below is a list of all the winners from 1916, when the casting tournament

began, to1986, after which the Cup was retired. During World War II, 1944

and 1945, there were no winners recorded on the Cup.

Ocean City Fishing Cup Winners

70 years of surf casting competition 1916 - 1986

Engraved on the back of the Cup, top to bottom:

1916 ASBURY PARK FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 292FT. 7 3/5IN

1917 ASBURY PARK FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 299FT. 11 17/25 IN.

1918 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 310FT. 2 12/25In.

1919 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 322FT. 9 17/25IN.

1920 ANGLERS' CLUB OF OCEAN CITY-AVERAGE 342FT. 21/25IN.

1921 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 347FT. 2 4/5IN

1922 ANGLERS CLUB OF OCEAN CITY-AVERAGE 344FT. 5 3/25IN.

1923 ANGLERS CLUB OF OCEAN CITY-AVERAGE 386FT. 5IN.

1924 ASBURY PARK FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 380FT. 10 11/25IN.

1925 LONG ISLAND CASTING CLUB-AVERAGE 398FT. 10 3/5In.

1926 LONG ISLAND CASTING CLUB-AVERAGE 367FT. 2IN.

1927 LONG ISLAND CASTING CLUB-AVERAGE 355FT. 6IN.

1928 BELMAR FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 371FT. 4IN.

1929 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 383FT. 5IN.

1930 BELMAR FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 361FT. 11IN.

1931 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 346FT. 10 4/5IN.

1932 ANGLERS CLUB OF ABSECON IS-AVERAGE 331FT. 7 12/25IN.

1933 TRENTON ROD & GUN CLUB-AVERAGE 395FT. 6IN.

1934 TRENTON ROD & GUN CLUB-AVERAGE 397FT. 3 19/25IN.

1935 DOVER FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 370FT. 9 12/25IN.

1936 DOVER FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 383FT. 11 12/25IN.

1937 DOVER FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 373FT. 8IN.

1938 BELMAR FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE 368FT. 6IN.

1939 DOVER FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE-369FT. 11IN.

1940 DOVER FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE-419FT. 10IN.

1941 DOVER FISHING CLUB-AVERAGE-380FT.

1942 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB AVERAGE 339FT. 7IN.

1943 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB AVERAGE 342FT. 2IN.

1946 DOVER FISHING CLUB AVERAGE 442FT. 3IN.

1947 DOVER FISHING CLUB AVERAGE 435FT. 6IN.

1948 DOVER FISHING CLUB AVERAGE 470FT. 11IN.

1949 NEW YORK CASTING CLUB AVERAGE 372FT. 1IN.

1950 DOVER FISHING CLUB AVERAGE 419FT. 9IN.

Engraved on metal plaques on wooden base, front side below the Cup

1951 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB 251 FT 8 IN

1952 BEACHCCOMBERS SURF & GUN CLUB 282FT 6 IN

1953 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB 273 FT

1954 DOVER FISHING CLUB 293 FT 5 IN

1955 BEACHCOMBERS SURF & GUN CLUB 319 FT 3 IN

1956 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 331 FT

1957 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 351 FT 2 IN

1958 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 382 FT 11 1/4 IN

1959 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 376 FT 10 IN

1960 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 354 FT

1961 VIRGINIA BEACH ANGLERS CLUB 337 FT. 8 IN

1962 VIRGINIA BEACH ANGLERS CLUB 363 FT. 3 IN

1963 VIRGINIA BEACH ANGLERS CLUB 358 FT.

1964 VIRGINIA BEACH ANGLERS CLUB 348 FT. 10 IN.

1965 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 355 FT. 8 IN.

1966 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 343 FT. 6 IN.

1967 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 348 FT. 9 IN.

1968 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 392 FT. 8 In.

Engraved on metal plaques on wooden base, right side below the Cup

1969 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 374 FT. 4 IN.

1970 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 365 FT. 9 IN.

1971 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 355 FT. 7 IN. AVG

1972 N. PHILA. SURFISHING CLUB 397 FT. 7 IN. AVG.

1973 TIDEWATER ANGLERS CLUB 407 FT. 3 IN.

1974 TIDEWATER ANGLERS OF NORFOLK, VA. 351 FT., 7 INS.

1975 OUTCASTER CLUB OF LONG ISLAND, N.Y. ASAC RECORD-

417 FT

1976 TIDEWATER ANGLERS OF NORFOLK, V.A. ASAC RECORD-

427 FT., 10 INS.

1977 THE OUTCASTER CLUB OF L.I.N.Y. AVERAGE 409 FT. 3 INS.

AUGUST 13, 1977

1978 TIDEWATER ANGLERS OF NORFOLK, VA. AVERAGE 406 FT.

3 INS. AUGUST 12, 1978

1979 THE SHORE SURF CLUB WON WITH AN AVERAGE OF 424 FT.

2 IN.

1980 THE SHORE SURF CLUB WON WITH AN AVERAGE OF 416 FT.

INS.

1980 SHORE SURF CLUB WON WITH AN AVERAGE OF 417 FT.

11 INS.

1981 TIDEWATER ANGLER OF NORFOLK, VA. CONVENTIONL

GEAR AVERAGE 425 FT., 6 IN AUGUST 8, 1981

1982 TIDEWATER ANGLERS NORFOLK, VA. WON WITH AVG 445

FT. 2 INS.

1983 TIDEWATER ANGLERS NORFOLK, VA. WON WITH AVG 459

FT. 4 INS.

1984 SHORE SURF CLUB AVER. CAST 516 FT.

1985 TIDE WATER ANGLERS AVER. CAST 475 FT.

Engraved on metal plaques on wooden base, left side below the Cup

1986 OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB AVERAGE 399.Z FT.

There are 18 plaques on each of the front and sides of the wooden base.

On the left side is the 1986 Ocean City Fishing Club’s plaque there are

17 blank plaques.

Note: All periods, commas, dashes, text size (capital or small letters),

etc. are as engraved on this Cup/trophy. Fractions of inches are as they

are engraved.

Sadly, the original Cup was destroyed in 1920 during a devastating

Boardwalk fire. Fortunately, the Ocean City Fishing Club asked J.E.

Caldwell to fashion an exact reproduction in order to continue the proud

tradition. Metal from the original Cup was salvaged and used to make

silver medals. These medals were awarded to tournament winners in the

late 1920s. (Below are front and back pictures of this medal.)

The last time the Ocean City Fishing Club won the casting tournament

was in 1986 - with an average cast of more than 399 feet. The Cup was

retired after that accomplishment. One of the reasons was that over the

years there had been many improvements to rods, reels, and casting lines,

making it difficult to establish consistent “ground” rules.

With the end of the casting tournaments, the Cup was on display at the

entrance to the City, in City Hall, and then Ocean City Bayside Center

before being moved and stored in a locked vault at City Hall at 9

and

Asbury Avenue.

(See letters/correspondence below. Note – John Corish’s response to

Richard Deanery, City Business Administrator, memorandum, of July 22,

1987 stating the Cup was never donated to the City but was being held by

the city “under protective custody.” Because it was on City property, the

Cup had to be on an inventory list and insured. Sotheby’s New York

appraised it at $95,000. Circa 2002).

Obviously, a storage locker was not an appropriate resting place for a

beautiful and famous trophy that is a vital piece of Ocean City’s and Ocean

City Fishing Club’s history is a symbol of team supremacy in the

surfcasting world. Its value is deemed to be greater than that of the Davis,

Lipton, and Stanley trophies, all of which are well known in the sporting

world.

Fortunately, help was on the way.

A fishing club member and Trustee, Bruce Balderson, became interested

in the Cup and its treasured past. On June 4, 2002, he obtained

permission to move the Cup temporarily from the vault to the Council

Chambers Room (third floor) in City Hall, where he took digital photos and

video of the Cup. The names of all the winning teams and their average

casts were recorded. (Pictures taken before the Cup was restored below).

On June 21, 2002, Club President Ben Werntz appointed Balderson

chairman of a new committee charged with assuring the Cup would be

displayed in a secure Ocean City location where the general public could

see and admire it. The committee that was formed on June 27 included

President Ben Werntz, John Corish, Jim Currans, Bill Daley, Gene

Lindacher, and, Bruce Balderson.

After several meetings, the committee unanimously agreed that the best

home for the Cup should be the Ocean City Historical Museum.

Balderson and Currens inspected the Cup to get its dimensions and

weight for a display case. On July 22, 2002, Balderson met with Paul

Anselm, president of the museum’s Board of Trustees, to review details

about the display. Another meeting was held on September 30 with Mayor

Henry “Bud” Knight, City Business Administrator, Richard W. Deanery,

City purchasing agent Joseph S. Clark, administrative assistant Linda P.

Macintyre, City publicist Mark Soifer, Paul Anselm, and Fishing Club

representatives Bruce Balderson, Jim Currens, and John Corish. Once

again, the consensus was that the Cup should be ensconced in the

Historical Museum. (The issue of ownership was not discussed.)

Below is correspondence between OCFC and the City.

Once again, the consensus was that the Cup should be ensconced in the

Historical Museum. (The issue of ownership was not discussed.)

Following this session, the Fishing Club set its sights on a display case.

The Club ordered a mahogany trophy case with a clear plastic casing.

Doylestown Lumber and Millwork crafted the base, with a groove on the

top to accept the plastic enclosure supplied by Trident Plastic Inc. of Ivy

land, PA. The base was finished with a low-luster lacquer.

At the same time, the City arranged to have the Cup reconditioned. In July

2002, the City contracted with Silver Plating of South Jersey to restore the

Cup and make any necessary repairs.

On November 7, 2002, the City attorney drafted a display agreement letter

and sent it to the Club for approval. Club attorney and member Basil D.

Beck III reviewed the draft and sent a revised agreement back to the City

on December 26 for approval and signatures. On January 3, 2003, Joseph

S. Clark indicated that the agreement had been approved and signed and

was being sent to the Club that day.

Shown below is a letter dated January 7, 2003 from Basil Beck III with a

copy of the signed agreement.

The original letter was copied and resized to fit in this publication.

Basil D. Beck III

ATTORNEY AT LAW

ONE MONTGOMERY PLAZA, SUITE

612

NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

19401

(610) 239-8870

FAX (610) 279-6243

E-mail: basildbeckIII@aol.com

January 7, 2003

Benedict L. Werntz, Jr., President

Ocean City Fishing Club

and the Boardwalk

PO Box 1215

Ocean City, New Jersey 08226

RE: Ocean City Casting Cup

Dear Ben:

Enclosed please find the fully executed Agreement regarding the

Ocean City Casting Cup. Would you kindly file accordingly.

Thank you for your consideration and should you have any

questions, please do not hesitate to Contact me.

Very truly yours,

BASIL D. BECK, III (Signed)

BDB: keg

enc.

cc: Paul Anselm

Bruce Balderson

AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made on December 31, 2002 among the

City of Ocean City (hereinafter referred to as “the City”), a

Municipal Corporation of the State of New Jersey with offices

Located at 861 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, New Jersey; the

Ocean City Fishing Club (thereinafter referred to as “the Fishing

Club”), a Not-for-Profit Corporation of the State of New jersey

with offices located at 14

Street and Boardwalk, Ocean City,

New Jersey and the Ocean City Historical Museum (therein after

referred to as “the Museum”), a Not-for-Profit Corporation of the

State of New Jersey with offices located at 1735 Simpson Avenue,

Ocean City, New Jersey.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Ocean City Fishing Club (“Fishing Cup”) had

commissioned design and creation of a cup to be completed for by

fishing teams from various clubs; and

WHEREAS, said Cup came to be known as the “Ocean City Cup”;

and

WHEREAS, in 1916 the First National Casting Tournament was held

in the City of Ocean City; and

WHEREAS, the Ocean City Cup became a famous trophy that was

awarded in competition each year from 1916 to 1986 (except 1944-45);

and

WHEREAS, in 1986 the Ocean City Cup was retired; and

WHEREAS, the Fishing Club and the City are desirous of displaying

the Ocean City Cup in the Ocean City Historical Museum (“Museum’);

and

WHEREAS, the Museum has agreed to display the Ocean City Cup

behalf of the City and the Fishing Club.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and

covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration,

the parties agree as follows:

I. RECITALS

1. The parties affirm and acknowledge the Recitals and

incorporate them herein.

II. DISPLAY

1. The parties agree that the Cup shall be displayed by

the Museum on said premises.

2. The parties agree that the museum retains full control

over the time, manner and location of the display of the Cup, provided

that the Cup shall at all times be open and visible to members of the

public.

3. The City shall purchase the casting within which the Cup

shall be placed for display at the Museum. The casting shall be approved

by the Museum, however, the approval shall not be unreasonably

withheld.

4. The City and the Fishing Club shall bear the cost of

restoring, cleaning and otherwise maintaining the Cup, said costs to be

borne in equal parts by the City and the Fishing Club.

5. The restoration, cleaning and maintenance of the Cup

shall be performed in accordance with the recommendations of a

professional retained by the City upon consultation with the Museum

and the Fishing Club.

6. The City shall, at its sole cost and expense, arrange

for Increased security as is needed for the casing and display of the Cup

at the Museum.

III. INSURANCE

1. The City shall maintain appropriate property insurance

for the Cup and shall provide copies of declaration sheets to the

Museum and the Fishing Club.

2. In case of theft, loss, damage or partial damage, the City

City shall advise the Fishing Club of the claim(s) filed with the City’s

Insurance carrier as well as the receipt of any and all insurance

proceeds resulting from the filed claim(s).

3. The City and the Fishing Club shall agree upon the use

of any insurance proceeds towards the replacement, repair, or

restoration of the Cup. In the event the City and the Fishing Club agree

not to replace, repair, or restore the Cup, the City and the Fishing Club

shall otherwise agree on the disbursement of the insurance proceeds.

IV. LIABILTY

1. The parties hereto agree that the action of the

Museum in displaying the cup shall not rise to the level of a “bailment”

pursuant to New Jersey Law.

2. The parties hereto agree that the Cup shall not be

considered “Loaned Property” as said term is defined in the Museum

bylaws and, therefore, the display of the Cup is subject to the approval

of the Museum and said approval shall be memorialized in a Resolution

duly adopted by the Museum. A copy of this Resolution shall be

provided to the City of Ocean City and the Fishing Club.

3. The City agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless

the Museum from any claims that may arise out of the Museum’s display

of the Cup.

V. REMOVAL

1. The City and the Fishing Club may, at any time, upon

agreement of both parties, jointly elect to remove the Cup from the

Museum.

VI. NOTICE

All correspondence and notices required under this Agreement shall be

directed to the following individuals or their designee:

On behalf of the City:

Joseph Clark, Division of Purchasing

City Hall, Room 203

861 Asbury Avenue

Ocean City, New Jersey 08226

On behalf of the Ocean City Historical Museum:

Paul S. Anselm, President

Ocean City Historical Museum, Inc.

1735 Simpson Avenue

Ocean City, New Jersey 08226

On behalf of the Fishing Club:

Benedict L Wertz, Jr., President

Ocean City Fishing Club

Street and the Boardwalk

PO Box 1215

Ocean City, New Jersey 08226

VII. AGREEMENT

1. This Agreement represents the entire agreement

between the parties. This Agreement may only be modified or voided

by a writing signed by all parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have hereunto set their

hands, the day and first above written.

ATTEST: CITY OF OCEAN CITY

Angela H. Pileggi* Joseph S. Clark, City Purchasing Agent*

ATTEST: OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB

John Rickards, Secretary Benedict L. Wertz, Jr., President*

ATTEST: OCEAN CITY HISTORICAL

MUSEUM

Paul S. Anselm, President*

* signed agreement

On October 26, 2003, the Ocean City Historical Museum and the Ocean

City Fishing Club held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the 90-year-

old trophy Cup to the museum, where the public could see it and learn

about its proud history. To officially start the event, Mayor Knight cut the

ribbon. Speakers included museum board chairman Paul Anselm and

OCFC Cup Chairman Bruce Balderson. The program of this event is

shown below.

After the dedication Paul Anselm, the Mayor Henry Knight, and Bruce

Balderson shook hands in front of the Cup to complete the celebration.

In 2013 the Ocean City Fishing Club recorded a major milestone - the

100

anniversary of the founding of what is now the oldest, continuously

operating fishing club in the country. Club member George Ingram,

Chairman of the Centennial Committee, arranged to have a police escort

for the movement of the Cup from the Historical Museum to the Garden

Room of the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City, where the Centennial

Anniversary Gala was held on September 28, 2013.

The beautiful trophy Cup was displayed at the entrance to the dining room

for members and their guests, including Mayor Jay A. Gillian, to

appreciate. The guest speaker was Dave Chanda, director of the New

Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. After the event, a police escort

returned the Cup to the museum.

Below are pictures of the Cups movement for this Centennial Gala event.

Presently, the Ocean City Fishing Club’s historic Ocean City Cup is on

display at the Ocean City Historical Museum in the Ocean City Community

Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, NJ. For details on hours of

operation and additional information, visit: www.ocnjmuseum.com

The above information on the history of the Ocean City Fishing Club’s

Cup was obtained from many sources. The Ocean City Fishing Club and

the City of Ocean City hope you will visit the Historical Museum and look

at this beautiful trophy and the other interesting items on display.

December 2019

File: The Ocean City Cup 12_05_2019Rev200324.docx

OCFCCup20200325.docx