1999 Albany Firebirds ArenaBowl XIII Championship Ring — Player Issued
A genuine player-issued championship ring from the 1999 Albany Firebirds, crafted in 10K gold and set with diamonds. This ring commemorates the Firebirds' ArenaBowl XIII title, a thrilling 59–48 win over the Orlando Predators played in front of a sold-out home crowd at Albany's Pepsi Arena on August 21, 1999.
Why Arena Football Championship Rings Are So Scarce
Unlike the NFL, NBA, or MLB, the Arena Football League operated on comparatively tight team budgets throughout its existence, and championship rings were produced in far smaller quantities — often limited to players, coaches, and a handful of front-office staff. Many AFL franchises, including the Albany Firebirds, relocated or folded over the years, and the league itself shut down for good in 2019. Between the small original production runs and decades of attrition, surviving player-issued AFL championship rings like this one are genuinely hard to find.
The 1999 season was the finest in franchise history — Albany finished 11–3, led the league with 822 points scored, and capped it off with an undefeated 3–0 postseason run. Wide receiver Eddie Brown was named ArenaBowl MVP after hauling in 12 catches for 185 yards and four touchdowns in the championship game. It remains one of the most celebrated nights in Albany sports history.
| Team | Albany Firebirds |
| Championship | ArenaBowl XIII, 1999 |
| Result | Defeated the Orlando Predators, 59–48 |
| Ring Type | Player-issued |
| Material | 10K gold with diamonds |
1999 ALBANY FIREBIRDS ARENABOWL XIII RING — Quick Facts
- Commemorates the Albany Firebirds' ArenaBowl XIII championship, a 59–48 win over the Orlando Predators.
- Capped the best season in franchise history — Albany finished 11–3 and swept the postseason 3–0.
- Player-issued ring, 10K gold with diamonds — genuinely scarce given the AFL's small ring production runs and the league's 2019 shutdown.