Berkeley students steal the Stanford Axe

Background. Stanford University is a private research university located in Stanford, California. The Stanford Axe originated in 1899 when Stanford yell leader Billy Erb wielded a lumberman's axe to inspire the team. The axe made its first appearance on April 13, 1899, during a Stanford rally where yell leaders used it to decapitate a straw man while chanting the Axe yell.

Theft. The Axe made its second appearance on April 15, 1899, at a Cal–Stanford baseball game played at 16th Street and Folsom in San Francisco. Berkeley students stole the Stanford Axe from Stanford University, establishing the Axe as a symbol of the rivalry between the schools. The theft occurred following the baseball game.

Rivalry. The Axe is a key part of the rivalry's history, having been stolen on several occasions by both sides, starting in 1899. The theft established the Axe as a symbol of the rivalry between the schools. The event is distinct from the later recovery of the Axe in 1930, which is outside the scope of this event.