Sports & Leisure

The nation's passion for sports is obvious every day—at NASCAR races, kiddie soccer matches, and countless other contests. From a handball used by Abraham Lincoln to Chris Evert's tennis racket to a baseball signed by Jackie Robinson, the roughly 6.000 objects in the Museum's sports collections bear witness to the vital place of sports in the nation's history. Paper sports objects in the collections, such as souvenir programs and baseball cards, number in the hundreds of thousands.

Leisure collections encompass a different range of objects, including camping vehicles and gear, video games, playing cards, sportswear, exercise equipment, and Currier and Ives prints of fishing, hunting, and horseracing. Some 4,000 toys dating from the colonial period to the present are a special strength of the collections.

Baseball signed by the 1930 St. Louis Cardinals. That year the Cardinals finished 92-62, 1st in the National League.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1930 St. Louis Cardinals. That year the Cardinals finished 92-62, 1st in the National League. The Cardinals lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Athletics 4 games to 2.
Autographs include Jim Bottomley; Frankie Frisch; Charlie Gelbert; Sparky Adams; George Watkins; Taylor Douthit; Chick Hafey; Jimmie Wilson; Showboat Fisher; Gus Mancuso; Andy High; Ray Blades; Bill Hallahan; Syl Johnson; Jesse Haines; Burleigh Grimes; Flint Rhem; Hi Bell; Al Grabowski; Jim Lindsey.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930
associated institution
St. Louis Cardinals
maker
P. Goldsmith Sons Co.
ID Number
CL.310547.148
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.148
Baseball signed by the 1958 New York Yankees.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1958 New York Yankees. That year the Yankees won the American League with a 92-62 record, winning the World Series by defeating the Milwaukee Braves 4 games to 3.
Autographs include Mickey Mantle; Yogi Berra; Whitey Ford; Don Larsen; Bob Turley; Hank Bauer; Sal Maglie; Bill Skowron; Bob Richardson; Gil McDougald; Andy Carey; Enos Slaughter; Tony Kubek; Elson Howard; Tom Sturdivant; Johnny Kucks; Bobby Shantz; Art Ditmar; Norm Siebern; Bob Grim; Murry Dickson; Virgil Trucks; Marv Thorneberry; Zach Monroe; Duke Maas; Ryne Duren; Darrell Johnson; Jerry Lumpe.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
associated institution
Milwaukee Brewers
maker
MacGregor
ID Number
CL.310547.127
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.127
Baseball signed by the 1957 New York Yankees.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1957 New York Yankees. That season, the Yankees finished 98-56, 1st in the American League, losing the World Series to the Milwaukee Braves, 4 games to 3.
Autographs include Mickey Mantle; Yogi Berra; Whitey Ford; Don Larsen; Bob Turley; Hank Bauer; Sal Maglie; Bill Skowron; Bobby Richardson; Gil McDougald; Andy Carey; Enos Slaughter; Tony Kubek; Elston Howard; Harry Simpson; Jerry Coleman; Tom Sturdivant; Johnny Kucks; Bobby Shantz; Art Ditmer; Tommy Byrne; Bob Grim; Murry Dickson.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1957
associated institution
New York Yankees
maker
MacGregor
ID Number
CL.310547.126
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.126
Baseball signed by the 1953 New York Giants.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1953 New York Giants. That season, the Giants finished at 70-84, 5th in the National League.
Autographs include Leo Durocher; Whitey Lockman; Davey Williams; Al Dark; Hank Thompson; Don Mueller; Bobby Thomson; Monte Irvin; Wes Westrum; Daryl Spencer; Bobby Hofman; Dusty Rhodes; Tookie Gilbert; Rubén Gómez; Jim Hearn; Larry Jansen; Hoyt Wilhelm; Sal Maglie; Dave Koslo; Al Corwin; Al Worthington.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1953
associated institution
New York Giants
maker
MacGregor
ID Number
CL.310547.139
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.139
Baseball signed by the 1953 Cleveland Indians.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1953 Cleveland Indians. That season, the Indians finished 92-62, 2nd in the American League.
Autographs include Al Lopez; Al Rosen; Bill Glynn; Bobby Avila; George Strickland; Wally Westlake; Larry Doby; Dale Mitchell; Jim Hegan; Harry Simpson; Luke Easter; Bob Kennedy; Ray Boone; Bob Lemon; Mike Garcia; Early Wynn; Bob Feller; Dave Hoskins; Art Houtteman; Bob Hooper.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1953
associated institution
Cleveland Indians
maker
MacGregor GoldSmith Inc.
ID Number
CL.310547.132
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.132

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