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
In 1878, a Scottish immigrant named Alexander Winton arrived in New York City. By the turn of the century, he would be one of America’s best known automobile makers and race car drivers. The first Winton car was sold on March 24, 1898.
Description
In 1878, a Scottish immigrant named Alexander Winton arrived in New York City. By the turn of the century, he would be one of America’s best known automobile makers and race car drivers. The first Winton car was sold on March 24, 1898. Winton saw racing not only as a way to attract investors and customers but also as essential to developing and testing technologies for his production automobiles. He built the first of his three Bullet race cars in 1902. Winton built his second Bullet in 1903 to compete in the Gordon Bennett Road Race in Ireland. Built to withstand the rigors of 327 miles of rough Irish roads, Bullet No. 2 was more powerful and built with a heavier frame than the first Bullet. It had one of the first in-line, eight-cylinder engines, consisting of two in-line, four-cylinder engines bolted together. After a promising start, mechanical difficulties caused Winton to drop out of the race. Upon his return from Ireland, he announced his retirement from racing. Winton continued racing the Bullets with hired drivers behind the wheel. With Winton’s financial support, Barney Oldfield traveled across the United States performing automotive feats with a flamboyant style and his trademark cigar clenched in his teeth. On January 28, 1904, at the second Florida Winter Speed Carnival, Oldfield drove Bullet No. 2 a mile in 43 seconds, which was equivalent to 80 miles per hour and close to the world record at the time. In 1930 the Winton Engine Company donated Bullet No. 1, Bullet No. 2, and the first Winton sold to the Smithsonian Institution.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1903
restored
Stine, John
maker
Winton Engine Company
ID Number
TR.309603
accession number
105119
catalog number
309603
In 1878, a Scottish immigrant named Alexander Winton arrived in New York City. By the turn of the century, he would be one of America’s best known automobile makers and race car drivers. The first Winton car was sold on March 24, 1898.
Description
In 1878, a Scottish immigrant named Alexander Winton arrived in New York City. By the turn of the century, he would be one of America’s best known automobile makers and race car drivers. The first Winton car was sold on March 24, 1898. Winton saw racing not only as a way to attract investors and customers but also as essential to developing and testing technologies for his production automobiles. He built the first of his three Bullet race cars in 1902. On September 16, 1902, on a Cleveland horse track, Winton drove his Bullet ten miles in ten minutes and 50 seconds, averaging 55.38 miles per hour. On March 26, 1903, Alexander Winton in the Bullet and H. T. Thomas in Ransom Olds’s Pirate competed in the first Florida Winter Speed Carnival, though in separate classes. Winton drove his Bullet a mile in 52.2 seconds, averaging 68.96 miles per hour. On the Carnival’s last day, Winton and Thomas faced off in the first Ormond Challenge Cup. It was a close race, but Winton won by a fraction of a second. After the Carnival, many declared the beaches of Ormond and nearby Daytona to be perfect for racing. Ormond Beach soon became known as the “Birthplace of Speed.” On October 25, 1902, Winton and his Bullet suffered defeat to one of Henry Ford’s automobiles and met the man who would become America’s first celebrity race car driver. Barney Oldfield had made a name for himself racing bicycles and setting records across the country. Henry Ford knew of Oldfield’s racing talent and hired him to drive his new racer. Winton and Oldfield raced against two other competitors, Oldfield driving Ford’s 999 and Winton driving the Bullet. Winton fell back in the race when the Bullet started misfiring, and Oldfield lapped everyone to take the victory. Winton recognized Oldfield’s talent and soon hired him to race his cars, paying him $2,500 a year plus travel expenses and winnings. In 1930 the Winton Engine Company donated Bullet No. 1, Bullet No. 2, and the first Winton sold to the Smithsonian Institution.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1902
maker
Winton Engine Company
ID Number
TR.309602
accession number
105119
catalog number
309602
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1937-12-18
collected for nmah
Smithsonian Institution
publisher
Crowell Publishing Company
maker
Crowell Publishing Company, The
ID Number
1993.3066.008
catalog number
1993.3066.008
nonaccession number
1993.3066
Brunswick Mineralite regulation bowling ball. Used by donor, an amatuer bowler, during the 1970s.Currently not on view
Description
Brunswick Mineralite regulation bowling ball. Used by donor, an amatuer bowler, during the 1970s.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970s
maker
Brunswick Mineralite
Brunswick Mineralite
ID Number
1981.0548.01
accession number
1981.0548
catalog number
1981.0548.01
Hot rods first appeared in southern California in the late 1930s and became popular in many other places after World War II. Oval track racing combined speed and spectator enjoyment.
Description
Hot rods first appeared in southern California in the late 1930s and became popular in many other places after World War II. Oval track racing combined speed and spectator enjoyment. Dick Fraizer, Floyd Johnson, and Hack Winniger built this competition track roadster in Muncie, Indiana. It has a 1927 Ford Model T body, a 1928 Chevrolet chassis, and a Ford V-8 engine. Fraizer set a one-lap speed record of 84.23 miles per hour with this car at the Winchester Speedway in Indiana. It also ran at Soldiers Field in Chicago with Andy Granatelli’s Hurricane Racing Association and on tracks as far east as Virginia.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1948
maker
Anderson, Donald
ID Number
1992.0028.01
accession number
1992.0028
catalog number
1992.0028.01
A baseball score counter in the shape of a catcher's mitt. It is made of two pieces of celluloid held together by brads. Sandwiched between the celluloid pieces are counter wheels, which show through windows, to keep track of runs, hits, and innings.
Description (Brief)
A baseball score counter in the shape of a catcher's mitt. It is made of two pieces of celluloid held together by brads. Sandwiched between the celluloid pieces are counter wheels, which show through windows, to keep track of runs, hits, and innings. Advertising copy on one side reads, "Mac's Best // Flint's Leading 5 cent Cigar // Geo. E. McKinley, Maker."
George McKinley was a cigar factory owner in Flint, Mich., who was also active in public life. He served as the mayor of Flint in 1906 and 1907.
Location
Currently not on view
advertiser
McKinley, George E.
maker
Meek Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0926
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0926

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