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 autographed by Satchell Paige and the 1951 St.
Description
Baseball autographed by Satchell Paige and the 1951 St. Louis Browns.That season the Browns went 52-102, 8th in the American League.
Autographs include Satchel Paige; Ken Wood; Bob Young; Matt Bates; Fred Marsh; Sherm Lollar; Hank Arft; Frank Saucier; Jack Maguire; Bill Jennings; Jim Suchecki; Jim Delsing; Bob Mahoney.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1951
signer
Paige, Satchel
maker
Spalding
ID Number
2005.0195.01
accession number
2005.0195
catalog number
2005.0195.01
Handmade baseball made by previous owner's great aunt, Ida Clark. Ms. Clark covered and hand stitched this baseball for an unknown company.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Handmade baseball made by previous owner's great aunt, Ida Clark. Ms. Clark covered and hand stitched this baseball for an unknown company.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Clark, Ida
ID Number
1989.0665.02
catalog number
1989.0665.02
accession number
1989.0665
Baseball used in the 1983 Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic. The game was played at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. on July 18.Currently not on view
Description
Baseball used in the 1983 Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic. The game was played at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. on July 18.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1983
associated institution
Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic
maker
Rawlings
ID Number
1984.0229.01
accession number
1984.0229
catalog number
1984.0229.01
Baseball signed by the 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers. That season the Dodgers finished 97-65, 1st in the National League, winning the World Series over the Minnesota Twins 4 games to 3.
Autographs include Ron Fairly; Nate Oliver; Howie Reed; John Kennedy; Sandy Koufax; Don LeJohn; Maury Willis; Ron Perranoski; Hector Valle; Bill Singer; Jim Lefebvre; Derell Griffith; Jeff Torborg; Bob Miller; Lefty Phillips; Nick Willhite; Claude Osteen; Wally Moon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1965
associated institution
Los Angeles Dodgers
signer
Fairly, Ron
Koufax, Sandy
Perranoski, Ron
Osteen, Claude
maker
Spalding
ID Number
1984.0228.01
accession number
1984.0228
catalog number
1984.0228.01
Baseball signed by the 1924 Washington Senators.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1924 Washington Senators. That year the Senators finished 92-62, 1st in the American League, winning the 1924 World Series over the New York Giants 4 games to 3.
Autographs include By Speece; Ossie Bluege; Wild Matthews; Walter Johnson; Lloyd Brown.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1924
associated institution
The Washington Senators
ID Number
1984.0201.01
accession number
1984.0201
catalog number
1984.0201.01
Baseball autographed by Don Drysdale (1936-1993). The right handed pitcher played for the Brooklyn/ Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956-1969.
Description
Baseball autographed by Don Drysdale (1936-1993). The right handed pitcher played for the Brooklyn/ Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956-1969. Drysdale finished his career with a win-loss record of 209-166, having been named to nine All-Star Teams and receiving the Cy Young Award in 1962. He was a contributor to three World Series Champion Dodger teams (1959, 1963 and 1965). Drysdale has had his number 53 retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and was elected into Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1984.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960s
associated institution
Los Angeles Dodgers
signer
Drysdale, Don
maker
Spalding
ID Number
1984.0228.02
accession number
1984.0228
catalog number
1984.0228.02
Blue and red painted trophy baseball.  Presented at Georgetown Field at the Georgetown vs. Penn State game played on April 2, 1909. Georgetown won 8 to 5.Currently not on view
Description
Blue and red painted trophy baseball.  Presented at Georgetown Field at the Georgetown vs. Penn State game played on April 2, 1909. Georgetown won 8 to 5.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1909
associated institution
Georgetown University
ID Number
1985.0401.02
accession number
1985.0401
catalog number
1985.0401.02
Baseball signed by the 1949 Chicago White Sox.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 Chicago White Sox. That season the White Sox finished 63-91, 6th in the American League.
Autographs include Luke Appling; Steve "Bud" Souchock; Ed Klieman; Fred Hancock; Mickey Haefner; Cass Michaels; Eddie Malone; Billy Pierce; Don Wheeler; Bob Kuzava; Floyd Baker; Howie Judson; Randy Gumpert; Marino "Chick" Pieretti; Ray Berres; Buster Mills.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
Chicago White Sox
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.118
accession number
CL*310547
catalog number
CL*310547.118
Baseball signed by the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers.
Description (Brief)
Baseball signed by the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers. That season the Dodgers finished 96-57, 1st in the National League, losing to the New York Yankees in the World Series 4 games to 3.
Autographs include Jackie Robinson; Carl Erskine; Billy Cox; Roy Campanella; Gil Hodges; Duke Snider; Pee Wee Reese; Carl Furillo; Andy Pafko; George Shuba; Bobby Morgan; Billy Loes; Ben Wade; Preacher Roe; Joe Black; Chris Van Cuyk; Johnny Rutherford; Clem Labine.
date made
1952
signer
Robinson, Jackie
associated institution
Brooklyn Dodgers
maker
A. J. Reach Co.
ID Number
CL.310547.154
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.154
Autographed baseball signed by the 1953 Chicago White Sox.
Description
Autographed baseball signed by the 1953 Chicago White Sox. That season, the White Sox finished 89-65, 3rd in the American League.
Autographs include Nelson Fox; Bob Elliott; Ferris Fain; Chico Carrasquel; Bob Elliot; Sam Mele; Jim Rivera; Minnie Minoso; Sherm Lollar; Bob Boyd; Red Wilson; Tom Wright; Billy Pierce; Virgil Trucks; Mike Fornieles; Fritz Dorish; Saul Rogovin; Sandy Consuegra; Joe Dobson; Bob Keegan.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1953
associated institution
Chicago White Sox
maker
Zacko's
ID Number
CL.310547.119
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.119
Baseball signed by the 1935 Washington Senators.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Washington Senators. That season the Senators finished 67-86, 6th in the American League.
Autographs include Joe Kuhel; Buddy Myer; Ossie Bluege; Cecil Travis; John Stone; Jake Powell; Heinie Manush; Cliff Bolton; Red Kress; Fred Schulte; Dee Miles; Sammy Holbrook; Earl Whitehill; Bump Hadley; Bobo Newsome; Ed Linke; Jack Russell; Leon Pettit; Bucky Harris.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
maker
A. J. Reach Co.
ID Number
CL.310547.114
accession number
CL*310547
catalog number
CL*310547.114
Autographed baseball signed by the 1936 Chicago White Sox.
Description
Autographed baseball signed by the 1936 Chicago White Sox. That season the White Sox finished 81-70, 4th in the American League.
Autographs include Zeke Bonura; Jackie Hayes; Luke Appling; Jimmy Dykes; Mule Haas; Mike Kreevich; Rip Radcliff; Luke Sewell; Tony Piet; Larry Rosenthal; Vern Kennedy; John Whitehead; Sugar Cain; Ted Lyons; Monty Stratton; Clint Brown; Ray Phelps; Jimmy Dikes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1936
associated institution
Chicago White Sox
maker
A. J. Reach Co.
ID Number
CL.310547.117
accession number
CL*310547
catalog number
CL*310547.117
Baseball signed by the 1933 Detroit Tigers.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1933 Detroit Tigers. That season the Tigers finished 75-79, 5th in the American League.
Autographs include Mickey Cochrane; Schoolboy Rowe; Hank Greenberg; Jo Jo White; Cy Perkins; Charlie Gehringer; Billy Rogell; Marv Owen; John Stone; Pete Fox; Gee Walker; Ray Hayworth; Harry Davis; Frank Doljack; Firpo Marberry; Tommy Bridges; Vic Sorrell; Carl Fischer; Chief Hogsett; Vic Frazier; Buckey Harris; Del Baker.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1934
signer
Cochrane, Mickey
Rowe, Schoolboy
Greenberg, Hank
White, Jo Jo
Perkins, Cy
associated institution
Detroit Tigers
maker
Amateur
ID Number
CL.310547.120
catalog number
310547.120
accession number
310547
Autographed baseball signed by the 1949 Washington Senators.
Description
Autographed baseball signed by the 1949 Washington Senators. That season the Senators finished 50-104, 8th in the American League.
Autographs include Eddie Robinson; Al Kozar; Sam Dente; Eddie Yost; Bud Stewart; Clyde Vollmer; Gil Coan; Al Evans; Sherry Robertson; Sam Mele; Buddy Lewis; Sid Hudson; Ray Scarborough; Paul Calvert; Mickey Harris; Lloyd Hittle; Joe Haynes; Dick Weik; Mickey Haefner; Joe Kuhel.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
Washington Senators
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.115
accession number
CL*310547
catalog number
CL*310547.115
Baseball signed by the 1931 New York Yankees. That season the Yankees finished 94-59, 2nd in the American League.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1931 New York Yankees. That season the Yankees finished 94-59, 2nd in the American League. The ball is also signed by American boxing legend Jack Dempsey (1895-1983).
Autographs include Jack Dempsey; Babe Ruth; Lou Gehrig; Tony Lazzeri; Lyn Lary; Joe Sewell; Earle Combs; Ben Chapman; Bill Dickey; Samuel Byrd; Jimmie Reese; Lefty Gomez; Red Ruffing; Hank Johnson; Herb Pennock; George Pipgras; Ed Wells; Roy Sherid.
(The ball has been incorrectly marked by a collector as having been from 1934. However, the ball is signed by Roy Sherid, whose last year as a Yankee was 1931. Among the other players who signed, Jimmie Reese, Herb Pennock, George Pipgrass and Ed Wells were not on the team in 1934. )
date made
1931
associated institution
New York Yankees
signer
Ruth, Babe
Gehrig, Lou
Dempsey, Jack
ID Number
CL.310547.122
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.122
Baseball signed by the 1949 St. Louis Browns.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 St. Louis Browns. That season the Browns finished 53-101, 7th in the American League.
Autographs include Zack Taylor; Roy Sievers; Jack Graham; Jerry Priddy; Eddie Pellagrini; Bob Dillinger; Dick Kokos; Stan Spence; Roy Sievers; Sherm Lollar; Paul Lehner; Les Moss; Whitey Platt; John Sullivan; Ned Garver; Bill Kennedy; Cliff Fannin; Al Papai; Joe Ostrowski; Karl Drews; Red Embree; Tom Ferrick.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
St. Louis Browns
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.116
accession number
CL*310547
catalog number
CL*310547.116
San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn hit this baseball to achieve his 1,000th career hit. Gwynn inscribed the ball to commorate his achievement.
Description
San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn hit this baseball to achieve his 1,000th career hit. Gwynn inscribed the ball to commorate his achievement. The game was a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros held on April 22, 1988.
Outfielder Anthony Tony Gwynn (1960-2014) played Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres from 1960-2014. One of the greatest hitters of all-time, Gwynn, an 8-time National League batting champion, finishing his career with a lifetime.338 batting average and 3,141 hits.
The left hander was a 15 time All-Star and 1999's Roberto Clemente award recipient. After retiring, he became coach of the San Diego State University baseball team, leading the Aztecs to a 363-363 record from 2003-2014.
Known as Mr. Padre, Gwynn has had his number 19 retired by San Diego. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1988
Associated Name
Gwynn, Tony
San Diego Padres
maker
Rawlings
ID Number
2017.0334.05
catalog number
2017.0334.05
accession number
2017.0334
With a professional baseball career lasting from the jazz age to the space age, Pitcher Leroy Robert SatchelPaige (1906-1982) established himself not only as one of the most dominant American athletes of all time, but also one of the most remarkable.Paige earned the nickname "Sat
Description
With a professional baseball career lasting from the jazz age to the space age, Pitcher Leroy Robert SatchelPaige (1906-1982) established himself not only as one of the most dominant American athletes of all time, but also one of the most remarkable.
Paige earned the nickname "Satchel" as a boy, earning money carrying passenger's bags at the train station in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama. Sent to the Industrial School for Negro Children in Mount Meigs at the age of 12 for a the minor offense of stealing some toy rings from a store, Paige worked on his baseball skills until his release just before his 18th birthday.
In 1924, Paige earned his first professional paycheck, pitching for the semi-professional outfit team the Mobile Tigers. 6' 3 and lanky, Paige dominated the opposition, and was signed to the Negro Southern League's Chattanooga Black Lookouts in 1927.
Paige thus began his lengthy and nomadic professional baseball career. Records for the various Negro League Organizations are scare scarce and incomplete, but we know that between 1926 and 1947 Paige played for the Lookouts, the Birmingham Black Barons, the Baltimore Black Sox, The Cleveland Cubs, The Pittsburgh Crawfords, The Kansas City Monarchs, The New York Black Yankees, the Memphis Red Sox and the Philadelphia Stars. He also moonlighted in other exhibition games, winter leagues and for a variety of barnstorming teams.
Paige was beloved not only for his dominance on the mound, but for his enthusiasm and cocksure personality. He loved to impress the crowd, striking out batters with speed and control. One of the more famous clubs for which Paige excelled was the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs, who won the Negro League World Series. The team, managed by Frank Duncan, and led Paige Buck O'Neil, is considered one of the most talented teams in Negro League history. As O'Neil has said of the club, "I do believe we could have given the New York Yankees a run for their money that year."
Paige finally got his chance to pitch before Major League audiences in 1948, two years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Signed mid-season by the Cleveland Indians, the living legend and oldest rookie in Major League history (42) set attendance records in Cleveland and Chicago on his first three starts.
Paige went 6-1 with the Indians, helping the team reach the World Series, where, called to the mound in game 5, he became the first African-American to pitch in a Major League Championship game. The Indians would take the title, defeating the Braves four games to two.
After pitching for Cleveland for another year, Paige briefly left Major League Baseball, barnstorming for a couple of years before returning to the Majors in 1951, signing with the St. Louis Browns and being named to two All-Star teams.
After leaving the Browns in 1953, Paige continued to pitch for barnstorming teams and in the minor leagues. Paige's last major league appearance was in 1965, where at 59, Paige played one game for the Kansas City A's, throwing threw three shut-out innings against the Boston Red Sox.
Paige's last turns on the mound came in 1967, pitching for the Indianapolis Clown, the last all-black baseball club. By his own estimation, he had pitched in about 2,500 games before finally putting down his glove for good.
Despite his popularity, success and lengthy career, Paige's true legacy has been lost due to the racial inequities that burdened his life. It is a true testament to his abilities and work ethic that he was able to become a living legend despite being forced to play outside of the Major Leagues for the majority of his career, as well as having to do so while facing wide-ranging discriminatory practices and bigotry. As he said himself in a 1982, the year of his death, They said I was the greatest pitcher they ever saw... I couldn't understand why they couldn't give me no justice.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1971 - 1982
Associated Name
Paige, Satchel
maker
Wilson Sporting Goods Company
ID Number
2017.0334.18
catalog number
2017.0334.18
accession number
2017.0334
Baseball covered in white adhesive tape with a nail inserted through the center.
Description
Baseball covered in white adhesive tape with a nail inserted through the center. The ball is marked "FOR THE SMITHSONNIAN [sic] MUSEUM - 6 - 4 - 93." Accessioned with a baseball diamond diagram with names of baseball players and marked "HAVANA CUBA, 1946 to 1956."
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1995.0330.01
catalog number
1995.0330.01
accession number
1995.0330
Baseball, signed by various Negro League stars.
Description
Baseball, signed by various Negro League stars. These players played the majority of their careers between 1935-1950.
Autographs include Jimmie Crutchfield; Monte Irvin; Buck Leonard; Quincy Troppe; Chico Renfroe; Buck O'Neil; Connie Johnson; Chet Brewer; Pat Patterson; Satchel Paige; Joe Black; Minne Minoso; Judy Johnson; Andy Porter; Sammy T. Hughes; Hilton Smith; Newton Allen.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980 - 1981
signer
Minoso, Minnie
Johnson, Judy
Porter, Andy
Hughes, Sammy T.
Irvin, Monte
Leonard, Walter F.
Trouppe, Quincy
Renfroe, Chico
O'Neil, Buck
Johnson, Connie
Brewer, Chet
Patterson, Pat
Black, Joe
Allen, Newton
Smith, Hilton
Paige, Satchel
Crutchfield, Jimmie
maker
Wilson Sporting Goods Company
ID Number
1981.0180.01
catalog number
1981.0180.01
accession number
1981.0180
Baseball signed by participants in the 1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game . The exhibition was held on July 10th in Candlestick Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. It was won by the National League All-Stars by a score of 3-1.
Description
Baseball signed by participants in the 1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game . The exhibition was held on July 10th in Candlestick Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. It was won by the National League All-Stars by a score of 3-1. The game's MVP was Montreal Expo's catcher Gary Carter. The ball was collected by American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), who was also an avid baseball fan.
Autographs include Al Holland; Keith Hernandez; Dwight Gooden; Bob Brenly; Tim Wallach; Charlie Lea; Rafael Ramirez; Mike Schmidt; Mario Soto; Dale Murphy; Jesse Orosco; Tim Wallach; Tim Raines; Chili Davis; Jody Davis; Tony Gwynn; Ryne Sandberg.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1984
recipient
Fitzgerald, Ella
maker
Rawlings
ID Number
1996.0342.109
accession number
1996.0342
catalog number
1996.0342.109
Baseball signed by the 1982 San Francisco Giants. That season the Giants finished 87-75, 3rd in the National League West.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1982 San Francisco Giants. That season the Giants finished 87-75, 3rd in the National League West. The ball was collected by American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), who was also an avid baseball fan.
Autographs include Frank Robinson; Bob Brenly; Chris Brown; Chili Davis; Jose Barrios; Reggie Smith; Mark Dempsey; Dan Schatzeder; Joe Morgan; Jack Clark.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1982
recipient
Fitzgerald, Ella
presenter
Los Angeles Dodgers
maker
Rawlings
ID Number
1996.0342.107
accession number
1996.0342
catalog number
1996.0342.107
Baseball signed by the 1979 Los Angeles Dodgers. That season the Dodgers finished 79-83, 3rd in the National League West.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1979 Los Angeles Dodgers. That season the Dodgers finished 79-83, 3rd in the National League West. The ball was collected by American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), who was also an avid baseball fan.
Autographs include Dusty Baker; Steve Yeager; Burt Hooton; Von Joshua; Bill Russell; Johnny Oates; Don Sutton; Pedro Guererro; Steve Garvey.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1979
recipient
Fitzgerald, Ella
ID Number
1996.0342.108
accession number
1996.0342
catalog number
1996.0342.108
This ball was signed by members of the 1984 San Francisco Giants. That season the Giants finished 66-96, 6th in the National League West.
Description
This ball was signed by members of the 1984 San Francisco Giants. That season the Giants finished 66-96, 6th in the National League West. The autographed baseball was collected by American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), who was also an avid baseball fan.
Autographs include George Riley; Joel Youngblood; Mark Calvert; Bob Brenly; Dusty Baker; Chris Brown; John Rabb; Dan Gladden; Steve Nicosia; Mark Grant; Bill Laskey; Scot Thompson; Fran Mullins; John Clark; Duane Kuiper.
Location
Currently not on view
recipient
Fitzgerald, Ella
manufacturer
Rawlings
ID Number
1996.0342.106
accession number
1996.0342
catalog number
1996.0342.106

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