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.

This wooden yo-yo was made by Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is black on one half and red on the other. A Duncan Beginners Yo-Yo, it is part of a line made since the 1930s. Yo-Yos from this line are usually wooden with pegged strings.
Description (Brief)
This wooden yo-yo was made by Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It is black on one half and red on the other. A Duncan Beginners Yo-Yo, it is part of a line made since the 1930s. Yo-Yos from this line are usually wooden with pegged strings. This example features a very early image of Duncan's mascot “Mr. Yo-Yo.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1930s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.10
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.10
Beginning in 1935, the Simplex Manufacturing Corporation of New Orleans made motorbikes, which were smaller and lighter than motorcycles. Their simple designs made personal transportation accessible to young people and adults.
Description
Beginning in 1935, the Simplex Manufacturing Corporation of New Orleans made motorbikes, which were smaller and lighter than motorcycles. Their simple designs made personal transportation accessible to young people and adults. Owners found many uses for Servi-Cycles, including errands, pleasure rides, and package delivery using a three-wheeled model. Top speed was 40 miles per hour, and average cruising speed was 30 miles per hour. Postwar sales were strong, but Servi-Cycle sales declined in the 1950s because of the growing popularity of imported motor scooters. Simplex ended motorbike production in 1960 but made motor scooters until 1972, when the company went out of business.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
maker
Simplex Manufacturing Company
ID Number
TR.317365
accession number
230387
catalog number
317365
Since Kodak introduced the Brownie in 1900, a variety of easy-to-use cameras have been marketed, especially to women.
Description
Since Kodak introduced the Brownie in 1900, a variety of easy-to-use cameras have been marketed, especially to women. The Kodak Petite from 1935, part of the Kodak Coquette set, came with a matching compact and lipstick case in a variety of color choices so that one might use it as an accessory to fashionable outfits.
Date made
1935
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
1995.0046.01
catalog number
1995.0046.01
accession number
1995.0046
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1930s. It has a green design with a broad red stripe. The seal reads “Genuine Duncan Yo-Yo, Reg.
Description (Brief)
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1930s. It has a green design with a broad red stripe. The seal reads “Genuine Duncan Yo-Yo, Reg. US Pat.” This was an early version of the Duncan Genuine Yo-Yo, produced soon after Donald Duncan bought the trademark term “yo-yo” from inventor Pedro Flores. This yo-yo's seal is reminiscent of the one used by Flores.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1930s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.17
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.17
This steel Duncan yo-yo was made by the Cayo Manufacturing Company in the 1930s. It has flat sides and a red, yellow and blue starburst lithograph seal design on both halves. There are two small air holes that make a whistling sound when the toy is spun.
Description (Brief)
This steel Duncan yo-yo was made by the Cayo Manufacturing Company in the 1930s. It has flat sides and a red, yellow and blue starburst lithograph seal design on both halves. There are two small air holes that make a whistling sound when the toy is spun. The decal reads “Genuine Duncan Whistling Yo-Yo.” The Duncan Toys Company contracted its metal yo-yos to the Cayo Manufacturing Company until World War II.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1930s
maker
Duncan
Cayo Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2002.0246.03
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1923
date made
ca 1936
patent date
1923-06-12
date used
1936 to 1960s
maker
Beetleware Corporation
ID Number
1984.0331.01
accession number
1984.0331
catalog number
1984.0331.01
This wooden spinner toy was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1930s. Shaped like a bow-tie, one half is painted red and the other half white.
Description (Brief)
This wooden spinner toy was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1930s. Shaped like a bow-tie, one half is painted red and the other half white. It is stamped with a seal that reads “Duncan Diablo.” Commonly, diablo toys are usually larger and employ two strings: this example operates more along the lines of a yo-yo .
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1930s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.57
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.57
This Duncan steel yo-yo was manufactured by the Cayo Manufacturing Company in 1934. It has flat black sides with a black and white stripe design around the edges.
Description (Brief)
This Duncan steel yo-yo was manufactured by the Cayo Manufacturing Company in 1934. It has flat black sides with a black and white stripe design around the edges. There is a red, yellow and blue internal, metallic spinning disc that can be seen through small cut out windows in the sides. The decal reads “Genuine Duncan Rainbo Yo-Yo, Trade Mark Reg. USA.” The Duncan Toys Company contracted its metal yo-yos to the Cayo Manufacturing Company until World War II.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1934
maker
Duncan
Cayo Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2002.0246.02
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.02
This is an empty cardboard store display box for Duncan Yo-Yos from the 1930s. It is red and white with drawings of international yo-yo users. The box reads “Duncan’s Genuine Gold Seal Beginners’ Yo-Yo Tops…if it isn’t a Duncan-it isn’t a yo-yo top.”Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This is an empty cardboard store display box for Duncan Yo-Yos from the 1930s. It is red and white with drawings of international yo-yo users. The box reads “Duncan’s Genuine Gold Seal Beginners’ Yo-Yo Tops…if it isn’t a Duncan-it isn’t a yo-yo top.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1930s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.65
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.65
The Cate family of Lakeport, New Hampshire purchased this trailer in 1936 to serve as their vacation home.
Description
The Cate family of Lakeport, New Hampshire purchased this trailer in 1936 to serve as their vacation home. Cars and highways had created vast new recreational opportunities, and during the Depression many families who were financially stable still enjoyed driving to remote scenic areas. The Cates, like other trailer owners, thought of touring as an extension of home life, and they could afford the security, comfort, and intimacy of a manufactured cottage on wheels.
Eben Cate was a rural mail carrier on a route through several villages near Lake Winnipesaukee. He earned two weeks of vacation time per year. In 1936 he saw this trailer in a showroom in Laconia, a few miles from his home, and purchased it for pleasure trips. Eben and Vernie and their children, Rudolph and Virginia, made one trip to Florida in their new trailer in 1937, staying one night in many different locations. Every summer during the 1940s, they spent a week at Decatur Motor Camp at York Beach on the southern coast of Maine. They kept house in the trailer, went for walks, and swam in the Atlantic Ocean. Vernie did the housekeeping — not much of a vacation for her, but a change of scenery nonetheless. The Cates also visited Vernie's relatives in East Corinth, Vermont and parked the trailer "out near the barn" with an electrical hookup. The wooden trailer came equipped with a bedroom, sofa beds, table, kitchen, closets, and cupboards.
House trailers were so appealing that thousands of itinerant people lived in them full-time in the 1930s. But early residential trailer camps had poor sanitary conditions and no landscaping. Some observers believed that traditional communities were threatened by the existence of these ad hoc, transient communities. Trailers created contradictory feelings of pride and disapproval —a far cry from the euphoric autocamping outings of the 1920s.
Date made
1934
user
Cate, Eben
Cate, Vernie
maker
Trav-L-Coach
ID Number
1981.0524.01
accession number
1981.0524
catalog number
1981.0524.01
White metal pin featuring Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller. The pin is part of the 1938 Our National Game series.
Description (Brief)
White metal pin featuring Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller. The pin is part of the 1938 Our National Game series. The pin originally was affixed to a cardboard backing.
Pitcher Robert Bob Feller (1918-2010) played Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians from 1936-1941 and from 1945-1956, with the time in-between spent in military service. Compiling a lifetime record of 266-162 with an E.R.A. of 3.25, Feller led the American League in wins six times.
An eight-time All-Star, the right-handed hurler led the league in strikeouts for seven seasons, throwing three no-hitters in his career. In 1948 he helped lead Cleveland to a World Series championship.
Following his playing days, Feller was named the first President of the Major League Baseball's Players Association (1958.) He was elected into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1938
depicted
Feller, Bob
Associated Name
Cleveland Indians
ID Number
1982.0566.24
catalog number
1982.0566.24
accession number
1982.0566
Swimming ticket for the Xth Olympiad, Los Angeles, California, August 5, 1932 in Swimming Stadium. The ticket is white with a blue fillagree pattern and the Olympic rings and shield pattern in the center. Stair 4, Row 17, Seat 111.
Description (Brief)
Swimming ticket for the Xth Olympiad, Los Angeles, California, August 5, 1932 in Swimming Stadium. The ticket is white with a blue fillagree pattern and the Olympic rings and shield pattern in the center. Stair 4, Row 17, Seat 111. This was collected by the donor, Thomas Jones, while a spectator at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
The 1932 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the X Olympiad were held in Los Angeles, California and included 37 countries, 1,206 men and 126 women athletes participating, fewer than the 1928 Games as the depression kept many athletes from making the trip. Because of the expense of putting on the Games, many existing venues were used including the Rose Bowl and the LA Coliseum. An official Olympic Village debuted at the 1932 Games consisting of hundreds of buildings to house and take care of the athletes becoming the standard for future games. The victory podium was first used at the Summer Games along with the debut of the Olympic mascot; a Scottish Terrier named Smoky. American athlete Babe Didrikson was a standout, winning two gold medals in the javelin and hurdles events although earned silver in high jump after being penalized for an illegal jump-off. The United States led the medal count with 103.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1932
ID Number
1984.0449.21
accession number
1984.0449
catalog number
1984.0449.21
Baseball signed by the 1933 New York Giants.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1933 New York Giants. That season the Giants went 91-61, winning the National League and beating the Washington Senators in the World Series 4 games to 1.
Autographs include Mel Ott; Carl Hubbell; Bill Terry; Hughie Critz; Blondy Ryan; Johnny Vergez; Kiddo Davis; Jo-Jo Moore; Gus Mancuso; Lefty O'Doul; Sam Leslie; Hal Schumacher; Freddie Fitzsimmons; Roy Parmelee; Hi Bell; Dolf Luque.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1933
associated institution
New York Giants
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.136
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.136
Baseball signed by the 1935 Chicago Cubs.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Chicago Cubs. That season the Cubs finished 100-54, 1st in the National League, losing the World Series to the Detroit Tigers 4 games to 2.
Autographs include Augie Galen; Phil Cavarretta; Frank Demaree; Billy Herman; Gabby Hartnett; Stan Hack; Billy Jurges; Freddie Lindstrom; Chuck Klein; Lon Warneke; Larry French; Fabian Kowalick; Tex Carleton; Roy Henshaw; Bill Lee; Walter Stephenson; Ken O'Dea.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
maker
Davega Sports
ID Number
CL.310547.156
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.156
Baseball signed by the 1935 St. Louis Browns.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 St. Louis Browns. That season the Browns finished 65-87, 7th in the American League.
Autographs include Rogers Hornsby; Jack Burns; Tom Carey; Lyn Lary; Harlond Clift; Ed Coleman; Sam West; Moose Solters; Rollie Hemsley; Ray Pepper; Beau Bell; Johnny Burnett; Ollie Bejma; Ivy Andrews; Jack Knott; Jim Walkup; Russ Van Atta; Sugar Cain; Fay Thomas; Dick Coffman.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
St. Louis Browns
maker
Anchor Brand
ID Number
CL.310547.150
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.150
Baseball signed by the 1935 Cleveland Indians.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Cleveland Indians. That season, the Indians finished 82-71, 3rd in the American League.
Autographs include Ed Gharrity; Stan O'Neill; Hal Trosky; Boze Berger; Bill Knickerbocker; Odell Hale; Bruce Campbell; Earl Averill; Joe Vosmik; Eddie Phillips; Roy Hughes; Milt Galatzer; Ab Wright; Mel Harder; Willis Hudlin; Monte Pearson; Thornton Lee; Oral Hildebrand; Lloyd Brown; Lefty Stewart.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
Cleveland Indians
maker
Draper-Maynard
ID Number
CL.310547.130
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.130
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 1935 Brooklyn Dodgers.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Brooklyn Dodgers. That season the Dodgers finished 70-83, 5th in the National League.
Autographs include Casey Stengel; Sam Leslie; Tony Cuccinello; Lonny Frey; Joe Stripp; Buzz Boyle; Frenchy Bordagaray; Danny Taylor; Al Lopez; Jim Bucher; Len Koenecke; Jimmy Jordan; Babe Phelps; Van Mungo; Watty Clark; George Earnshaw; Tom Zachary; Johnny Babich; Dutch Leonard; Ray Benge.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
Brooklyn Dodgers
Associated Name
Stengel, Casey
maker
Davega Sports
ID Number
CL.310547.153
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.153
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 1935 Philadelphia Phillies.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Philadelphia Phillies. That season the Phillies finished 64-89, 7th in the National League.
Autographs include Jimmie Wilson; Dolp Camilli; Lou Chiozza; Mickey Haslin; Johnny Vergez; Johnny Moore; Ethan Allen; George Watkins; Al Todd; Jimmie Wilson; Chile Gomez; Curt Davis; Orville Jorgens; Syl Johnson; Jim Bivin; Bucky Walters; Joe Bowman.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
Philadelphia Phillies
maker
Davega Sports
ID Number
CL.310547.158
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.158
Baseball signed by 1935 Cincinnati Reds.
Description
Baseball signed by 1935 Cincinnati Reds. That season, the Reds finished 68-85, 6th in the National League.
Autographs include Jim Bottomley; Alex Kampouris; Billy Myers; Lew Riggs; Ival Goodman; Samuel Byrd; Babe Herman; Ernie Lombardi; Billy Sullivan; Kiki Cuyler; Gilly Campbell; Gordon Slade; Paul Derringer; Al Hollingsworth; Gene Schott; Tony Freitas; Si Johnson; Benny Frey; Don Brennan; Leroy Herrmann; Chuck Dressen.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
Cincinnati Reds
maker
Davega Sports
ID Number
CL.310547.141
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.141
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
Baseball signed by the 1935 Philadelphia Athletics.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Philadelphia Athletics. That season, the A's finished 58-91, 8th in the American League.
Autographs include Connie Mack; Jimmie Foxx; Roger Cramer; Skeeter Newsome; Wally Moses; Rabbit Warstler; Eric McNair; Pinky Higgins; Bob Johnson; Paul Richards; Lou Finney; Charlie Berry; Johnny Marcum; Bill Dietrich; George Blaeholder; Whitey Wilshere; Roy Mahaffey.
Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy, better known as Connie Mack, played major league baseball from 1886-1896. In 1901 he was named manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, a position he would hold for 50 years. During his tenure he became the sport's all-time winningest manager, accumulating 3,776 victories. With Mack at the helm, the A's won 9 American League pennants and 5 World Series Championships.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
Philadelphia Athletics
maker
Davega Sports
ID Number
CL.310547.128
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.128

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