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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1983.0183.08.2
accession number
1983.0183
catalog number
1983.0183.08.2
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
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1919
associated institution
Cincinnati Reds
ID Number
1986.0830.01
accession number
1986.0830
catalog number
1986.0830.01
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
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
printer
Stall & Dean Mfg. Co.
ID Number
1986.0368.06
accession number
1986.0368
catalog number
1986.0368.06
mounted black and white photograph (possibly matte collodion) by J.B.
Description (Brief)
mounted black and white photograph (possibly matte collodion) by J.B. Wilson Studio, 389 State St., Chicago; image of 1897 Champions of the Mergantile Baseball League; team name is Mandel Bros.; nine men in baseball uniform with one man in black suit and white shirt sitting in center posing for photograph; players identified as 1. Werntz, Sec'y 2. Reker 3. Faulkner 4. Van Zandt 5. Wenig, G. 6. Litzinger, Capt. 7. Hebel, Mgr. 8. Wenig, F. 9. Burley 10. Alberts
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1897
ID Number
1986.3048.2168
catalog number
1986.3048.2168
nonaccession number
1986.3048
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
referenced
New York Yankees
ID Number
1986.0368.05
accession number
1986.0368
catalog number
1986.0368.05
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980-06-09
signer
Feller, Bob
ID Number
1986.0830.04
accession number
1986.0830
catalog number
1986.0830.04
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
referenced
Washington Nationals
ID Number
1986.0512.02
accession number
1986.0512
catalog number
1986.0512.02
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
1986.0020.01
accession number
1986.0020
catalog number
1986.0020.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
referenced
Kansas City Athletics
ID Number
1986.0512.01
accession number
1986.0512
catalog number
1986.0512.01
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
Pinback button featuring baseball player Joe DiMaggio. Button has an attached ribbon and metal baseball glove charm.Joseph (Joe) DiMaggio (1914-1990) played centerfield for the New York Yankees from 1936-1942 and from 1946-1951, with time in-between spent in military service.
Description
Pinback button featuring baseball player Joe DiMaggio. Button has an attached ribbon and metal baseball glove charm.
Joseph (Joe) DiMaggio (1914-1990) played centerfield for the New York Yankees from 1936-1942 and from 1946-1951, with time in-between spent in military service. One of the most dominant and popular athletes in United States history, "Joltin’ Joe" was an All-Star every season of his 13 year career, taking home three American League Most Valuable Player Awards and leading the Yankees to a remarkable 9 World Series Championships. In 1941, "The Yankee Clipper," a lifetime .325 batter, set a Major League Baseball record, getting a hit in 56 consecutive games.
The son of Italian immigrants, DiMaggio had two brothers, Dominic (Dom) and Vincent (Vince,) who also played in the Major Leagues. The native Californian made international headlines with his short-lived marriage to actress Marilyn Monroe in 1954.
Enshrined in Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1955, Dimaggio is remembered, not only for his achievements on the diamond, but as an icon for the era in which he played.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
depicted (sitter)
DiMaggio, Joe
Associated Name
New York Yankees
ID Number
1989.0030.01
accession number
1989.0030
catalog number
1989.0030.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
referenced
Philadelphia Phillies
ID Number
1989.0030.02
accession number
1989.0030
catalog number
1989.0030.02
Souvenir button commemorating the Batlimore Orioles attainment of the American League championship in 1966. The O's went 97-63 on their way to the AL pennant, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.Currently not on view
Description
Souvenir button commemorating the Batlimore Orioles attainment of the American League championship in 1966. The O's went 97-63 on their way to the AL pennant, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966
referenced
Baltimore Orioles
ID Number
1986.0368.01
accession number
1986.0368
catalog number
1986.0368.01
date made
ca 1900
ID Number
1986.0020.02
accession number
1986.0020
catalog number
1986.0020.02
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950s
referenced
Brooklyn Dodgers
ID Number
1986.0368.02
accession number
1986.0368
catalog number
1986.0368.02
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
date made
1927-01
maker
Underwood & Underwood Illustration Studios
ID Number
PG.67.88.06801
catalog number
67.88.06801
accession number
270586
date made
1927-01
maker
Underwood & Underwood Illustration Studios
ID Number
PG.67.88.06802
catalog number
67.88.06802
accession number
270586
date made
1927-01
maker
Underwood & Underwood Illustration Studios
ID Number
PG.67.88.06806
catalog number
67.88.06806
accession number
270586
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.67.88.00069
accession number
270586
catalog number
67.88.00069
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.67.88.00057
accession number
270586
catalog number
67.88.00057
date made
1927-01
maker
Underwood & Underwood Illustration Studios
ID Number
PG.67.88.06804
catalog number
67.88.06804
accession number
270586

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