Sports & Leisure

Tennis Racket

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.

Topic: Autographed Baseballs

Baseball, signed by the 1949 Boston Braves

Baseball signed by the 1949 Boston Braves.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 Boston Braves. That season the Braves finished 75-79, 4th in the National League.
Autographs include Johnny Sain; Warren Spahn; Elbie Fletcher; Eddie Stanky; Al Dark; Bob Elliott; Tommy Holmes; Jim Russell; Marv Rickert; Bill Salkeld; Sibby Sisti; Del Crandall; Pete Reiser; Ed Sauer; Connie Ryan; Jeff Heath; Vern Bickford; Bill Voiselle; Nels Potter; Johnny Antonelli; Bob Hall.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
Milwaukee Braves
maker
A. J. Reach Co.
ID Number
CL.310547.144
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.144

Baseball, signed by the 1953 Cleveland Indians

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

Baseball, signed by the 1958 Milwaukee Braves

Baseball signed by the 1958 Milwaukee Braves of the National League.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1958 Milwaukee Braves of the National League. That year the Braves finished 92-62, 1st in the National League, losing the World Series to the New York Yankees 4 games to 3.
Autographs include Mel Roach; Fred Hanley; Frank Torre; Red Schoendienst; Johnny Logan; Eddie Mathews; Hank Aaron; Bill Bruton; Wes Covington; Del Crandall; Joe Adcock; Felix Mantilla; Andy Pafko; Warren Spahn; Lew Burdette; Bob Rush; Carl Willey; Juan Pizarro; Joey Jay; Don McMahon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
associated institution
Milwaukee Brewers
ID Number
CL.310547.147
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.147

Baseball, signed by the 1950 Chicago Cubs

Baseball signed by the 1950 Chicago Cubs. That season the Cubs finished 64-89, finishing 7th in National League.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1950 Chicago Cubs. That season the Cubs finished 64-89, finishing 7th in National League. While the ball is marked "Cubs-1949," the autographs correspond to the 1950 Chicago Cubs team.
Autographs include Frank Frisch; Preston Ward; Wayne Terwilliger; Roy Smalley; Bill Serena; Bob Borkowski; Andy Pafko; Hank Sauer; Mickey Owen; Phil Cavarretta; Rube Walker; Carmen Mauro; Hal Jeffcoat; Ron Northey; Hank Edwards; Bob Rush; Johnny Schmitz; Paul Minner; Frank Hiller; Monk Dubiel; Doyle Lade; Johnny Klippstein; Dutch Leonard.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
Chicago Cubs
maker
Spalding
ID Number
CL.310547.157
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.157

Baseball, signed by the 1935 Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball signed by the 1935 Pittsburgh Pirates. That year the Pirates finished 88-67, 4th in the National League.Autographs include J.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Pittsburgh Pirates. That year the Pirates finished 88-67, 4th in the National League.
Autographs include J. Honus Wagner; Gus Suhr; Tommy Thevenow; Paul Warner; Ralph Birkofer; Arky Vaughn; Bud Hafey; Tommy Padden; Earl Grace; Cy Blanton; Lloyd Waner; Harry Gumpert ; Waite Hoyt; Aubrey Hoyt; Jim Weaver; Bill Swift; Woody Jensen; Cookie Lavagetto; Floyd Young; Guy Bush; Pie Traynor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
Pittsburg Pirates
maker
Anchor Brand
ID Number
CL.310547.138
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.138

Baseball, signed by Louis Gossett and Satchell Paige

Baseball signed by actor Louis Gossett Jr. (b.1936) and former Negro and Major League pitcher Satchel Paige (1906-19182). The ball was signed at the filming of the television movie "Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige," released in 1981.
Description
Baseball signed by actor Louis Gossett Jr. (b.1936) and former Negro and Major League pitcher Satchel Paige (1906-19182). The ball was signed at the filming of the television movie "Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige," released in 1981. In the film, Gosset portrayed the baseball legend.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1981
signer
Paige, Satchel
Gossett, Louis
maker
Wilson
ID Number
1990.0005.01
catalog number
1990.0005.01
accession number
1990.0005

Baseball, signed by the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics

Baseball signed by the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics. That season, the A's finished 81-73, 5th in the American League.
Autographs include Connie Mack; Eddie Frost; Nellie Fox; Ferris Fain; Pete Suder; Eddie Joost; Hank Majeski; Wally Moses; Sam Chapman; Elmer Valo; Mike Guerra; Don White; Taffy Wright; Alex Kellner; Joe Coleman; Lou Brissie; Dick Fowler; Carl Scheib; Bobby Shantz.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
signer
Mack, Connie
Frost, Eddie
Fox, Nellie
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.129
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.129

Baseball, signed by the 1949 Cleveland Indians

Baseball signed by the 1949 Cleveland Indians.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 Cleveland Indians. That season the Indians finished 89-65, 3rd in the American League.
Autographs include Lou Boudreau; Mickey Vernon; Early Wynn; Bob Lernon; Joe Gordon; Ken Keltner; Bob Kennedy; Larry Doby; Dale Mitchell; Jim Hegan; Ray Boone; Thurman Tucker; Bob Lemon; Bob Feller; Mike Garcia; Early Wynn; Al Benton; Gene Bearden; Steve Gromek; Satchel Paige.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
Cleveland Indians
signer
Boudreau, Lou
Vernon, Mickey
Wynn, Early
Lernon, Bob
maker
A. J. Reach Co.
ID Number
CL.310547.131
catalog number
310547.131
accession number
310547

Baseball, signed by the 1935 St. Louis Browns

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 1924 Washington Senators

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, signed by the 1935 Washington Senators

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

Baseball, signed by the 1949 Boston Red Sox

Baseball signed by the 1949 Boston Red Sox.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 Boston Red Sox. That season, the Red Sox finished 86-58, 2nd in the American League.
Autographs include Billy Goodman; Bobby Doerr; Vern Stephens; Johnny Pesky; Al Zarilla; Dom DiMaggio; Ted Williams; Birdie Tebbetts; Matt Batts; Mel Parnell; Ellis Kinder; Joe Dobson; Chuck Stobbs; Jack Kramer; Walt Masterson.
Location
Currently not on view
signer
McCarthy, Joe
DiMaggio, Dom
Doerr, Bob
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.133
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.133

Baseball, signed by the 1949 St. Louis Cardinals

Baseball signed by the 1949 St. Louis Cardinals.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 St. Louis Cardinals. That year the Cardinals finished 96-58, second in the National League.
Autographs include Marty Marion; Enos Slaughter; Nippy Jones; Frank Lane; Red Munger; Stan Musial; Joe Garagiola; Fred Martin; Bill Reeder; Gerry Staley; Bill Baker; Ted Wilks; Red Schoendienst; Rocky Nelson; Chuck Diering; Max Lanier; Al Brazle; Del Rice; Ron Northey; Eddie Kazak; Howie Pollett.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
St. Louis Cardinals
maker
Wilson Sporting Goods Company
ID Number
CL.310547.152
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.152

Baseball, signed by the 1936 Boston Red Sox

Baseball signed by the 1936 Boston Red Sox. That season the Red Sox finished 74-80, 6th in the American League.Autographs include Jimmie Foxx; Al Schact; Roger Cramer; Ski.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1936 Boston Red Sox. That season the Red Sox finished 74-80, 6th in the American League.
Autographs include Jimmie Foxx; Al Schact; Roger Cramer; Ski. Melillo; Eric McNair; Billy Werber; Mel Almada; Dusty Cooke; Rick Ferrell; Heinie Manush; John Kroner; Joe Cronin; Wes Ferrell; Lefty Grove; Fritz Ostermueller; Johnny Marcum; Jack Wilson; Rube Walberg.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1936
associated institution
Boston Red Sox
maker
Reach Company
ID Number
CL.310547.161
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.161

Baseball, signed by the 1935 Boston Braves

Baseball signed by the 1935 Boston Braves.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1935 Boston Braves. That year the Braves finished 38-115, 8th in the National League.
Autographs include Rabbit Maranville; Joe Mowry; Joe Coscarart; Ed Brandt; Buck Jordan; Les Mallon; Huck Betts; Fred Frankhouse; Elbie Fletcher; Ray Mueller; Rany Moore; Hal See; Al Spohrer; Ben Cantwell; Billy Urbanski; Wally Berger; Bob Brown; Danny MacFayden; Bob Smith; Tommy Thompson; Harry Gowdey.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
associated institution
Boston Braves
maker
Anchor Brand
ID Number
CL.310547.143
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.143

Baseball, signed by the 1951 St. Louis Browns

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

Baseball, signed by the 1949 New York Yankees

Baseball signed by the 1949 New York Yankees.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 New York Yankees. That year the Yankees won the American League with a 97-57 record, winning the World Series by beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 4 games to 1.
Autographs include Joe DiMaggio; Yogi Berra; Joe Page; Allie Reynolds; Bobby Brown; Tommy Henrich; Jerry Coleman; Phil Rizzuto; Hank Bauer; Cliff Mapes; Gene Woodling; Billy Johnson; Johnny Lindell; Dick Kryhoski; Snuffy Stirnweiss; Vic Raschi; Eddie Lopat; Tommy Byrne; Joe Page; Fred Sanford.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
New York Yankees
signer
DiMaggio, Joe
Berra, Yogi
Page, Joe
Reynolds, Allie
Brown, Bobby
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.125
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.125

Baseball, signed by the 1931 New York Yankees and Jack Dempsey

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 Washington Senators

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 1935 Philadelphia Athletics

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

Baseball, signed by the 1971 Los Angeles Dodgers

Baseball autographed by the 1971 Los Angeles Dodgers. That season the Dodgers finished 89-73, 2nd in the National League West.
Description

Baseball autographed by the 1971 Los Angeles Dodgers. That season the Dodgers finished 89-73, 2nd 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 Bill Sudakis; Willie Crawford; Jim Lefebvre; Bill Grabarkewitz; Jim Brewer; Sandy Vance; Don Sutton; Willie Crawford; Bill Buckner; Bill Singer; Hoyt Wilhelm; Bob O'Brien; Al Downing; Pete Mikkelsen; Maury Wills; Bill Russell; Tom Haller.

Location
Currently not on view
presentation date
1971
recipient
Fitzgerald, Ella
presenter
Los Angeles Dodgers
manufacturer
Spalding
ID Number
1996.0342.105
accession number
1996.0342
catalog number
1996.0342.105

Baseball, signed by the 1937 New York Yankees

Baseball signed by the 1937 New York Yankees.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1937 New York Yankees. That season the Yankees finished 102-25, defeating the New York Giants 4 games to 1 to win the World Series.
Autographs include Joe DiMaggio; Lou Gehrig; Tony Lazzeri; Lefty Gomez; Frankie Crosetti; Red Rolfe; Myril Hoag; Jake Powell; Bill Dickey; George Selkirk; Tommy Henrich; Don Heffner; Red Ruffing; Bump Hadley; Monte Pearson; Johnny Murphy; Pat Malone; Kemp WIcker; Spud Chandler; Frank Makosky.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1937
signer
DiMaggio, Joe
Gehrig, Lou
Lazzeri, Tony
Gomez, Lefty
maker
A. J. Reach Co.
ID Number
CL.310547.123
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.123

Baseball, signed by the 1949 St. Louis Browns

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

Baseball, signed by the 1949 New York Giants

Baseball signed by the 1949 New York Giants.
Description
Baseball signed by the 1949 New York Giants. That season the Giants finished 73-81, 5th in the National League.
Autographs include Leo Durocher; Bob Thomson; Sam Webb; Don Mueller; Johnny Mize; Hank Thompson; Buddy Kerr; Sid Gordon; Willard Marshall; Whitey Lockman; Wes Westrum; Bill Rigney; Jack Lohrke; Ray Mueller; Walker Cooper; Larry Jansen; Monty Kennedy; Dave Koslo; Sheldon Jones.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
associated institution
New York Giants
maker
Harwood
ID Number
CL.310547.137
accession number
310547
catalog number
310547.137

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