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.

Pair of Evolution, white and black nylon racing gloves with white, hard plastic over the knuckle area and gray suede fabric covering the palms.
Description (Brief)
Pair of Evolution, white and black nylon racing gloves with white, hard plastic over the knuckle area and gray suede fabric covering the palms. Mike Schultz is an extreme sports athlete who in 2008, was involved in a snowmobiling accident which fractured his knee and ultimately led to the amputation of his leg above the knee. Schultz soon developed a special prosthetic that allowed him to continue to participate in extreme sports. The Moto Knee was designed and developed by Schultz in 2009 and a year later he had founded the company BioDapt, Inc. which specializes in producing high impact adaptive sports prosthetics. In 2013 the Versa foot was developed and named one of the ten best inventions of that year. Schultz continues to compete as a three-sport X Games athlete with the most adaptive gold medals in XG history; he has 6 between Moto X Racing Adaptive and SnoCross Adaptive. Schultz competed in his first Paralympic Games in 2018 earning a gold medal in snowboard cross and a silver in banked slalom. He also won the ESPY award for best male athlete with a disability.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Schultz, Mike
ID Number
2016.0060.05
accession number
2016.0060
catalog number
2016.0060.05
Baseball mitt won by 10 time gold-glove winning center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. (b.
Description
Baseball mitt won by 10 time gold-glove winning center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. (b. 1969.) Griffey played Major League baseball for 22 years, starring for the Seattle Mariners (1989-1999, 2009-2010) Cincinnati Reds (2000-2008) and Chicago White Sox (2008.)
The son of a former major league player, Griffey was a thirteen-time all-star known for his home run hitting prowess, belting 630 over the course of his career. He lifetime marks include a .284 batting average, 2,781 hits and 1,836 runs batted in.
1997's American League Most Valuble player, Griffey was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1993-1994
Associated Name
Griffey, Jr., Ken
Seattle Mariners
maker
Rawlings
ID Number
2017.0334.01
accession number
2017.0334
catalog number
2017.0334.01
Osborne “Ozzie” Smith (b. 1954) played shortstop in the Major Leagues for the San Diego Padres (1978-1981,) before joining the St.
Description
Osborne “Ozzie” Smith (b. 1954) played shortstop in the Major Leagues for the San Diego Padres (1978-1981,) before joining the St. Louis Cardinals (1982-1996.) Beloved player by fans who delighted in his exuberance, Smith was a rarity who attained stardom primarily due to his defensive abilities.
One of the best fielding shortstops in history, Smith’s amazing glove work led him to be known as “The Wizard of Oz.” Setting Major League records for assists and double plays at his position, the reliable Smith earned 13 gold glove recognitions and made 15 National League All Star Teams.
With Smith anchoring the infield, the Cardinals reached the World Series three times, winning in 1982. After retirement Smith has remained active in baseball and had been a television host, author and entrepreneur. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Smith, Ozzie
maker
Rawlings
ID Number
2017.0084.10
accession number
2017.0084
catalog number
2017.0084.10
"The Say Hey Kid" Willie Howard Mays Jr. (b.1931) began his career in the Negro Leagues (1947) before joining the Major League's New York Giants in 1951.
Description
"The Say Hey Kid" Willie Howard Mays Jr. (b.1931) began his career in the Negro Leagues (1947) before joining the Major League's New York Giants in 1951. Excepting time in military service (1952-1953,) the exuberant center fielder became a mainstay of the Giants, who relocated to San Francisco in 1958. In 1973 Mays signed with the New York Mets, where he would play his final two seasons.
Mays started his Major League career by winning the 1951 National League Rookie of the Year Award. A two time National League Most Valuable Player (1954, 1965) Mays led the Giants to victory in the 1954 World Series, where in game one, he famously caught a ball, hit by Cleveland Indian Vic Wertz, over his shoulder. Now simply referred to in baseball lore as "The Catch," the play is the best remembered of the many defensive efforts that earned the speedy outfielder 12 gold gloves to go along with his 24 All Star Game recognitions.
Mays finished his career with .302 batting average, 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, 1,903 runs batted in, and 338 stolen bases. One of the greatest all-around players the sport has ever seen, Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. In 2015 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960s
user
Mays, Willie
maker
MacGregor
ID Number
2017.0084.14
accession number
2017.0084
catalog number
2017.0084.14
Rawlings brand baseball glove worn by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr.Shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. (b.1960) played Major League baseball's Baltimore Orioles from 1981-2001.
Description
Rawlings brand baseball glove worn by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr.
Shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. (b.1960) played Major League baseball's Baltimore Orioles from 1981-2001. Ripken is known as baseball's Iron Man as he holds the Major League record for most consecutive games played (2,130.)
1982's American League rookie of the year, Ripken was a 19 time All-Star, two-time American League Most Valuable Player (1983,1991,) two-time gold glove award winner (1991, 1992) and a World Series champion (1983.)
With a lifetime .276 batting average Ripken amassed 431 home runs and 1,695 runs-batted-in over the course of his career. He broke New York Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record, set in 1925, on September 19, 1998.
Following his career, Ripken has been praised for his charitable work. In 2007 he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1999
Associated Name
Ripkin, Jr., Cal
Baltimore Orioles
maker
Rawlings
ID Number
2017.0334.02
catalog number
2017.0334.02
accession number
2017.0334

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