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 type of wooden one-piece yo-yo was produced by the Duncan Toys Company from 1953 through the 1960s. It is white with four rhinestones embedded in each half.
Description (Brief)
This type of wooden one-piece yo-yo was produced by the Duncan Toys Company from 1953 through the 1960s. It is white with four rhinestones embedded in each half. The stamped seal reads “Duncan Jeweled Tournament Yo-Yo, Tops.” The Duncan Jeweled was one of the best-selling yo-yos after World War II, inspiring other brands to produce their own jeweled examples.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.22
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.22
This plastic "Smothers Brothers" yo-yo was made by Playmaxx, Inc. in the 1990s. It has indented flat sides and a blue plastic design. Clear removable plastic disc seals on both sides. One side features a line portrait and the other a silhouette of the two performers.
Description (Brief)
This plastic "Smothers Brothers" yo-yo was made by Playmaxx, Inc. in the 1990s. It has indented flat sides and a blue plastic design. Clear removable plastic disc seals on both sides. One side features a line portrait and the other a silhouette of the two performers. The Smothers Brothers were a comedy variety act who parlayed their song “Yo-yo Man” into a successful instructional video and yo-yo line.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990s
maker
Playmaxx
ID Number
2002.0246.27
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.27
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
This jumbo-size wooden yo-yo was made by Royal Manufacturing Company in the 1950s. It is blue with a gold stripe, and features a red and yellow crown graphic meant to look like the Crown of England. A blue and white decal reads “Royal Tops Mfg. Co. L.I City. N.Y.
Description (Brief)
This jumbo-size wooden yo-yo was made by Royal Manufacturing Company in the 1950s. It is blue with a gold stripe, and features a red and yellow crown graphic meant to look like the Crown of England. A blue and white decal reads “Royal Tops Mfg. Co. L.I City. N.Y. King Size Yo-Yo.” Royal was a major mid-century maker begun by Filipino immigrant Joe Radovan.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s
maker
Royal Tops Manufacturing Co.
ID Number
2002.0246.24
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.24
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. It is green with clear rounded sides. An insert under the sides has a graphic of a flying eagle and the text “Genuine Duncan Yo-Yo, Professional Para Campeonato, El Aguila.”Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. It is green with clear rounded sides. An insert under the sides has a graphic of a flying eagle and the text “Genuine Duncan Yo-Yo, Professional Para Campeonato, El Aguila.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.38
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.38
This developmental prototype for a whistling yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company. It is made of stained wood with slotted pink and white plastic center pieces (diaphragms) attached to each half.
Description (Brief)
This developmental prototype for a whistling yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company. It is made of stained wood with slotted pink and white plastic center pieces (diaphragms) attached to each half. There are eight small air holes on each side that produce a whistling sound when spun. Duncan’s previous whistling yo-yos were metal and manufactured by the Cayo Manufacturing Company. This example is likely an attempt by Duncan to self-produce a wooden whistler.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.21
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.21
This plastic yo-yo was made by All Western Plastics in Nebraska during the 1950s. It has clear rounded sides and a yellow body, with a photo of movie cowboy Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger on one side.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by All Western Plastics in Nebraska during the 1950s. It has clear rounded sides and a yellow body, with a photo of movie cowboy Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger on one side. The other side features a printed advertisement for a "King and Queen" top spinner contest. The retail package reads: “It’s smooth and fast, it’s inside walls are slick as glass, no rough wood to catch the string, does all the tricks...its Roundup King.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s
depicted
Rogers, Roy
maker
All Western Plastics
ID Number
2002.0246.42
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.42
This plastic yo-yo was briefly made by Duncan in the middle of the 1950s. Called the “Pony Boy,” it was intended for beginners. The yo-yo has green rounded sides, a red and orange rim, and a BB pellet inside that makes noise when spun.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was briefly made by Duncan in the middle of the 1950s. Called the “Pony Boy,” it was intended for beginners. The yo-yo has green rounded sides, a red and orange rim, and a BB pellet inside that makes noise when spun.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.40
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.40
This plastic yo-yo was manufactured by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1980s. It is plastic with clear sides.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was manufactured by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1980s. It is plastic with clear sides. Under one side there is a "magic motion" holographic portrait of DC Comics character Clark Kent wearing glasses, which when tilted, turns into an image of his alter-ego Superman. The yo-yo's other side features a red and yellow Superman “S" on a blue background.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1980s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.32
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.32
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. It is pink with clear edges. There is a decal on each side of an eagle in flight and the words “Genuine Duncan Yo-Yo, El Aguila, Professional Para Campeonato.”Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. It is pink with clear edges. There is a decal on each side of an eagle in flight and the words “Genuine Duncan Yo-Yo, El Aguila, Professional Para Campeonato.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.36
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.36
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. Resembling a black bowling ball, it was made as a promotion for Amflite’s bowling line. It was one of the last lines Duncan produced before it was bought by Flambeau Products Corp. in 1968.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. Resembling a black bowling ball, it was made as a promotion for Amflite’s bowling line. It was one of the last lines Duncan produced before it was bought by Flambeau Products Corp. in 1968. The success of the bowling ball model prompted Duncan to create an entire "Sportsline" series of yo-yos imitating balls from various sports.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.48
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.48
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. It is made of wood and has one black side and one red side. This is a "Beginners Yo-Yo," which were less expensive than the company's tournament models.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This wooden yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. It is made of wood and has one black side and one red side. This is a "Beginners Yo-Yo," which were less expensive than the company's tournament models.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.11
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.11
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It has a clear plastic frame embedded with multi-colored plastic shards. The yo-yo was made to promote the Walt Disney Company's "Wonderful World Of Color" television show, which began in 1954.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1960s. It has a clear plastic frame embedded with multi-colored plastic shards. The yo-yo was made to promote the Walt Disney Company's "Wonderful World Of Color" television show, which began in 1954. One side features a golden hot -stamped globe and the words “Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.” The other side reads “Duncan Yo-Yo Return Top.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.43
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.43
This steel yo-yo was made by the Oriental Trading Company in the 1990s. This yo-yo has flat sides and a red, white, and blue American flag design on both halves.
Description (Brief)
This steel yo-yo was made by the Oriental Trading Company in the 1990s. This yo-yo has flat sides and a red, white, and blue American flag design on both halves. The Oriental Trading Company, begun as a gift shop in Omaha, is a large wholesale company that sells arts and crafts, toys and novelties.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990s
maker
Oriental Trading Company
ID Number
2002.0246.08
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.08
This metal yo-yo was made by the Gorham Manufacturing Company in the 1970s. It has flat sides and a sterling silver shell. The yo-yo features an ornate repousse leaf pattern and is engraved at the center.
Description (Brief)
This metal yo-yo was made by the Gorham Manufacturing Company in the 1970s. It has flat sides and a sterling silver shell. The yo-yo features an ornate repousse leaf pattern and is engraved at the center. The Gorham Manufacturing Company was originally founded in Rhode Island in 1831 as a sterling silver maker.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1970s
maker
Gorham
ID Number
2002.0246.07
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.07
This steel yo-yo was made by the Cayo Manufacturing Company of Benton Harbor Michigan in the early 1930s. There is a "Captain's Wheel" lithograph pattern design printed on one side in gray, white and black. Julius N.
Description (Brief)
This steel yo-yo was made by the Cayo Manufacturing Company of Benton Harbor Michigan in the early 1930s. There is a "Captain's Wheel" lithograph pattern design printed on one side in gray, white and black. Julius N. Cayo founded the Cayo Manufacturing Company as a metal stamping business and began making yo-yos in the early 1930s. It was called a Musical Ka-Yo, so not to infringe upon the Duncan Toy Company's trademark of the term "yo-yo." It whistled when spun due to holes in its sides.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Cayo Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2002.0246.01
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.01
This wooden "Smothers Brothers" yo-yo was made by the Hummingbird Toy Company in 1988. The yo-yo is unopened upon its original yellow, red and black display card that also holds an owner’s manual.
Description (Brief)
This wooden "Smothers Brothers" yo-yo was made by the Hummingbird Toy Company in 1988. The yo-yo is unopened upon its original yellow, red and black display card that also holds an owner’s manual. Silhouette images of the brothers holding musical instruments are printed on the card. The yo-yo has flat sides and a stamped drawing of Dick Smothers (1939- ). The Smothers Brothers were a duo comedy variety act who parlayed their song “Yo-yo Man” into a successful instructional video and yo-yo line.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1988
depicted
Smothers Brothers
maker
Hummingbird Toy Company, Ltd.
ID Number
2002.0246.52
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.52
This blue plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. Clear plastic covers on its rounded sides reveal red, white and black designs featuring graphics of charging bulls. There are loose pieces inside the yo-yo which make a slight noise when spun.
Description (Brief)
This blue plastic yo-yo was made by the Duncan Toys Company in the 1950s. Clear plastic covers on its rounded sides reveal red, white and black designs featuring graphics of charging bulls. There are loose pieces inside the yo-yo which make a slight noise when spun. The sides read “Genuine Duncan Yo-Yo, El Toro.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1950s
maker
Duncan
ID Number
2002.0246.20
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.20
This plastic yo-yo was manufactured by the Jack Russell Company during the 1960s.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was manufactured by the Jack Russell Company during the 1960s. It has white sides which read, “Genuine Russell Yo-Yo, Made in Australia, Pause for Coke, Trademark Registered, Be Really Refreshed, Championship.” Jack Russell began his career as a Duncan yo-yo professional before creating a foreign promotions company for the Duncan Toys Company in the early 1950s. In 1958 Russell formed his own promotional firm which primarily worked with the Coca-Cola Company. This is an example of an Australian Coca-Cola promotion.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s-1980s
maker
Russell
ID Number
2002.0246.26
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.26
This plastic yo-yo was distributed by the McDonald's restaurant chain during the 1980s. Made to resemble a hamburger, it was given away in Happy Meals and other regional promotions.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was distributed by the McDonald's restaurant chain during the 1980s. Made to resemble a hamburger, it was given away in Happy Meals and other regional promotions.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1980s
maker
McDonald's Corporation
ID Number
2002.0246.25
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.25
This plastic yo-yo was made by Playmaxx Inc. in the 1990s. It was named the "ProYo" and has indented flat sides. It has a removable seal featuring a red and black graphic of Duncan Toys Company mascot "Mr. Yo-Yo" doing a “Texas Cowboy” trick.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by Playmaxx Inc. in the 1990s. It was named the "ProYo" and has indented flat sides. It has a removable seal featuring a red and black graphic of Duncan Toys Company mascot "Mr. Yo-Yo" doing a “Texas Cowboy” trick. The "ProYo" line was started in 1976 by Donald Duncan, Jr., son of Duncan Toys founder Donald F. Duncan.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990s
maker
Playmaxx
ID Number
2002.0246.41
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.41
This steel, whistling yo-yo was made by Festival in the 1960s. It has a black and yellow checkered design on both sides and is called 'The Screamer" as two small air holes create a screaming sound effect when spun. The decal reads “Festival Screamer YoYo.”Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This steel, whistling yo-yo was made by Festival in the 1960s. It has a black and yellow checkered design on both sides and is called 'The Screamer" as two small air holes create a screaming sound effect when spun. The decal reads “Festival Screamer YoYo.”
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1960s-1970s
maker
Festival
ID Number
2002.0246.06
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.06
This plastic yo-yo was made by Playmaxx Inc. in the 1990s. It is unopened upon its display card, which reads "ProYo II, the world’s longest spinning fixed axle yo-yo, with tricks inside." The yo-yo has a wooden axle, holographic silver insert seal and a red body.
Description (Brief)
This plastic yo-yo was made by Playmaxx Inc. in the 1990s. It is unopened upon its display card, which reads "ProYo II, the world’s longest spinning fixed axle yo-yo, with tricks inside." The yo-yo has a wooden axle, holographic silver insert seal and a red body. There is a cartoon graphic of a boy spinning a yo-yo on one side.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1990s
maker
Playmaxx
ID Number
2002.0246.56
accession number
2002.0246
catalog number
2002.0246.56
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

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