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.

Date: 1980s

Photograph of pro skater Judi Oyama, 1980

Color photograph of pro skater Judi Oyama skating downhill at the Capitola Classic in 1980. The photo was taken by her father, Richard Oyama. Oyama began skating as a teen and was sponsored by Santa Cruz Skateboards in the mid-seventies.
Description (Brief)
Color photograph of pro skater Judi Oyama skating downhill at the Capitola Classic in 1980. The photo was taken by her father, Richard Oyama. Oyama began skating as a teen and was sponsored by Santa Cruz Skateboards in the mid-seventies. She skated both vert and street but her passion was slalom and downhill racing where she was one of the few women that raced against the men. At the age of 43 she won the 2003 Slalom World Championships and in 2013 was ranked second in the US and first in the masters division overall. In 2015, Judi became the first woman to win the N-Men Icon Award given to Northern California skaters who have made an impact on the sport. Judi is also the Vice President of Board Rescue which provides skateboards and safety equipment to organizations that work with underprivileged and/or at-risk kids.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980
depicted
Oyama, Judi
ID Number
2013.0128.04
accession number
2013.0128
catalog number
2013.0128.04

Walt Frazier Jr.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989-02-06
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.187
catalog number
2014.0112.187
accession number
2014.0112

Schmitt Stix sticker

Round skateboarding sticker is white with 'Schmitt Stix True Craftsmanshp Skateboards' printed in black in the center of the sticker.
Description (Brief)
Round skateboarding sticker is white with 'Schmitt Stix True Craftsmanshp Skateboards' printed in black in the center of the sticker. Paul Schmitt of PS Stix, owns and operates one of the largest and most successful skateboard manufacturing companies in the United States and is known to many in the industry as 'Professor Schmitt". For almost 30 years Schmitt’s company has been considered an innovative leader in design and manufacturing of high quality skateboards.
Skateboard stickers have always played an important role in skateboard advertising especially in the late 1980s and early 90s when small skate companies were emerging. Skate companies used this inexpensive and visually appealing media to advertise their companies, board models, skate contests, and skate teams. The stickers were often offered free through magazine offers and at skate shops where the most sought after were kept behind the counter.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980s
user
Schmitt, Paul
ID Number
2013.0224.09.01
accession number
2013.0224
catalog number
2013.0224.09.1

Baseball Shoes, worn by Rickey Henderson, New York Yankees

Black leather Mizuno "Runbird" model baseball shoes with metal cleats, used by outfielder Rickey Henderson as a member of the New York Yankees. Each shoe is signed by Henderson in silver ink. Black laces.
Description
Black leather Mizuno "Runbird" model baseball shoes with metal cleats, used by outfielder Rickey Henderson as a member of the New York Yankees. Each shoe is signed by Henderson in silver ink. Black laces. Leather lace flap.
Rickey Henderson (b.1958) played Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics (1979-1984, 1989-1993. 1994-1995, 1998,) New York Yankees (1985-1989,) Toronto Blue Jays (1993,) San Diego Padres (1996-1997,) Boston Red Sox (2002) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2003.) Henderson set Major League career records for stolen bases, 1,406 and runs, 2,295.
Batting right, but throwing left, Henderson primarily played left field and batted leadoff. He compiled a lifetime .279 batting average with 3,055 hits, 297 home runs and 1,115 runs batted in. A 10-time All-Star, Henderson won the American League most valuable player award in 1990. He was twice a World Series champion, in 1989 (Athletics) and 1993 (Blue Jays.)
Henderson was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985-1989
Associated Name
Henderson, Rickey
maker
Mizuno Corporation
ID Number
2017.0334.07
catalog number
2017.0334.07
accession number
2017.0334

Program for the 20th Anniversary of the Special Olympics belonging to Special Olympian Marty Sheets

Program for the 20th Anniversary of the Special Olympics belonging to Special Olympian Marty Sheets.Marty Sheets was born with Downs Syndrome in 1953 but through Camp Joy, a camp for kids with intellectual disabilities, he found a love of sports.
Description (Brief)
Program for the 20th Anniversary of the Special Olympics belonging to Special Olympian Marty Sheets.
Marty Sheets was born with Downs Syndrome in 1953 but through Camp Joy, a camp for kids with intellectual disabilities, he found a love of sports. Invited to participate in the first International Special Olympic Games in Chicago in 1968, Marty formed a life long bond with founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Over the course of the next 40 years Sheets won over 250 medals while competing in golf, swimming, Alpine skiing, tennis and power lifting. His favorite sport was golf and In 2006, he was the PGA’s national volunteer of the year for his work at the Wyndham Championship in his hometown of Greensboro, N.C. He is also included in the portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and other Special Olympians which now resides in the National Portrait Gallery collections.
From its beginnings as Camp Shriver in Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s backyard, to the first international games in 1968, Special Olympics has been about giving people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in sport. This participation builds confidence, provides emotional support and offers social opportunities for the athletes and their families. With state chapters and a global presence through its World Games, “Special Olympics is the largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities with 5 million athletes in 170 countries worldwide.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1988
ID Number
2017.3064.13
nonaccession number
2017.3064
catalog number
2017.3064.13

Oral history interviews conducted by Michael Hays and George Leicthweis for the Street Survival II video

Oral history interviews conducted by Michael Hays for the Street Survival II video. The interviews on disc 2 include: Steve Schneer, Peanut Brown, Marc "Gator" Regfoski and Randy (?).
Description (Brief)
Oral history interviews conducted by Michael Hays for the Street Survival II video. The interviews on disc 2 include: Steve Schneer, Peanut Brown, Marc "Gator" Regfoski and Randy (?). According to the donor, Michael Hays, "While finishing Street Survival, George (Leicthweis) and I started work on the script for Street Survival II. I devised an interview to pose to all the top pros we had time to connect with at the Bill Danforth's Heartland Classic Pro Contest, February 3, 1989. The Street Survival II video was never made so these oral interviews have never been heard by the general public. Street Survival is an instructional video that teaches viewers rudimentary information about the sport & lifestyle of skateboarding and skateboarding tricks. The second video was to build on the first, introducing new tricks but was never completed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989
ID Number
2017.3100.04
nonaccession number
2017.3100
catalog number
2017.3100.04

Margo Oborg

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1981-11-25
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.068
catalog number
2014.0112.068
accession number
2014.0112

Seattle Supersonics vs. New York Knicks

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1982
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.031
catalog number
2014.0112.031
accession number
2014.0112

Schmitt Stix sticker

Rectangular shaped skateboarding sticker is light grey with black speckles throughout and 'Schmitt Stix The Ultimate Rails' printed in black in the center of the sticker.
Description (Brief)
Rectangular shaped skateboarding sticker is light grey with black speckles throughout and 'Schmitt Stix The Ultimate Rails' printed in black in the center of the sticker. Paul Schmitt of PS Stix, owns and operates one of the largest and most successful skateboard manufacturing companies in the United States and is known to many in the industry as 'Professor Schmitt". For almost 30 years Schmitt’s company has been considered an innovative leader in design and manufacturing of high quality skateboards.
Skateboard stickers have always played an important role in skateboard advertising especially in the late 1980s and early 90s when small skate companies were emerging. Skate companies used this inexpensive and visually appealing media to advertise their companies, board models, skate contests, and skate teams. The stickers were often offered free through magazine offers and at skate shops where the most sought after were kept behind the counter.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980s
user
Schmitt, Paul
ID Number
2013.0224.09.08
accession number
2013.0224
catalog number
2013.0224.09.8

A.J. Foyt

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.081
catalog number
2014.0112.081
accession number
2014.0112

A.J. Foyt

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.079
catalog number
2014.0112.079
accession number
2014.0112

Walt Frazier and Walt Frazier Jr.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989-02-12
depicted (sitter)
Frazier, Walt
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.170
catalog number
2014.0112.170
accession number
2014.0112

Walt Frazier Jr.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989-02-06
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.184
catalog number
2014.0112.184
accession number
2014.0112

Oral history interviews conducted by Michael Hays and George Leicthweis for the Street Survival II video

Oral history interviews conducted by Michael Hays for the Street Survival II video. The interviews on disc 2 include: Marc "Gator" Rogowski, Randy (?), Everette Roscrans and Bill Danforth.
Description (Brief)
Oral history interviews conducted by Michael Hays for the Street Survival II video. The interviews on disc 2 include: Marc "Gator" Rogowski, Randy (?), Everette Roscrans and Bill Danforth. According to the donor, Michael Hays, "While finishing Street Survival, George (Leicthweis) and I started work on the script for Street Survival II. I devised an interview to pose to all the top pros we had time to connect with at the Bill Danforth's Heartland Classic Pro Contest, February 3, 1989. The Street Survival II video was never made so these oral interviews have never been heard by the general public. Street Survival is an instructional video that teaches viewers rudimentary information about the sport & lifestyle of skateboarding and skateboarding tricks. The second video was to build on the first, introducing new tricks but was never completed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989
ID Number
2017.3100.03
nonaccession number
2017.3100
catalog number
2017.3100.03

Walt Frazier Jr.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989-02-06
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.147
catalog number
2014.0112.147
accession number
2014.0112

Walt Frazier Jr.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989-02-06
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.177
catalog number
2014.0112.177
accession number
2014.0112

Walt Frazier Jr.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989-02-06
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.188
catalog number
2014.0112.188
accession number
2014.0112

Washington Generals vs. Harlem Globetrotters

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1986-02-20
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.149
catalog number
2014.0112.149
accession number
2014.0112

Advertisement for Schmitt Stix products

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1987
advertiser
Schmitt, Paul
ID Number
2013.0224.11
accession number
2013.0224
catalog number
2013.0224.11

Schmitt Stix sticker

Rectangular shaped skateboarding sticker is a shiny silver with 'Schmitt Stix The Ultimate Rails' printed in black in the center of the sticker.
Description (Brief)
Rectangular shaped skateboarding sticker is a shiny silver with 'Schmitt Stix The Ultimate Rails' printed in black in the center of the sticker. Paul Schmitt of PS Stix, owns and operates one of the largest and most successful skateboard manufacturing companies in the United States and is known to many in the industry as 'Professor Schmitt". For almost 30 years Schmitt’s company has been considered an innovative leader in design and manufacturing of high quality skateboards.
Skateboard stickers have always played an important role in skateboard advertising especially in the late 1980s and early 90s when small skate companies were emerging. Skate companies used this inexpensive and visually appealing media to advertise their companies, board models, skate contests, and skate teams. The stickers were often offered free through magazine offers and at skate shops where the most sought after were kept behind the counter.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980s
user
Schmitt, Paul
ID Number
2013.0224.09.05
accession number
2013.0224
catalog number
2013.0224.09.5

Schmitt Stix Yard Stix skateboard

The original Schmitt Stix Yard Stix, 36 Inch skateboard, shown here, was designed, made and used by Paul Schmitt. It is a laminated wood deck with black grip tape strips at the front and back, a kick tail and a rounded nose.
Description (Brief)
The original Schmitt Stix Yard Stix, 36 Inch skateboard, shown here, was designed, made and used by Paul Schmitt. It is a laminated wood deck with black grip tape strips at the front and back, a kick tail and a rounded nose. The bottom surface resembles a yard stick with two black Schmitt Stix attached to each side and a rounded yellow Schmitt Stix attached to the nose of the board. Schmitt, President of PS Stix, Inc., CreateASkate.org and The New Deal Skateboard Products, Inc. owns and operates one of the largest and most successful skateboard manufacturing companies in the United States and is known in the industry as 'Professor Schmitt’. For almost 30 years Schmitt’s companies have been considered an innovative leader in the design and the manufacture of high quality skateboards. Schmitt has been involved with many different brands throughout the skate world including Schmitt Stix, the New Deal and Element. His CreateASkate.org program started in 2004 and teaches kids from 5th to 12th grade how to build a skateboard while learning about math, science, physics and chemistry. The kids don’t even realize they are learning, they just know they walk away with a cool skateboard that they designed. Schmitt, a skater himself works with skaters and industry leaders to constantly transform the sport and is one of the most respected innovators in the skate industry.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980s
maker
Schmitt, Paul
ID Number
2013.0224.08
accession number
2013.0224
catalog number
2013.0224.08

Schmitt Stix Chris Miller Model skateboard deck

"Schmitt Stix - Chris Miller Model" skateboard deck created by Paul Schmitt. Chris Miller turned pro for G&S Skateboards in 1985 but began riding Schmitt boards in 1988.
Description (Brief)
"Schmitt Stix - Chris Miller Model" skateboard deck created by Paul Schmitt. Chris Miller turned pro for G&S Skateboards in 1985 but began riding Schmitt boards in 1988. As Chris explains in an interview with Ride Channel, “My Schmitt board was famous for being the first board with an upturned nose that was long. It started that trend towards modern boards. I can't take credit for it. It was going to happen whether Schmitt did it or someone else. But the other side is that Schmitt did do it first. He came to me and said, “I have an idea for your new shape,” and it was about the mold and all that. At first, I didn’t like it aesthetically, but I was the first person to do backside lipslides on vert and I went from a G&S board with basically no nose—think about coming in from a backside lipslide, where you need a little nose to bring yourself in—to the Schmitt shape, and it was a game-changer for me. I loved that board, and we're only talking four or five inches of nose. If you look at it now, it's a tiny little nose, but then it was crazy-looking.” Miller went on to found Adio Footwear and Planet Earth Clothing, two companies that had a huge impact on the skate industry. Miller still rides and has consistently won the Dew Tour Legends Bowl Jam for the last few years.
Paul Schmitt, President of PS Stix, Inc., CreateASkate.org and The New Deal Skateboard Products, Inc. owns and operates one of the largest and most successful skateboard manufacturing companies in the United States and is known in the industry as 'Professor Schmitt’. For almost 30 years Schmitt’s companies have been considered an innovative leader in the design and the manufacture of high quality skateboards. Schmitt has been involved with many different brands throughout the skate world including Schmitt Stix, the New Deal and Element. His CreateASkate.org program started in 2004 and teaches kids from 5th to 12th grade how to build a skateboard while learning about math, science, physics and chemistry. The kids don’t even realize they are learning, they just know they walk away with a cool skateboard that they designed. Schmitt, a skater himself works with skaters and industry leaders to constantly transform the sport and is one of the most respected innovators in the skate industry.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980s
maker
Schmitt, Paul
ID Number
2013.0224.07
accession number
2013.0224
catalog number
2013.0224.07

Schmitt Stix sticker

Round skateboarding sticker is white with a yellow center and 'Schmitt Stix True Craftsmanshp Skateboards' printed in black in the center of the sticker.
Description (Brief)
Round skateboarding sticker is white with a yellow center and 'Schmitt Stix True Craftsmanshp Skateboards' printed in black in the center of the sticker. Paul Schmitt of PS Stix, owns and operates one of the largest and most successful skateboard manufacturing companies in the United States and is known to many in the industry as 'Professor Schmitt". For almost 30 years Schmitt’s company has been considered an innovative leader in design and manufacturing of high quality skateboards.
Skateboard stickers have always played an important role in skateboard advertising especially in the late 1980s and early 90s when small skate companies were emerging. Skate companies used this inexpensive and visually appealing media to advertise their companies, board models, skate contests, and skate teams. The stickers were often offered free through magazine offers and at skate shops where the most sought after were kept behind the counter.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980s
user
Schmitt, Paul
ID Number
2013.0224.09.02
accession number
2013.0224
catalog number
2013.0224.09.2

John Campo

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1981-05-08
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.234
catalog number
2014.0112.234
accession number
2014.0112

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