ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bounce it, kick it, catch it. Chase, throw or smack it. The ball, arguably the most popular plaything of all time, has finally earned a place inside a glass case at the National Toy Hall of Fame in New York.
Along with the Big Wheel and the Game Boy video device, the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester chose the ball Thursday to join its all-star lineup of 41 classics, including the bicycle, the kite, the jump rope, the teddy bear, the stick, marbles and Mr. Potato Head.
Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the 11-year-old hall of fame.
Many judges on the hall’s national advisory panel recognized that the ball’s inclusion was long overdue.
“Probably no other plaything is as easily recognized, easily played with and universally enjoyed by people of all cultures, skills and ages,” said Nicolas Ricketts, a curator at Strong.
