Newest Toy Hall-of-Famer - the Stick!

The stick? Really? A Toy Hall-0f-Fame worthy plaything? Seriously, though, a stick?

Well, the National Toy Hall-of-Fame at the Strong Museum of Play decided that the good old fashioned stick was Hall-worthy by inducting it into the 2008 class of Hall-0f-Fame honorees. Many a younger brother may be more familiar with another application of the stick as the weapon of choice their older brother(s) used upon them. But I guess that's a question for a different hall-of-fame.

Not to be undershadowed by the stick, also inducted this year were the more logical choices of the baby doll and the skateboard.

There were 12 finalists for this years class of inductees, including non-winners Clue, Dollhouse, Flexible Flyer Sled, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Rubik’s Cube, Thomas the Tank Engine, Wiffle Ball and Yahtzee. Imagine getting beaten out by a stick.

Check out the official press release, including a history of all three inductees here.

Toy Hall of Fame announced nominees for 2008

Twelve toys were nominated to join the National Toy Hall of Fame at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. The toys nominated were: Baby Doll, Clue, Dollhouse, Flexible Flyer Sled, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, Magic 8-Ball, Rubik's Cube, Skateboard, Thomas the Tank Engine, Whiffle Ball and Yahtzee.
Only two of the finalists will be inducted into the Hall-Of-Fame. The Strong Museum will announce the winners on Thursday, November 6th.
As mentioned here, Thomas the Tank Engine presented the Strong Museum with a petition signed by 33,000 Thomas fans, collected from the 'Day Out With Thomas' events around the country.
As of today, there are 38 toys currently enshrined in the Toy Hall of Fame - including the Duncan yo-yo, Lionel Trains and Scrabble. To visit the National Toy Hall of Fame, click here.

Thomas the Tank angling to become Hall-of-Famer

The National Toy Hall of Fame at Strong Museum of Play in Rochester New York announces it's 2008 class of inductees on November 6th. You can nominate your favorite classic toy for the Hall of Fame until September 8th.
Apparently there's a move afoot to get your favorite little blue engine included in this year's class. According to this article in the San Lorenzo Valley Press Banner, there is 'Day Out With Thomas' event going on in Felton, California this week and there will be a petition at the event for people to sign to endorse Mr. Tank Engine's candidacy for the Hall of Fame.
No comment was given by Mr. Tank Engine on his reported use of 'iron supplements' to enhance his performance as a toy icon.

Toy Hall of Fame Winners 2007

The Strong National Museum of Play announced the 2007 inductees to the National Toy Hall of Fame on November 8th and they are: the Atari 2600 video game system, the Kite and Raggedy Andy, after five years of separation from Raggedy Ann (she was inducted in 2002) joins her as a Toy Hall of Famer.

Ah, the Atari 2600. We got it, along with most of the other families I knew, way back in the 1970's. It may not have been the first home video game system, but it certainly was the one that started the whole video game craze that has yet to relent. I remember how excited we were that games like Asteriods and Defender were going to be available to play at home! (In the immortal words of the Beastie Boys, "and if you play Defender, I could be your hyperspace"). Plus, you can still play your favorite Atari 2600 games on your computer! Just get an emulator and you can use the ROM files from your games on your computer.

Kites, Raggedy Andy and the Atari 2600 join toys like Silly Putty, Etch-A-Sketch and the Duncan Yo-Yo and 32 others in the Hall of Fame.