2019 Toy Hall of Fame

The annual battle for toy supremacy has begun.

The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame has revealed the 12 iconic toys that are in the running to take their place in the hallowed halls of the museum this November. Among the finalists are a few that have been up for the honor before, such as My Little Pony, Matchbox cars, and Masters of the Universe.

This year they’ll face off against the Care Bears, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Jenga, Magic the Gathering, the NERF Blaster, Risk, and two devices on completely opposite ends of the spectrum: the coloring book and the smartphone.

“These 12 toys represent the wide scope of play — from the simple, traditional spinning top that has been played with since pre-history to the ultra-modern smartphone which has dramatically changed how people of all ages play and connect,” says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections. “Whether old or new, or imaginative or physical, all 12 of these toy finalists share an undeniable ability to inspire people to learn, create, and discover through play.”

Starting today, fans can vote for their favorite finalists as part of a “Player’s Choice” ballot at toyhalloffame.org. The three toys that receive the most public votes will be submitted and will join the other top three submissions by members of the National Selection Advisory Committee.

Criteria for induction include:

  • Icon-status: the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered;
  • Longevity: the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations;
  • Discovery: the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play;
  • Innovation: the toy profoundly changed play or toy design.

The final 2019 toy inductees, chosen based on the ballots, will be announced at The Strong museum on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 10:30 a.m.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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