OT: Sports toys/games from your younger days. (Pics encouraged)

[AidanFan20]

APBA American Saddle Racing. I was WAYYYYYY into horse racing from when I was a teenager until just the last few years, as internal politics ruined the sport in America. This game occupied my bedroom desk full-time, never going back into the box for several years. Took close to an hour to run one race, but I loved it. I'd run at least one race nearly every day after school, and several races on the weekend.

Had a few other APBA sports games also, but none came close to this one for me...

 

[uconn13]

having this back in the 70’s….

 

[uconn13]

led to stuff like this, without a helmet, of course

 

[cwh20]

APBA American Saddle Racing. I was WAYYYYYY into horse racing from when I was a teenager until just the last few years, as internal politics ruined the sport in America. This game occupied my bedroom desk full-time, never going back into the box for several years. Took close to an hour to run one race, but I loved it. I'd run at least one race nearly every day after school, and several races on the weekend.

Had a few other APBA sports games also, but none came close to this one for me...


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Most of these toys were staples in the neighborhood. I’d have to give top prize to the wiffle ball and bat. Who didn’t play hours of that growing up?

I had the dice version of APBA baseball. You’d buy the new season of cards for every MLB team to stay current with the rosters and player performance. The cards had outcomes based on the dice roll but where a roll of say 33 might be a home run for Aaron and his card Ralph Garr, a mainly singles hitter would only maybe get a double so if you played enough the players performed as expected overall. I kept team records and track of the MLB leaders in a notebook for all the games I played. I was addicted. FYI - Cesar Cedeno was a good player but somehow got good dice roll after good roll when he came to bat and crushed it one year at the plate. The easy MVP.

 

[Jaydumo20]

The Amimal, the animal, can anything stop the Animal?...
Turns out cheap electronics can stop the Animal.

 

[Chin Diesel]

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160-1 Electronic project kit when I was 9. Still have it. Best “ toy” ever.
I used to mess with that thing 14 hours a day and it shaped my life. 3 days after the XMAS I received it I hijacked the AM radio my parents listened to Bob Steele on before work every morning and broadcast myself.
It’s stuck with me through life, from giving me the knowledge framework to build my own guitar effects and rewire my guitars, to setting me up for understanding hardware computer components early in the game which led to my career.

Yeah, I was, and am, an egghead.

I used one of those at a friend's house. I was shocked I was so bad with it.

 

[SoFla Steve]

Gilbert chemistry sets! It's where my love of science . . . and blowing up stuff . . . began.

One of the biggest complaints I had as a youth was that I always got the small set. Same with Lincoln Logs and Kenner Girder & Panel building sets. You get a pamphlet or booklet showing what you can build if you had the big sets. When I tried to build something bigger, I'd always run out of parts. My building looked like the contractor ran out of money before he could finish it.

 

[Improviser]

All these toys from childhood, were, and still are intriguing and creative.

What valuable and educational toys, if any, do contemporary kids now use?

 

[HooperScooper]

All these toys from childhood, were, and still are intriguing and creative.

What valuable and educational toys, if any, do contemporary kids now use?

 

[temery]

Toys were simple and fun. If you had a Duncan yoyo, you were set for hours. No batteries, no instructions, nothing

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Everyone in school had one until some jackass on tv did a bit on how they were used as weapons in some third world country. Within a few days schools started banning yo-yos.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Everyone in school had one until some jackass on tv did a bit on how they were used as weapons in some third world country. Within a few days schools started banning yo-yos.

The famed yo-yo killer from Octopussy

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Carrom Pool board

Couldn't seem to get it to link any other way... Versatile mini-pool and other games board.

My grandparents had this when I was a kid. Not sure I ever understood how to play any of the games on it haha.

 

[AidanFan20]

The Playmobile. Never had one, But I vaguely remember the TV ads.

 

[CL82]

Another one that was stupid simple but I really liked it anyway.

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I didn't have this but a friend did. It was fun.

 

[CL82]

Had one of these two they had spring loaded bullets so you could actually shoot at targets.

 

[temery]

loved playing with these!

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'But could you light one with your fingernail?

 

[NJHusky]

Back here just to post a childhood favorite - Lincoln Logs.

Fast forward 30+ years and the one video I showed to my elementary school class every year was "Alone in the Wilderness."

Can you imagine never having to deal with another human for almost 40 years of your life? He built the cabin from scratch, was the very definition of a hunter gatherer, and just lived the perfect life in his very own self made Lincoln Log cabin.

(yes, I know his friend and his brother flew in once in a while. Doesn't change a thing.)

#1 on my bucket list is still to visit Dick Proenneke's cabin.

For anyone who hasn't seen "Alone in the Wilderness" - do it, and show it to your kids.

Just watched it…thx for posting. Amazing how self sufficient he was….into his 80s. I saw there is a part 2 but can’t seem to find it on any streaming service

 

[Improviser]

Just watched it…thx for posting. Amazing how self sufficient he was….into his 80s. I saw there is a part 2 but can’t seem to find it on any streaming service

I just checked and saw there are YouTube trailers of Part 2, and that it can be purchased on a DVD from Amazon.

Never heard of it before, but will try to watch it at some time.

 

[CL82]

How about these:

 

[NJHusky]

I just checked and saw there are YouTube trailers of Part 2, and that it can be purchased on a DVD from Amazon.

Never heard of it before, but will try to watch it at some time.

Problem is not sure I even have a dvd player anymore

 

[History Geek]

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I still have mine. Still works.

 

[History Geek]

Tudor Electric Football

 

[temery]

Just watched it…thx for posting. Amazing how self sufficient he was….into his 80s. I saw there is a part 2 but can’t seem to find it on any streaming service

The films he recorded have been used to make four videos:

Alone in the Wilderness
Alaska, Silence and Solitude
The Frozen North
Alone in the Wilderness part II

 

[uconnfan68]

Gilbert chemistry sets! It's where my love of science . . . and blowing up stuff . . . began.

One of the biggest complaints I had as a youth was that I always got the small set. Same with Lincoln Logs and Kenner Girder & Panel building sets. You get a pamphlet or booklet showing what you can build if you had the big sets. When I tried to build something bigger, I'd always run out of parts. My building looked like the contractor ran out of money before he could finish it.

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We set fire to a friend’s back lot with one of those. Must have been 9.

 

[dvegas]

waiting for someone to post up a picture of their fleshlight