Naismith Story

Item #5029

(January, 1988) Naismith is named for James A. Naismith, who invented the game of basketball in 1891. Dr. Naismith was a physical education teacher at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, and wanted to develop a game that could be played indoors during the cold New England winters. Like his namesake, this little Woodspirit has his hair parted in the middle, the style for young men at the turn of the century. Naismith has borrowed a peach pi from Peaches, because the very first basketball used two peach baskets and a soccer ball. His coin is from Canada, where Dr. Naismith was born. Little Naismith uses the same basket as Slam and Dunk. His jersey number commemorates the year the sport was invented. He’s smiling as he triess to make a free throw with the walnut he found in the woods, because he’s having a ball.

Dr. Thomas F. Clark