Newport Sports Museum

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The Newport Sports Museum is a sports museum in Newport Beach, California that houses over 10,000 items of sports memorabilia. It is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Collection

The Newport Sports Museum has over 10,000 items of sports memorabilia including items from football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf and more. The museum also has an Olympic collection. Notable items include Babe Ruth's last home run ball which is signed, Wayne Gretzky's 900th goal puck and hundreds of game worn and autographed jerseys from all sports.

History

The Newport Sports Museum was started in 1953 when, at the age of 12 years old, John W. Hamilton was given a signed football from the Look All-American Football Team. As the years passed, his passion for collecting sports memorabilia grew – as did his collection. Hamilton’s collection is now one of the largest displays of sports memorabilia ever assembled. In 1995, Hamilton along with several athletes, decided to open the Newport Sports Museum.

Youth Programs

To achieve its mission of keeping kids in school and off drugs by getting them involved in athletics, the Newport Sports Museum offers these special programs:

Legacy Leadership Project – a new program sponsored by the NFL Hall of Fame that partners ex-NFL players with a select high school athlete to be mentored on and off the field. The selected athletes will fly to Canton, OH for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony as well. The Mission of the Legacy Leadership Program to develop one-to-one mentoring relationships between Pro Football Hall of Fame members and high school football players in order to provide experiences and support that will help these young student athletes make positive life choices. This mentoring relationship includes the inspirational qualities of a visit to Canton with the Hall of Famer during the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies.

Athlete Outreach – well-known athletes and sports figures speak to youth about the importance of education, benefits of exercise and dangers of drugs and gangs. Kids learn that participation in athletics can help them develop critical skills and teach them valuable lessons. Speakers also stress the rewards of persistence, dedication and leading an active lifestyle.

Sport Yourself – an extension of the Athlete Outreach program that addresses issues important to adolescent girls. With the creation of a number of women’s leagues over the past years, female athletes have risen to greater than ever before and are wonderful role models. Their messages encourage young women to stay in school and cover topics including teen pregnancy, abuse, nutrition, and self confidence.

Career Choices – teams high school students with sports professionals to discuss the many career options available within the industry. Guest speakers include coaches, collegiate athletic directors, sports agents, broadcasters, and others share their paths to success in order to motivate students to obtain a college education. Participants receive information that highlights the different careers available in athletics, along with a list of colleges that offer sports-related degrees.

References

• "Former Olympian Kerr, a UCI product, to speak". Daily Pilot. February 7, 2009. http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/02/07/sports/uci/dpt-spkerrbrief020809.txt. Retrieved 5 May 2010. 
• "Museum Has the Smell of History to It". Los Angeles Times. July 26, 1998. http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jul/26/sports/sp-7476.txt. Retrieved 13 May 2010. ^{[dead link]}
• . http://www.ocmetro.com/t-ArtAndCulture_Newport_Sports_Museum1009.aspx. 

External links

• Official site