The Swingin' A's

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Text on Button The SWINGIN' A'S WORLD CHAMPIONS
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A yellow background outlined by green, it contains a green and black text, white and green cleats, and is designed like a baseball

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The Oakland Athletics, commonly referred to as the Oakland A's, are a Professional Baseball team based in Oakland, California. They have several nicknames, such as the "White Elephants", the moniker given to them by New York Giant's manager John McGraw because of their less than stellar early seasons, and "the Swingin' A's" due to their success during the 1970's. Founded in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics, in 1955 they moved to Kansas City and remained there until they moved to Oakland in 1968. Soon after it was clear the Athletics would be a force to be reckoned with, winning 3 World Championships in a row, 1972, 1973 and 1974. 

Catalog ID SP0017

Theismann for Heisman

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Text on Button THEISMANN FOR HEISMAN
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Green background with white text

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Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a retired professional football player. Playing 12 seasons for the Washington Redskins as a quarterback, he was selected twice for the Pro Bowl and lead the Redskins to a victory in Super Bowl XVII. Playing for Notre Dame university, he gained notice his sophomore year when he replaced the injured first string quarterback. Becoming the starter in 1969, he lead the Fighting Irish to a 1970 Cotton Bowl appearance and a win in the 1971 Cotton Bowl. In 1970 he was in consideration for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, which is given annually the most outstanding college football player, taking into consideration diligence, perseverance, hard work, and integrity of the nominees. Theismann finished second to Jim Plunkett. In 2003 Theismann was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Catalog ID SP0020

Thanks Bears

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Text on Button CHICAGO'S GREATEST SUPER BOWL 1986 Thanks Bears! CONTINENTAL BANK
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Orange and blue text on a white background

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Super Bowl XX was held on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. It featured the Chicago Bears playing the New England Patriots. The New England Patriots were heavy underdogs, only getting in the play-offs as a wildcard team due to their poor record of 11-5, compared to Chicago's 15-1. Though the Patriots took an early lead, scoring a field goal only 1:19 into the game (the record for fastest score during a Super Bowl held until 2007), they were unable to keep their lead and the Bears defeated the Patriots, 46-10 setting several records, including most sacks (7), fewest rushing yards allowed (7) and largest margin of victory (36 points). This was Chicago's first Super Bowl appearance, and first win.

Sources

History of the Super Bowl: Super Bowl XX. (2009, January 23). The Sporting News. https://web.archive.org/web/20090123134017/http://www.sportingnews.com/…
 

Catalog ID CH0149

Tennis is a Ball

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Text on Button TENNIS IS A BALL!
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A green background with white text. In the center is a brown bear-like muppet holding a tennis racquet in one hand and tossing two tennis balls into the air with another

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Hallmark $2.00 Hallmark Cards Inc. Made in U.S.A. 200LP-463-1

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One of Jim Henson's Muppets, Rowlf the Dog, appears on this Hallmark Cards collector pinback button from 1980. The button series featured Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy as well as other Muppets, and were made with cardboard inserts that could be used as a stand to display the button. 

Rowlf the Dog first hit the television scene in Purina Dog Chow commercials in 1962, appeared in The Jimmy Dean Show from 1963-1966, and was the piano player on The Muppet Show. 

Catalog ID EN0343

Promise Me Anything But Take Me Bowling

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Text on Button Promise Me Anything But Take Me Bowling
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White text on a blue background with a white outline of a figure with two bowling pins.

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Bowling is a sporting event that is for professional or casual players. This button was part of a series that used humor for casual players to display their love for bowling. The buttons could be pinned to shirts or bowling bags, or other clothing items.

Catalog ID SP0096

Sweet Sixteen

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Text on Button Sweet 16
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Yellow text on a black background

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The Sweet 16 is the third round of the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. It is also known as the tournament regional semifinals. The winning teams move on to play in the regional finals known as the Elite 8. The NCAA tournament is a single elimination tournament in the United States that features 68 college basketball teams. The tournament bracket is divided into 4 regions and teams must win to advance to subsequent rounds. The tournament is also known as “March Madness” because it takes place every March.

Catalog ID SP0095

Go Super Crunch

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Text on Button GO "SUPER CRUNCH"
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A maroon background with orange text and a football helmet at the bottom with the number 51 on it in maroon

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"Super Crunch" is a reference to two (seemingly unrelated) things: Heath candy bars and Pro Football Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker, Dick Butkus (#51). The Super Crunch candy bar was first released by Heath in 1971, and someone in the advertising department had the brilliant idea of getting "Super Crunch" himself to endorse their new candy bar. Nicknamed "Super Crunch" for his violent playing style, Dick Butkus agreed, and by 1972, his likeness was appearing in Heath Super Crunch ads and wrappers. One ad depicts Butkus with his helmet on with a quote under it stating, "Only Heath could make a candy bar good enough to put my name on," followed by his signature. Following his retirement from the NFL in 1973 due to a knee injury, Butkus moved to Hollywood to become an actor, starring in over 50 television shows and movies. 

Catalog ID SP0048

Super Bowl XXX

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Text on Button SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 1996 SUPER XXX BOWL SUN DEVIL STADIUM, ARIZONA
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A white background with black text and red text, a black football helmet with a grey line along the top and a Steelers insignia 

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Super Bowl 30, commonly referred to as SuperBowl XXX, took place between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. This match marked the first time a Super Bowl took place in the Phoenix area. The two teams were fierce rivals who were facing each other in a Super Bowl for the third time.  For the Cowboys, this was their eighth appearance and the Steeler’s fifth appearance and first Super Bowl loss in history. The Cowboys managed to pull through and defeat the Steelers 27-17.

An interesting fact about the location is that it was supposed to be held in Tempe, but the location was boycotted due to it not recognizing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

Catalog ID EV0313

2nd Air Force Superbombers

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Text on Button 2nd Air Force Superbombers
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Blue text on a yellow horizontal strip on a blue background

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The Second Air Force was home to many former collegiate and professional football players who were serving their World War II tour of duty. They created a football team during this time called the Superbombers. In 1942, the Superbombers were a formidable force in college football, considered the third most powerful service team in the nation. The were invited to play in the 8th annual Sun Bowl, the only service team to appear in a bowl that season. In 1944, the Superbombers played in the Treasury Bond Bowl game against the Randolph Field Ramblers, but lost 13 to 6. The Treasury Bond Bowl was played for the sale of war bonds, which were issued by the government to help finance the military operations during WWII.

Catalog ID SP0097

Submitted to the Fan Museum by Mysfyt24


Information

This 5/8" celluloid button has L.O.T.M. written above a globe with a beehive on it. Under the hive are 5 intertwined rings with the letters T F L S P within them. On the left of the hive, a ribbon says Ad Astra. To the right, a ribbon says Peraspera.

The back paper is from Whitehead & Hoag 1896.

I'm thinking this is from some type of fraternal organization, but I can't seem to track down which one. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

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