Wiffle® Ball & Bat Set

The Wiffle@ Ball was invented by David N. Mullany at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1953 when he designed a ball that curved easily for his 12-year-old son. It was named when his son and his friends would refer to a strikeout as a “whiff”. The Wiffle Ball is about the same size as a regulation baseball, but is hollow, lightweight, of resilient plastic, and no more than 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. One half is perforated with eight .75-inch (19 mm) oblong holes; the other half is non-perforated. This construction allows pitchers to throw a tremendous variety of curveballs and risers.

The Wiffle@ Ball game became popular nationwide by the 1960s, and is played in backyards, on city streets, and on beaches. The game is similar to baseball, and is designed for 2–10 players. A single game of Wiffle ball consists of 7 innings or 60 minutes, whichever is earlier.

The WIFFLE® Ball was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame on November 9, 2017. The WIFFLE ball joins 62 previously inducted toys in the National Toy Hall of Fame, which have been selected based on four main criteria: icon–status, longevity, discovery, and innovation.