Did You Know?!: Popular Toys

Sales and Leasing Consultant, Tim Hoyt, is extending the holiday spirit with this edition of "Did You Know?!" 

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December is the biggest toy month of the year thanks to the Christmas holiday. Have you ever wondered how long some of the most popular toys and games have been on the market making millions of kids happy? Below is a list of a few classic toys that made their debut prior to 1970:

1867 - Parcheesi Game

1900 - Lionel Trains

1903 - Crayola Crayons & Teddy Bears

1904 - Pit Game

1905 - Flinch Game

1906 - Rook Game & Model T Ford (first die-cast toy car)

1913 - Erector Sets

1914 - Tinkertoys

1916 - Lincoln Logs

1917 - Radio Flyer Wagon

 1929 - Yo-yo

1930 - LEGO Building Sets

1932 - Tripoley Game

1934 - Sorry Game

1938 - View-Master 3-D Viewer & Go To The Head Of The Class

1943 - Chutes and Ladders

1946 - Tonka, Nylint trucks

1947 - John Deere Die-Cast Tractor

1948 - Cootie & Scrabble

1949 - Candy Land & Clue

1950 - Silly Putty

1952 - Mr. Potato Head

1954 - Matchbox Cars

1956 - Play-Doh, Yahtzee & the Original Ant Farm

1957 - Careers Game

1958 - Concentration

1959 - Barbie

1960 - Aggravation, Etch-A-Sketch, LIFE &

 BRIO Classic Wooden Railway

1961 - Stratego

1963 - G.I. Joe

1963 - Easy Bake Oven

1964 - Easy Ride 'Ums Stick Animals, Password &

Rat Fink Collectible Hot Rod Figures

1965 - Trouble & Operation

1966 - Spirograph & Twister

1967 - Battleship

1968 - Hot Wheels Cars and Racing Sets

Did you know that the total retail toy sales in 2014 was $18.8 billion?! 

(the 2015 total has not been released yet)

Stay tuned for the next edition...

Did You Know?!: Major League Baseball History

Sales and Leasing Consultant, Tim Hoyt, is taking a moment to reflect on the history of the MLB World Series in this month's edition of "Did You Know?!"

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Although the 2015 MLB World Series ended several weeks ago, let's take a moment to remember some of the great players who never appeared in a World Series (1903-2014).

First, let's look at the players with the most seasons without appearing in a World Series:

• Phil Niekro, 24 years (1964-1987)
• Julio Franco, 23 years (1982-94, 1996-97, 1999, 2001-07)
• Gaylord Perry, 22 years (1962-1983)
• Ken Griffey Jr., 22 years (1989-2010)
• Andre Dawson, 21 years (1976-1996)
• Ted Lyons, 21 years (1923-42, 1946)
• Lindy McDaniel, 21 years (1955-1975)
• Frank Tanana, 21 years (1973-1993)
• Danny Darwin, 21 years (1978-1998)
• Tom Gordon, 21 years (1988-2009)
• Johnny Cooney, 20 years (1921-30, 1935-44)
• Mel Harder, 20 years (1928-1947)
• Luke Appling, 20 years (1930-43, 1945-50)
• Dutch Leonard, 20 years (1933-36, 1938-53)
• Mickey Vernon, 20 years (1939-43, 1946-60)
• Elmer Valo, 20 years (1940-43, 1946-61)
• Brian Downing, 20 years (1973-1992)
• Rafael Palmeiro, 20 years (1986-2005)

Did you know that out of the 18 players listed above, nine of them were pitchers?

On deck, we have the players who played in the most regular season games without appearing in a World Series:

• Rafael Palmeiro - 2,831 games
• Ken Griffey Jr. - 2,671 games
• Andre Dawson - 2,627 games
• Ernie Banks - 2,528 games
• Julio Franco - 2,527 games
• Billy Williams - 2,488 games
• Rod Carew - 2,469 games
• Bobby Abreu - 2,425 games
• Luke Appling - 2,422 games
• Mickey Vernon - 2,409 games
• Buddy Bell - 2,405 games

Stay tuned for next month's edition...