National Marbles Tournament
Marbles in 1945 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Marbles (game of "Ringer") |
| Location | Wildwood, New Jersey |
| Month played | June |
| Established | 1923 |
Number of tournaments | 99 as of 2025 |
| Format | tournament |
| Website | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/article_9e54a751-33ee-4d91-8b63-80ea1cb28592.html |
| Current champion | |
| [Boys] Vincent Ruiz (Standing Stone, TN) and [Girls] Elise Peterson (Allegheny County, PA) | |
The National Marbles Tournament ("NMT") is a United States nationwide marbles tournament for boys and girls between 7 and 14 years of age.[1][2] For most of its history, the NMT has been held annually at "Ringer Stadium" on Wildwood Beach in Wildwood, New Jersey. During separate, simultaneous 4-day marble tournaments for boys and girls, the two national champions are decided.[3]
History and qualification
The National Marbles Tournament is an invitational tournament. To qualify, organizers of marbles tournaments for children conducted in towns, cities, and counties around the United States must apply to the NMT Board for participation. (A long-standing participant, for example, is the Allegheny County [PA] Marbles Program.)[4] Local champions of approved tournaments may register for the Nationals.[5]
The first true National Marbles Tournament was held in 1923, following a surge in 1922 of citywide tournaments and intercity challenge bouts between 2 to 4 city champions. Game rules and playing styles differed from town to town. Several intercity champs and their handlers added chaos and dissention by rushing to claim “nation champion” and even “world champion” status.[6][7]
Marbles games have deep roots in American folklife. In 1922 marbles were already considered "old-fashioned" game toys for kids, but were still widely popular. Adults were delighted by news of extensive competitions involving their favorite childhood games.[8]
Noting the interest, the Scripps-Howard Newspapers group organized plans for a legitimate nationwide marbles competition in June 1923. They opened their tournament to all boys and girls of any race or background. They decided on uniform rules for a game called Ringer and set the age limit to kids under 15. Sponsoring newspapers and parks departments agreed to run local playoffs, then fund travel to, and accommodations at the national finals for their champions and a family escort.[9]
Forty cities around the US, including 8 from Pacific Coast states, sent champions to Atlantic City, New Jersey for the first NMT. All of them traveled by train, some for as long as 4 days and 4 nights. The final match, won by Harlin McCoy of Columbus, Ohio, was watched live at the famous boardwalk by an estimated crowd of 5000 or more.[6][10]
By 1924, the number of cities participating rose to 54, with some half a million children competing in local marbles tournament play-offs. Represented towns grew to 64 in 1925, and by 1926, over 3 million children were said to have played in early qualifying games.[6]
Atlantic City, New Jersey hosted the NMT until 1928. It moved to Ocean City, New Jersey, which welcomed the event from 1929 to 1936. From 1937 to 1948 the event was held in Wildwood, New Jersey. However, during World War II, the tournament moved safely inland to Cleveland, Ohio (1943 and 1946), and was canceled entirely in 1944 and 1945. A separate girls champion was officially recognized starting in 1948.
In 1949 the tournament moved again, to Asbury Park, New Jersey for 11 years, returning to Wildwood in 1960, where it remains today. In 1976, Great Adventure Park in Jackson, NJ hosted a one-time Bicentennial year run of the NMT. [6]
National Marbles Tournament Milestones
1923: The NMT, based in Atlantic City, NJ, becomes the first US nationwide game tournament for U15 youth.[11] The contest is the first and only "single elimination" NMT.
1924: The NMT is now organized into several regional leagues. During days of preliminary play, each contender competes only with others in his/her assigned league. League leaders advance to the semifinals, and the two with the best records enter the finals for the NMT championship.
The first serial adventure story based on the NMT (“Aladdin and His Wonderful Agate”) appears in some sponsoring newspapers to promote participation. More serial features appear in later years.[12]
1925: The first girl to win a city championship (Marie Lawley, Harrisburg, PA) is the first girl to compete in the NMT. She becomes a tournament celebrity.[13]
Atlantic City presents a large statuette/trophy, called “The Marble Shooter,” to each contestant (and for several subsequent years, to each semifinalist).[14]
1926: The city champion of Honolulu, Hawaii (Francis Kau) steams across the Pacific Ocean and American continent to compete in the NMT, the longest trip to/from the tournament ever made. Kau meets President Calvin Coolidge in Washington, DC en route and demonstrates his marble shooting skills on a West Wing office carpet.[15]
On his way home to Kentucky, the 1926 National Champ, Willis “Fatty” Harper, stops in Washington, DC where he’s the first National Marbles Champion to meet a US President (Coolidge). The same day at a baseball game between the New York Yankees and Washington Senators, he meets all-stars Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson.[16]
1929: The NMT base moves to Ocean City, NJ, beating some twenty other locations bidding for host-city honors.
The finals are broadcast live to a nationwide radio audience for the first time. Famous national play-by-play announcer Graham McNamee says the tournament gave him “just about the biggest thrill of my career.”[17]
1930: A rare prize for the National Champion is an international trip. Jimmy Lee (Columbus, OH) cruises from New York City to Los Angeles via the Panama Canal. He plays marbles with Latin American kids en route as a proxy ambassador for the NMT.
1931: A big rule change ends games when one player knocks 7 (of 13) marbles out of the ring. Previously, games were played until all 13 marbles were knocked out. Tournament play becomes a lot shorter.
For the first time, a Canadian champion (Simon Wittenberg, Pt. Colborne, Ontario) takes part in the NMT. His sponsor, The Buffalo (NY) Times, calls the NMT the “International Marbles Tournament.”[18]
1931-32: Kentucky is the first state to be the home of back-to-back championships.
1933: In another big rule change, the “kill rule” is ended. Previously, if a player’s shooter stopped in the ring without knocking a target marble out of the ring, it had to remain in place. An opponent could try to knock the standing shooter out of the ring, “killing” the opposing player and immediately winning that game.
Growing popularity and Depression-era expenses introduce separate Eastern and Western National playoff regions. The Western Region champ (held at Chicago’s Soldier Field) is flown to Ocean City to play a finals match against the Eastern Region champ.
1934: Still growing, NMT playoffs expand again to three regional playoff divisions. Regional champs are always brought to the New Jersey shore for final matches. In subsequent years before World War II, playoff regions keep increasing and regional host city locations change frequently.
1937: The NMT base moves again, to Wildwood, NJ.
1938: 1937 National Champion Bill Kloss (Canton, OH) is featured in the famous Life magazine.[19]
1940: National playoffs expand to 6 regions, played out in five locations.
1941: At least 147 local champions (including 9 girls) participate in National playoffs, the most ever in all of NMT history.
1943: Due to World War II restrictions, the NMT moves inland to Cleveland in 1943 and 1946, and experiences lower participation.[20] In those contests, brothers Richard and Raymond Ryabik (Pittsburgh, PA) are the first pair of siblings to win championships.[21]
1944 and 1945: The NMT is canceled.
1947: Resuming play in Wildwood, the NMT finals are featured in two leading magazines: Life and Time.
1948: A separate girls champion is officially recognized. Most years since 1925, one or more local girl champs had competed at the Nationals with the boy champs. This year, the 5 girl contenders are placed in a common league with a few boys. The girl with the best playoffs record (Jean Smedley, Philadelphia, PA) becomes the first recognized Girls National Marbles Champion. (Jean had also earned the best girls record in 1947 and was called the girls champ, but not crowned.)
1949: The NMT base moves again, to Asbury Park, NJ.
1950: National Champion Bob Retzlaff (Montgomery, AL) wins another international trip, to France. He travels with Southern Regional Director, Oka Hester (Greensboro, NC). They promote the NMT in Paris, and learn about French versions of the game (“billes”). But efforts to recruit European participants in the NMT fail.
1953: For the first time, 5 girl contenders are assigned to an all-girls league, no long competing with boys in league playoffs. This guarantees that the Girls’ National Champion will also advance to the overall National semifinals along with other league leaders (boys).
1955: Sports Illustrated, launched by Time, Inc. a year earlier, runs an article on marbles, hinting that the future of the game and tournament look dim. SI prints many more reports on the NMT for decades.
1958: When the tournament ends, its longest-serving director, Ralph E. Shurtleff (Assistant to the Editor, Cleveland Press), turns NMT leadership over to Oka Hester (Director of Greensboro, NC Parks & Recreation). Scripps ends its NMT sponsorship, focusing its youth outreach on the growing National Spelling Bee.
1959: The “Best Sport” Award becomes an annual tradition. From 1971 on, both boys’ and girls’ Best Sports are chosen each year.
1960: The girls tournament is totally separated from the boys tournament. The Girls National Champion no longer competes for an overall National Championship. (Girls had never reached the finals in mixed tournament play.)
1961: For the first time, a finals match is fought between champs from the same local program (Yonkers, NY). Ace Millen beats Tom Senita for the crown.
1963: Dividing contenders into leagues ends. Each participant (boys and girls separately) now plays every other one during preliminary games. The top 8 boys compete in 2 semifinal divisions. The 2 semifinal division winners play in the finals. With fewer contenders, the Girls National Champion is decided by her standing in the preliminary games.
A “stick” is a game won by shooting 7 marbles out of the ring in the first inning of play. This year, the 37 boy contenders win a remarkable total of 282 games by sticks in preliminary play, the most ever. The top 8 win 149 of those games by sticks.
1967: Mr. and Mrs. Roger Howdyshell, owners of Marble King, Inc., attend their first National Marbles Tournament. They and their company soon become enthusiastic, long-term NMT supporters.
1973: For the first time, girls’ semifinals and finals are added following preliminary games.
1980: The youngest ever NMT Champion is Brenda Schwartz (age 9, Pottstown, PA).
1993: The National Marbles Hall of Fame opens at the George F. Boyer Historical Museum, Wildwood, NJ.
1996: The first ever perfect win-loss record in preliminary games (31-0) is won by Nathan Thompson, Thompkinsville, KY. (Nathan is also the first NMT Champion to win following 3 years as the National Runner-up.)
2009: For the first time, the child (Whitney Lapic, Berks County, PA) of a former NMT champion (1973 - Debra Stanley, Reading, PA) wins a NMT.
2020 and 2021: The NMT is canceled (COVID-19 pandemic).
2023: The 100th Anniversary of the National Marbles Tournament (the 97th run of the tournament) is celebrated.[2]
More NMT Facts
Marble shooters (players) are known as ‘mibsters.’ In the NMT, they not only compete for national honors, but for college scholarships, trophies, watches, and other prizes and awards.[1] [22]
Over 1,200 games of marbles are played in the event.[3]
Three-time Houston Rockets NBA All-Star Steve Francis, played in the event in 1988.[23]
NMT events history and former champions can be viewed at the National Marbles Hall of Fame in Wildwood. In 2005, many artifacts from the collection were moved and placed on public display at the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce.[24]
Rules
Each player must use a shooter, in size, not more than ¾" in diameter and not less than ½" in diameter, and should be made from glass or stone.[25] The shooter size will be confirmed before play commences.[25] Thirteen standard glass 5/8" marbles (all identical), are used as target marbles, and placed in the centre of the ring in an 'X' shape, with one target marble in the centre, and three on each leg spaced three inches apart.[25] Players should maintain foot contact with the wood border for each shot.[25] Players can shoot, lob underhand, or roll their shooter, and try to shoot out the most marbles before the last inning is over to win. Or any player who shoots out seven marbles is the winner.[25]
U.S. National Marbles Champions
Reference for Boys Champions:[26] Reference for Girls Champions:[27]
| Year | Boys Champion | Girls Champion |
|---|---|---|
| [1922] [6] | [These boys were 1922 city marbles champs who also won separate 'intercity' bouts. Afterwards, all of them arbitrarily declared themselves 'national' and/or 'world' champions.]:
Charles 'Buster' Rech (Jersey City, NJ) [28] Frank 'Bud' McQuade Jr (Baltimore, MD) [29] Francis Dinkey (West New York, NJ) [30] |
- |
| 1923 [11] | Harlin McCoy (Columbus, OH) [6] [31] | - |
| 1924 | George Lenox (Baltimore, MD) [6][32] | - |
| 1925 | Howard 'Dutch' Robbins (Springfield, MA) [6] [33] | - |
| 1926 | Willis 'Fatty' Harper (Bevier, KY) [6] [34] | - |
| 1927 | Joe Medvidovich (Pittsburgh, PA) [6] [35] | - |
| 1928 | Alfred Huey (Akron, OH) [6] [36] | - |
| 1929 [37] | Charles 'Sonny' Albany (Philadelphia, PA) [6] [38] | - |
| 1930 | James Lee (Columbus, OH) [6] [39] | - |
| 1931 | John Jeffries (Greenville, KY) [6] [40] | - |
| 1932 | Harley 'Shorty' Corum (Louisville, KY) [6] [41] | - |
| 1933 | Aaron Butash (Throop, PA) [6] [42] | - |
| 1934 | Clifton Seaver (Springfield, MA) [43] | - |
| 1935 | Henry Altyn (Throop, PA) [44] [45] | - |
| 1936 | Leonard Tyner (Chicago, IL) [46] | - |
| 1937 [47] | William Kloss (Canton, OH) [48] | - |
| 1938 | Frank Santo (Throop, PA) [49] | - |
| 1939 | Harry DeBoard (Landenburg, PA) [50] | - |
| 1940 | James Music (Huntington, WV) [51] | - |
| 1941 | Gerald 'Chick' Robinson (Scranton, PA) [52] | - |
| 1942 | Charles Mott (Huntington, WV) [53] | - |
| 1943 [20] | Richard 'Butch' Ryabik (Pittsburgh, PA) [54] | - |
| 1944 | No tournament - World War II | |
| 1945 | No tournament - World War II | |
| 1946 | Raymond Ryabik (Pittsburgh, PA) [21] | - |
| 1947 | Benjamin 'Buddy' Sklar (Pittsburgh, PA) [55] | - |
| 1948 | Herbert Turman (Beloit, WI) | Jean Smedley (Philadelphia, PA) |
| 1949 [56] | George Wentz (Huntington, WV) | Emma Miller (Canton, OH) |
| 1950 | Bob Retzlaff (Montgomery, AL) | Kay Allen (Greensboro, NC) |
| 1951 | Shirley Allen (Beckley, WV) | Ida Jean Hopkins (Cleveland, OH) |
| 1952 | Russell Gwaltney (Salem, VA) [45] | Dorothy Hobbs (Augusta, GA) |
| 1953 | Jerry Roy (Huntington, WV) | Arlene Riddette (Yonkers, NY) |
| 1954 | Bob Hickman (Huntington, WV) | Wanita Kucher (Philadelphia, PA) |
| 1955 | Raymond Jones (Pittsburgh, PA) | Karen Olson (Niles, OH) |
| 1956 | Fred Brown (Beckley, WV) | Lynette Watkins (Philadelphia, PA) |
| 1957 | Stanley Herold (Summersville, WV) | Lois Fusco (Yonkers, NY) |
| 1958 | Dennis Kyle (Richwood, WV) | Jeannette Merlino (Yonkers, NY) |
| 1959 | Matthew Wysocki (Wilkes-Barre, PA) | Sandra Stefanchik (Yonkers, NY) |
| 1960 [57] | Tommy Meade (Yonkers, NY) | Christine Zamojsky (Yonkers, NY) |
| 1961 | Ace Millen (Yonkers, NY) | Anita Danyluk (Niles, OH) |
| 1962 | Mark O'Mahoney (Pittsburgh, PA) | Peggy Mullen (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 1963 | James Donohue (Springfield, MA) | Patsy Coon (Philadelphia, PA) |
| 1964 | Clarence Bower (Mullen, WV) | Claudia Davis (Yonkers, NY) |
| 1965 | Gary Malcolm (Elkhart, IN) | Jacqueline Izaj (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 1966 | Melvin Garland (Pittsburgh, PA) | Marcella Elliott (Wilmington, DE) |
| 1967 | Barry Blum (York, PA) | Patricia Yurkovich (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 1968 | Rudy Raymond (Reading, PA) | Debbie Webb (Yonkers, NY) |
| 1969 | Glenn Sigmon (Wharton, WV) | Maureen Regan (Lawrenceville, PA) |
| 1970 | Ray Morgano (Pittsburgh, PA) | Karen Yurkovich (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 1971 | Rick Mawhinney (Cumberland, MD) | Cheryl Elliott (Wilmington, DE) |
| 1972 | Ray Jarrell (Whitesville, WV) | Kathy Pazkowski (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 1973 | Doug Hager (Whitesville, WV) | Debra Stanley (Reading, PA) [45] |
| 1974 | Larry Kokos (Pittsburgh, PA) | Susan Regan (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 1975 | Richard Unser (Pittsburgh, PA) [45] | Sharon Woolworth (Reading, PA) |
| 1976 | Jeff Rice (Cumberland, MD) | Judy Bosiljevak (Allegheny County PA) |
| 1977 | Walt Morgano (Lawrenceville, PA) | Dianne Kopicki (Reading, PA) |
| 1978 | Dean Feinauer (Reading, PA) | Diane Bertosh (Lawrenceville, PA) |
| 1979 | Danny Stamm (Reading, PA) | Kris Alfiero (Reading, PA) [45] |
| 1980 | Sandy Nesmith (Arnett, WV) | Brenda Schwartz (Pottstown, PA) |
| 1981 | Jeff Kimmell (Cumberland, MD) [58][45] | Joelle Guiles (Reading, PA) [45] |
| 1982 | Mike Moore (Cumberland, MD) [45] | Lisa Stamm (Reading, PA) |
| 1983 | Kerry Acord (Arnett, WV) | Patricia Kimmel (Cumberland, MD |
| 1984 | Gregg Yakich (Pittsburgh, PA) | Nicole Stamm (Reading, PA) |
| 1985 | Jon Jamison (Reading, PA) | Amy Thompson (Cumberland, MD) |
| 1986 | Giang Duong (Upper Darby, PA) | Darlene Schwartz (Berks County, PA) |
| 1987 | Chad Reber (Berks County, PA) | Lori Dickel (Ridgeley, WV) |
| 1988 | Dan Strohecker (Reading, PA) | Shannon Capasso (Pittsburgh, PA) [45] |
| 1989 | Nicky Piatek (Pittsburgh, PA) [45] | Donna Rothenberger (Reading, PA) [45] |
| 1990 | Carl Whitacre (Ridgeley, WV) [45] | Alison Reber (Oley, PA) [45] |
| 1991 | Brian Shollenberger (Reading, PA) [45] | Dawn Lancaster (Cumberland, MD) [45] |
| 1992 | Wesley Thompson (Standing Stone, TN) [45] | Trish Tressler (Frederick County, MD) [45] |
| 1993 | David McGee (Pittsburgh, PA) [45] | Amanda Burns (Clay County, TN) |
| 1994 | Bong Duong (Upper Darby, PA) [45] | Kim Shuttleworth (Allegheny County, PA) [45] |
| 1995 | Jason Williams (Clarksburg, WV) | Stephanie Zlokas (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 1996 | Nathan Thompson (Monroe County, KY) | Molly Reecer (Celina, TN) |
| 1997 | Michael Thomas (Upper Darby, PA) | Megan Winkelman (Frederick County, MD) [58] |
| 1998 | Ben Nelson (Middletown, MD) | Emily Martin (Frederick County, MD) |
| 1999 | Doug Watson (Greencastle, PA) | Kathy Stehlik (Perry Hall, MD) |
| 2000 | Andrew Martinez (Grand Junction, CO) | Larin Miller (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 2001 | Tim Ratliff (Washington Co., MD) | Kristie Vanderzee |
| 2002 | Jonathan Hulse (Washington Co., MD) | Morgan Kellman (Middletown, MD) |
| 2003 | Jeremy Hulse (Hagerstown, MD) | Jennifer Pinciotti (Frederick County, MD) |
| 2004 | Aaron Nees (Mesa County, CO) | Carly Miller (Allegheny County, PA) |
| 2005 | Jamie Miller (Allegheny County, PA) | Amy Nees (Mesa County, CO) |
| 2006 | Keith Moss (Allegheny County, PA) | Melissa Ashwood (Gunnison, CO) |
| 2007 | Nick Anderson (Mesa County, CO) | Alexandra Bauer (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 2008 | John Laffakis (Pittsburgh, PA) | Amber Ricci (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 2009 | Ricky Brode (Cumberland, MD) | Whitney Lapic (Shillington, PA) |
| 2010 | Corey Goolsby (Standing Stone, TN) | Penelope Bauer (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 2011 | Brandon Matchett (Allegheny County, PA) | Bailey Narr (Allegheny County, PA) |
| 2012 | Caleb Isaacson (Gunnison, CO) | Logan Mayberry (Clay County, TN) |
| 2013 | Cooper Fischer (Middletown, MD)[22] | Emily Cavacini (Allegheny County, PA) |
| 2014 | Dominic Rudakevych (Middletown, MD)[22] | Marilyn Fischer (Middletown Valley, MD) [22] |
| 2015 | Devon Loewendick (Cumberland, MD) | Emily Simkovich (Lansdowne, PA) |
| 2016 | Louie Lee (Mesa County, CO) | Haley Grenesko (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 2017 | Eli Murphy (Allegheny County, PA) | Sierra Ricci (Allegheny County, PA) |
| 2018 | Joshua Johnston (Ambler, PA) | Madison Johnson (Allegheny County, PA) |
| 2019 | Spencer Hays (Gunnison, CO) | Lauren Young (Frederick County, MD) |
| 2020 | No tournament - COVID-19 | |
| 2021 | No tournament - COVID-19 | |
| 2022 | Todd Kmiecik (Middletown, MD) | Jessica Johnson (Cape May County, NJ) |
| 2023 | Isaiah Garcia (Philadelphia, PA) | Jessica Thompson (Middletown Valley, MD) |
| 2024 | Myles Lacy (Clay County, TN) [3] | Katelynn Gaumer (Cumberland, MD) [3] |
| 2025 | Vincent Ruiz (Standing Stone, TN) [59] | Elise Peterson (Allegheny County, PA) [59] |
Other marble tournaments
References
- ^ a b "National Marble Tournament | Wildwood, NJ / About". The National Marbles Tournament. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ a b Eddie Davis (20 June 2023). "Wildwood's National Marbles Tourney Celebrates 100 Years". wfpg.com.
- ^ a b c d "The Wildwoods Crown the King and Queen of Marbles at the 101st Annual National Marbles Tournament". wildwoodsnj.com. 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Allegheny County/Marbles Program". alleghenycounty.us. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ "Tournament | National Marble Tournament". National Marbles Tournament. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Flewelling, Stan (2018). "Kings (and Queens) of the Ring - Early Days of the US National Marbles Tournament". Museum of American Glass in West Virginia/National Marble Museum. magwv.org.
- ^ Flewelling, Stan (4 May 2023). "How the National Marbles Tournament Got Started/7 – Mibs Mania". How the National Marbles Tournament Got Started. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ "Old-Fashioned Games for Our Kiddies of Today". The Buffalo Enquirer. 25 September 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ Flewelling, Stan (5 May 2023). "How the National Marbles Tournament Got Started/9 – Big News!". How the National Marbles Tournament Got Started. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Flewelling, Stan (24 May 2023). "How the National Marbles Tournament Got Started/32 – Finals". How the National Marbles Tournament Got Started. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Big News Here For Marble Players". The Cleveland Press. 6 February 1923. p. 1. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Aladdin and His Wonderful Agate". The Scranton (PA) Times. 3 May 1924. p. 5. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Girl Wins Trip to Seashore and Piano From 'Dad'". Harrisburg Telegraph. 23 May 1925. p. 1. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Statuette Received by Master Weiss, Mib Champ". The Pittsburgh Press. 18 October 1925. p. 27. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ "Visit of Hawaii's Marble Champion With President At White House". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 24 June 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Coolidge Greets Harper And Boswell In Executive Offices Of The White House". Owensboro (KY) Messenger-Inquirer. 4 July 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ McNamee, Graham (21 July 1929). "Graham McNamee Speaking: 'The Unexpected Thrill'". Buffalo (NY) Courier Express. p. 47. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "Three Mib Champs Off To Ocean City". The Buffalo Times. 20 June 1931. p. 3. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ LIFE Magazine - 'Bill Kloss is America's Best Marble Player'. Time Inc. 25 April 1938. pp. 54–55.
- ^ a b "Press National Tourney Is Coming Soon [to Cleveland]". The Cleveland Press. 26 April 1943. p. 9. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Pittsburgh Boy Wins U.S. Marbles Crown". The Cleveland Press. 7 June 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d Trudi Gilfillian (19 June 2014). "Champions crowned at the National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood". pressofatlanticcity.com.
- ^ Trudi Gilfillian (16 June 2014). "National Marbles Tournament begins in Wildwood". Press of Atlantic City.
- ^ Patrick Lavery (27 October 2022). "Wildwood, N.J Hasn't lost its Marbles - Its kept them for 100 years". nj1015.com/.
- ^ a b c d e "Tournament Rules and Equipment" (PDF). nationalmarblestournament.org. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "National Marbles Tournament – National Boys Champions". nationalmarblestournament.org. 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "National Marbles Tournament – National Girls Champions". nationalmarblestournament.org. 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "Wins Marble Title As 3,000 Boys Cheer". The New York Times. 14 May 1922. p. 17. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Local Hoodles Champion Wins Fresh Laurels At Philadelphia". The Baltimore Sun. 21 May 1922. pp. 24 & 8. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Buster Loses Marbles Title And Declares He's Through". New York Daily News. 8 September 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Harlin McCoy Captures First U.S. Marble Title". Atlantic City Daily Press. 30 June 1923. p. 18. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Maryland Boy Lands National Marbles Title". Atlantic City Daily Press. 7 June 1924. p. 1. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Dutch Robbins Marble Champ". Atlantic City Daily Press. 6 June 1925. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Kentucky Lad Youngest King Of Marbledom". Atlantic City Daily Press. 3 July 1926. pp. 1&18. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "13-Year-Old Clairton Boy Marble King". Atlantic City Daily Press. 2 July 1927. pp. 1, 20, 22. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Kenmore, Ohio 'Mibs' Marvel New Champion". Atlantic City Daily Press. 4 July 1928. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Ocean City [NJ] Gets Marble Tourney". Atlantic City Press. 16 February 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "'Mibs' Crown Goes to Philadelphia". Atlantic City Press. 29 June 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "James Lee Wins Marble Crown". New York Daily News. 28 June 1930. p. 28. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "John Jeffries Wins National Marbles Title". Atlantic City Press. 27 June 1931. p. 17. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "South Jersey Youth Loses Mibs Title: Weisgerber defeated by 'Shorty' Corum". Atlantic City Press. 2 July 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Aaron Butash, Throop, PA, Wins National 'Mibs' Crown". Atlantic City Press. 1 July 1933. p. 8. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Seaver Snares U.S. Mibs Title". Atlantic City Press. 1 July 1934. p. 15. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Lad 'Mibs' King". Atlantic City Press. 30 June 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Look Back at Wildwood's Marbles Tournament". pressofatlanticcity.com. 6 June 2014.
- ^ "Leonard Tyner Wins National Mibs Diadem". Atlantic City Press. 3 July 1936. p. 13. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Winner Again Will Be Sent To Nationals". Cumberland Sunday Times. 14 March 1937. p. 19. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "William Kloss Captures National Marbles Crown". Atlantic City Press. 3 July 1937. p. 12. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Santo Annexes U.S. Mibs Title". Atlantic City Press. 2 July 1938. p. 9. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "DeBoard Wins Marble Title". Atlantic City Press. 1 July 1939. p. 12. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Kentucky Lad Wins Mibs Championship". Atlantic City Press. 29 June 1940. p. 14. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Gerald 'Chick' Robinson Carries Off Marbles Title". Atlantic City Press. 12 July 1941. p. 12. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Charley Mott 'Whistles' His Way To The National Marbles Crown". Atlantic City Press. 4 July 1942. p. 7. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Boy Wins Grand Championship Crown in 1943 National Marbles Tournament". The Cleveland Press. 12 June 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Boy Wins National Mibs Title". Atlantic City Press. 28 June 1947. p. 17. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ "Marbles Tourney To Be At Asbury Park". Long Branch [NJ] Daily Record. 23 March 1949. p. 12. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "US Marble Tourney Set In Wildwood [Again]". Atlantic City Press. 8 January 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ a b Elissa Leibowitz (30 July 1997). "A Champion at Marbles - Player Made a Straight Shot for the Top". washingtonpost.com. Jeff Kimmell, national marbles champion of 1981, and marbles coach of twelve-year-old Megan Winkelman quoted: Megan is the best marble player, he has ever seen.
- ^ a b Press of Atlantic City, Jacob Erlbaum (18 June 2025). "Wildwood just crowned its newest king and queen of marbles". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 23 June 2025.