They took the ’80s by storm, and soon, Cabbage Patch Kids could be forever enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame.
The iconic dolls are among twelve entries now being voted on by the public for possible induction into the hall of fame at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.
Other finalists include five competitive games — Battleship, Risk, The Settlers of Catan, Mahjong, and billiards — as well as sand, the piñata, Toy Fire Engine, American Girl Dolls, Masters of the Universe, and Fisher-Price Corn Popper.
The 2021 finalists were pulled from the thousands of nominations the National Toy Hall of Fame receives each year. Anyone can nominate a toy and a panel of experts, along with input from the public, votes in the three to be inducted.
All of the 2021 finalists have “greatly influenced the world of play,” says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections at the hall.
To be inducted, toys must have withstood tests of time and memory, changed play or toy design and fostered learning, creativity or discovery. If selected, the Cabbage Patch Kids would join the likes of Raggedy Ann and Andy, Barbie, G.I. Joe, Jack-in-the-Box, Frisbee, Etch A Sketch, Wiffle Ball, Tinkertoy, Tonka Trucks, and 65 other iconic toys inducted since 1998.
Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland is home to the Cabbage Patch Kids. The popular Northeast Georgia tourist spot shared a post on its Facebook page encouraging people to make the Cabbage Patch Kids into Hall of Famers.
Fans may vote daily now through September 22 at the “Player’s Choice Ballot” on The Strong National Museum of Play website.
The three toys that receive the most public votes will be submitted as one ballot to be counted with the 22 other top-three ballots submitted by the National Selection Advisory Committee, effectively making the public one member of the committee.
The winners will be inducted on November 4.
