Yogi Berra’s Babe Ruth Crown, awarded to the cultural icon in 1975 for his lifetime batting achievements with the New York Yankees

Photo: Museum of Natural History

Olympic gold medals, championship rings, and other honors once won by professional athletes will be on display in the “For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence” exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History starting May 15.

The exhibit includes contributions from Breanna Stewart of the Liberty, former Nets superstar Kevin Durant, and the legendary Olympian Jesse Owens. The gallery will open in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and kick off a series of programming at the historic museum for sports fans to relive.

“For the Win brings together an extraordinary collection of objects that commemorate the defining moment of victory in sports, meticulously crafted from spectacular gems and minerals, and explores how athletics can resonate far beyond the field of play,” Museum President Sean M. Decatur said. “With the excitement of the World Cup building, the exhibition will also mark the launch of a series of fun, interactive experiences at the Museum that enable visitors to engage with the science, global community, and culture in sports.”

The exhibition will feature over 70 objects from more than 15 sports, including basketball, baseball, football, soccer, tennis, boxing, and golf. The collection showcases how these objects have evolved from traditional medals to symbols of triumph and achievement. 

Highlights include, but are not limited to:

• One of Owen’s Olympic gold medals from the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin
• Stewart’s 2024 WNBA Championship ring with the Liberty’s championship trophy
• The Vince Lombardi Trophy presented to the winner of the Super Bowl
• Durant’s 2017 championship ring from his time with the Golden State Warriors
• An Olympic torch from the 1968 Mexico City Summer Games
• Former Giants defensive end Justin Tuck’s 2008 and 2012 Super Bowl rings
• NYCFC’s 2021 MLS Cup

  “Every object in this exhibition honors what it means to be great [and] to win,” guest creator of the exhibit Vikki Tobak said. “A ring, medal, and trophy – each one marks the moment an athlete, a team defines the odds and makes history. For the Win invites us to look closer at the things we’ve made to honor greatness, and what we find is the story of modern sports itself.”

For the Win will be included in general admission to the American Museum of Natural History when it opens on May 15.