While the Magic 8-Ball is fairly harmless, it is not recommend that you crack it open and drink the delicious, blueberry-flavored liquid to become stronger, mostly because it’s only alcohol with blue coloring.

The Magic 8-Ball as we know it was created by a one Albert Carter, who then went out and sold the item with a man named Abe Bookman.  Many people falsely attribute the creation of this classic vintage toy to Bookman, but of course that’s just silly.  Bookman just saw the future and all signs pointed to Yes.

What you may not know about the Magic 8-Ball is that it is standard to have a 20-sided die, (an icosahedral die, totally didn’t get that from Wikipedia), within the blue liquid that “gives you answers to questions.”

The 8 Ball Relies on Fixed Probability – as well as Magic

This die is a handy way to tote around the Magic 8's power inconspicously

Of the 20 possible responses, 10 are always positive, 5 are negative, and 5 are unclear. You can get variations that have only positive or only negative answers, but the standard is 10-5-5, just in case you needed to know that, which you did.

Just remember, the Magic 8-Ball isn’t really magic, unless of course you ask a Magic 8-Ball and it says, “All signs point to yes.” Then, naturally, its magic has been proven as fact.

Only two of the twelve nominees will make the final cut, but they will be in good company with the best toys of all time.

This year’s nominees are:

• the baby doll
• Clue®
• the dollhouse
• Flexible Flyer® Sled
• The Game of Life®
• Hot Wheels®
• Magic 8 Ball®
• Rubik’s Cube®
• skateboard
• Thomas the Tank Engine™
• Wiffle Ball® and
• Yahtzee®

Note how several entries are not name-brand toys, but classic toy types.  In my mind, this really reveals the authenticity of this Hall of Fame, and shows how the Strong National Museum of Play has our memories at heart.

I’m voting for the Magic 8 Ball.