Five industry legends will be inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame, including Basic Fun founder Jay Foreman and Radio Flyer pioneer Robert Pasin
The Toy Association has name the five industry icons who will join the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2027.
They are: Jay Foreman, Founder & CEO of Basic Fun!; Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer; as well as posthumous honorees Ralph H. Baer, known as the ‘father of video games’ and inventor of Simon; Charles Crandall, inventor and founder of Crandall Toys & Waverly Toy Works; and Norman Sas, inventor of Electric Football and founder of Tudor Games.
“Jay Foreman and Robert Pasin have spent decades bringing great ideas, beloved brands, and memorable play experiences to children and families,” said Greg Ahearn, President and CEO of The Toy Association. “Jay’s entrepreneurial drive and instinct for connecting toys with culture have made him a force in our industry, and Robert has taken the cherished legacy of the Little Red Wagon and expanded the brand in new directions while staying true to what has made it special for generations. Both leaders have also been tremendous supporters of the toy community, making this recognition especially meaningful.”
The 2027 Toy Industry Hall of Fame Inductees will join an impressive roster of 101 industry leaders who each have had a significant impact on the lives of children through toys and play. Since its inception in 1984, the Toy Industry Hall of Fame has recognised top leaders from manufacturing, retail, entertainment, licensing, and other sectors, including game changers such as Walt Disney; Ruth and Elliott Handler, and the late great Alan Hassenfeld.
Continued Ahearn: “Ralph Baer, Charles Crandall, and Norman Sas were pioneers who saw possibilities for play that others had yet to imagine… Each individual left the toy industry different than they found it, and we are proud to honor their extraordinary legacies in the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.”
Foreman and Pasin were nominated and voted on by members of The Toy Association in recognition of their significant contributions to the industry and the impact they have had on the lives of children through a lifelong commitment to toys and play. Baer, Crandall, and Sas, the 2027 posthumous inductees, were recommended by the Hall of Fame Subcommittee on Posthumous Selection and voted on by the Hall of Fame Committee.
The 2027 Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees will be honored during The Toy Foundation’s Toy of the Year Awards on 19 February, 2027.
