The History of the Beach Ball

The beach ball is an iconic toy. It’s thought to have been invented by Jonathon DeLonge in 1938. Originally, it may have been only about the size of a hand! Today, of course, beach balls are available in many sizes, some of which are incredibly large. There are also many colors and designs to choose from. However, one of the most common (and classic!) designs features six individually colored panels divided by vertical vinyl stripes. There are also two circular end panels, one of which includes an inflation valve. In less than 100 years, the beach ball has become an integral toy for taking on trips to the ocean and features prominently in many classic shoreside games.