Even in late March, when the 1958 U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held in Minneapolis, the record books show that the daily temperatures were only in the 30°F to 35°F range. Although that’s likely not a temperature record in Minneapolis, even for late spring, what is a record of sorts is that the 1958 U.S. Championships has the distinction of being the first national championship to be commemorated with a collectible lapel pin.1
The gold-color, metal pin features a central figure skating pair in a stag jump in relief atop the letters “FSCM,” which denotes the host club, the Figure Skating Club of Minneapolis. Around the circumference of the pin, the event is noted with “USFSA” at the top and “Nat’l Championships” along the bottom, employing the colloquial term “Nationals” (although in abbreviated form) in reference to the national championship. The year “1958” is split and appears in the top third of the pin.
The 1958 U.S. Championships has the distinction of being the first national championship to be commemorated with a collectible lapel pin.
This pin, acquired at auction from a large sports memorabilia dealer, is from the estate of a former U.S. ladies competitor. Based on The Curator’s experience over nearly 40 years of collecting, the 1958 U.S. Championships pin likely was made in extremely limited number and not made available to the general public.
1 Source: Former Director of the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame.
1958 U.S. Championships
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