the toys of childhood

Do you remember what toys you used to play with as a kid? I remember toys like the lite brite, G.I. Joe action figures and Star Wars ships and figures. I had forgotten about Simon, Hoppity Hop and Speak & Spell, but toys of the eighties brought back some fond memories. MeFi has even more childhood reminiscing.

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  1. I loved Legos. In the early 80s I had the Rubik’s cube (and the requisite book “The simple solution to the Rubik’s cube”), the Rubik’s snake, and a pyramid puzzle that was not Rubik’s but same concept. And Intellivision – it rocked! I still have it. I should try to hook it up.

    Comment by Renee on April 16, 2003 @ 2:58 pm
  2. I use to play with cat women from He-Man.I would play with Barbies but only to cut off their hair and pull of their heads.Now,my most favorite toy was the Linking Logs ! Those things RULE !!

    Comment by Tammie on April 17, 2003 @ 4:41 pm
  3. I used to have a football and it was called a Itza Football . I would love to find one but no luck you could throw those a country mile !! Would love to find one

    Comment by Duece on October 18, 2003 @ 3:45 pm
  4. I had several Itza balls, they were great. I’d love to find one.

    Comment by Scott on November 8, 2004 @ 5:55 pm
  5. I’ve been looking everywhere for an Itza. I’d love to show my kids. No luck at all.

    Comment by chris on December 3, 2004 @ 7:58 pm
  6. Could you guys let me know if you find out where they sell Itza footballs? I loved them too…[email protected]

    Comment by Dan Mohar on November 3, 2005 @ 11:27 am
  7. The itza football was one of my favorite toys. We used to over inflate it and play baseball with it using a fat plastic bat. Crazy! Hopefully, somebody will reissue it as today’s nerf footballs and the like are no comparison.

    Comment by Paul on November 18, 2005 @ 2:05 pm
  8. I was fortunate enough to find an Itza football at an antique shop
    in the north woods of Minnesota. Paid 50 cents for it and it is by
    far my son’s favorite toy!!!

    Comment by Sean on September 21, 2006 @ 12:15 pm
  9. Sean,

    Could you take a pic of the Itza and post it somewhere? I can’t find a picture of those anywhere online!!

    Comment by Dominic on November 9, 2006 @ 3:37 pm
  10. ITZA Footballs???!!! That was my whole life for 10 years, best product of all time. I can’t believe they are not available. I was Joe Montana with that baby.

    Comment by Billy B on December 1, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
  11. I think I bought the last two Itza’s at a dime store that subsequently closed in Chatham, NJ. One of the clerks there foraged for them in the basement storage room. He knew they were there. It was the best present for my son on Christmas Day when he was nine because he had heard they weren’t making them anymore. I do believe this extended his belief in Santa Claus for another year.
    Why on earth did they stop making them? The nerfs are terrible in comparison.

    Comment by Mimi Whelan on December 26, 2006 @ 7:13 am
  12. Great to hear the comments about the greatest football ever made. I periodically look on eBay for these with no luck so far. Someone please post where to find these!!! The Nerf was weak!

    Comment by Curtis on January 2, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
  13. Mimi, Sean or anyone else do you still have the one that your kid used, I will buy it from you as I desperately want to buy one for my kids & see the smile on their face when they can chuck the ball a mile.

    Comment by Chris H on January 17, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
  14. HEY! Anyone who has an original ITZA football… who’s the manufacturer?
    Does it say on the ball? I can’t even find any history of them. They need to be brought back!

    Comment by Tim on April 18, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
  15. Mimi please contact me as when you get the chance regarding the Itza balls you purchased. I am fellow NJ ite & would like to contact the store where you purchased them and see if they could find a few more.

    I can be reached @[email protected].

    Thanks
    Chris

    Comment by Chris H on August 14, 2007 @ 10:38 am
  16. Mimi, I too would love to have the name of the store where you bought the ITZA football. My husband has been going on about the ITZA ball for a couple of years now and I would LOVE to be able to get him one for his birthday. It’d be like giving a 6 year old a gift!
    Tamara
    [email protected]

    Comment by Tamara on August 14, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
  17. There are Itza balls on sale on ebay at the moment. Does anyone know who or what company made these and what city they came from?

    Comment by Lisa on November 14, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
  18. I loved them too and really want to find a new one.

    Comment by Danny on March 25, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
  19. After a little research it looks like the makers of Gertie balls are he same company. You’ll see the Itza name listed next to Gertie on vendor websites. If you’ve held a Gertie ball you’ll know it’s a similar rubber.

    I’ve posted a request on the http://www.gertieball.com website. Perhaps if there’s a few more inquiries they may re-issue.

    Google ’em up and you can see for yourself.

    Comment by Dirk on March 26, 2008 @ 11:46 am
  20. If you make any progress please post what you find.

    Comment by dan on March 26, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
  21. back in the ’70’s i had a pink Itza ball. (yes, Pink) it was awesome! it was easy to grip and you could have it deflated or inflated to nearly bursting. Parker Brothers: bring back the Itza!

    Comment by Terry on June 24, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
  22. I have a green itza ball. Does anyone else have one?

    Comment by Mark on December 11, 2008 @ 7:37 am
  23. I also had an Itsa ball football! It was by far the best ball I ever threw. you could be Fran Tarkingten on any given day, please help me find one, i know there must be one out there somewere..

    Comment by Al on January 6, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
  24. the itzaball of the 70’s was made by nerf But I have found some company that makes the itzaball I ordered one tonight. the sales rep. said they are rubber. The websight is http://www.nrsweb.com and the number is 1-877-677-4327

    Comment by Anthony on January 20, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
  25. Thanks for the tip Anthony. Let us know how you like it once it arrives.

    Comment by Dan on January 21, 2009 @ 10:00 am
  26. I attended a toy fair this year, met a rep for a company. They will be releasing the itzaball sometime next year. Sorry I can’t give you more info on it thats all the info i got from the guy. I’m not affiliated with the company and I didn’t get the guys contact. I bet it will be one of the top 10 toys for the year once its out in stores! I can see it as one of the christmas hottest toys! I will post more info on if I can find it.

    The link that anthony posted (http://www.nrsweb.com ), that has a fake leather skin, with rubber bladder. The ball is pretty hard compared to the original one, its more like a real football.

    Comment by Mike on June 10, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
  27. @Mike Thanks for the news. Let us know when it’s available for purchase.

    Comment by Dan on June 10, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
  28. My three sons, all adults with kids of their own, would be the happiest three guys around if I could find them an Itza Ball. Best toy they ever had and they compare every toy football to it.

    This is the first site I have found with any information about the Itza.

    Please share info if you find a source.

    Comment by jan on January 13, 2010 @ 12:24 pm
  29. Looking for toy I had first in late 80s and then mid 90s. Its a bird toy, box says “I repeat everything you say.” It is not the talking bird sitting on a perch toy from 70s/80s/90s. I will link a pic but it is a pic taken of a pic from 80s with the toy in it, so not that clear. Anyone know maker or where to find?

    Pic at http://s796.photobucket.com/albums/yy242/N1coL3s/

    Comment by Nic on January 21, 2010 @ 10:21 pm
  30. I played with an Itsa football for many years as a child. There will never be a football that durable for all ages. If anyone finds these please contact me I would like a dozen.

    Comment by chaz on April 5, 2010 @ 7:08 pm
  31. I found it! Can’t wait to order one for my son and all of the friends my age that have kids. Thought I’d share…

    Comment by cincymac on October 2, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
  32. @cincymac Thanks for sharing the link :) Let us know if it’s as good as the original.

    Comment by Dan on October 2, 2010 @ 10:13 pm
  33. Found it on Back to Basics!

    Comment by anthony denunzio on October 14, 2010 @ 2:38 pm
  34. http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/8981/txt/Itza_Football

    Comment by Pat on November 21, 2010 @ 2:37 am
  35. If you’re looking for a similar item to the Itza ball, check out store.hedstromspecialty.com & look up G2 Air Pro!! Just like it!!!

    Comment by Shell on September 20, 2011 @ 12:50 pm
  36. Check out http://www.itzafootball.com and related Facebook page. I found the ITZA balls on Ebay and Amazon. The real deal. Merry Christmas!

    Comment by Peter on December 3, 2011 @ 7:56 am

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