The American Museum of Natural History announced it will open a new exhibition, “For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence,” on May 15. The exhibition will feature championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry from well-known athletes and teams in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery, located within the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals.
Among the items displayed will be the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy and the 2021 MLS Cup Championship Ring awarded to New York City FC after their title win in 2021. The exhibition covers nearly 150 years of sports history, highlighting how these objects represent athletic achievement and reflect changes in modern sports culture. The opening coincides with preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026 and is part of a series called “World Cup, World Cultures: Celebrating the Community and Science of Sport,” aimed at both local residents and international visitors.
Museum President Sean M. Decatur said: “For The Win brings together an extraordinary collection of objects that commemorate the defining moment of victory in sports, meticulously crafted from spectacular gems and minerals, and explores how athletics can resonate far beyond the field of play. With the excitement of the World Cup building, the exhibition will also mark the launch of a series of fun, interactive experiences at the Museum that enable visitors to engage with the science, global community, and culture of sports.”
The exhibition is curated by Guest Curator Vikki Tobak along with Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman as senior advisor. Kate Kiseeva serves as curator for gems and minerals at the museum.
More than 70 objects from over 15 sports—including basketball, baseball, football, soccer, tennis, boxing, and golf—will be included. Items range from traditional medals to elaborate symbols like championship rings. Notable pieces include one of Jesse Owens’s gold medals from Berlin’s 1936 Olympics; Breanna Stewart’s New York Liberty 2024 WNBA Championship ring; Ali Krieger’s medal from her FIFA Women’s World Cup victory; Kevin Durant’s first NBA Championship ring; an Olympic torch from Mexico City in 1968; Yogi Berra’s Babe Ruth Crown; Justin Tuck’s Super Bowl rings; Katie Ledecky’s Golden Goggles Award; Claressa Shields’s boxing championship belt; among others.
“For every object in this exhibition honors what it means to be great, what it means to win,” said Guest Curator Vikki Tobak. “A ring, a medal, a trophy — each one marks the moment an athlete, a team, a dream defied the odds and made history. For the Win invites us to look closer at the things we’ve made to honor greatness, and what we find is the story of modern sports itself.”
Senior advisor Rich Kleiman commented: “I grew up an obsessive sports fan on the Upper West Side. To be able to play a part in putting this exhibit together in walking distance from my childhood home is a true honor. The American Museum of Natural History is iconic, and this exhibition has been a perfect collaboration in the celebration of winning at the highest level in sports. I’m excited for people to experience it.”
The exhibition is included with general admission tickets.
Following its opening, two more spaces featuring interactive soccer activities for all ages are planned along with media installations about major moments in global sporting history. Other events will include live FIFA World Cup match viewings as well as educational programs exploring biomechanics and cultural aspects of sport.
The American Museum of Natural History was established in New York City in 1869 with missions focused on scientific research and education.
