Frisbee celebrates 50 years of flying its disc across the world

ATHENS, Ohio – One common summer pastime and one of the world’s fastest growing sports would not be possible without the Frisbee, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month. \nIn the 1920s, students at Yale began throwing around empty pie tins from the Frisbie Baking Company of Bridgeport, Conn., according to the World Flying Disc Federation. \nIn 1948, Walter “Fred” Morrison of Los Angeles and collaborator Warren Franscioni invented a more accurate version of the disc, made of plastic. After the partners split, Morrison created another plastic disc, which he labeled the “Pluto Platter.” \nRich Knerr and A.K. “Spud” Melin, owners of a new toy company called Wham-O, convinced Morrison to sell them his rights to the toy and 50 years ago, in 1957, they began production of the Pluto Platters. The following year, the Frisbie Baking Company closed down and Morrison was granted a patent for his flying disc. He has earned more than $1 million in royalties for his invention. \nKnerr then decided that a new name could increase sales. After a slight modification of name “Frisbie,” the registered trademark “Frisbee” was born. \nMattel Inc., one of more than 60 flying disc manufacturers, now owns the Frisbee. \nThe Frisbee has spawned many new sports played all over the world, including Frisbee golf, Frisbee tennis, and ultimate Frisbee, according to the Australian Flying Disc Association. Ultimate Frisbee was created in 1968 by high school students in Maplewood, New Jersey, as a cross between football, soccer and basketball, wrote Adam Zagoria, a New Jersey-based sports writer who has published two books about the sport. \n“I think (ultimate Frisbee) is just something different, not necessarily better (than other sports). It’s more laid back,” said Ohio University student Bryan McGaughey as he tossed a Frisbee with Hocking college student Trevor Johnson on Tuesday. \n“The Frisbee is one of the best and simplest inventions of our time,” said Bryan Wildasinn, an Ohio University ultimate Frisbee club player. “You’d probably only hear that from an Ultimate player.” \nThere are ultimate Frisbee programs in 42 countries, and ultimate Frisbee receives government funding in Sweden, Norway and Japan, Zagoria wrote. \n“I’ve met most of my friends through playing with that piece of plastic,” Wildasinn said.