Statue of the Inventor of Basketball - Springfield, MA - Roadside Attractions on Waymarking.com

The game of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith, an instructor at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, MA, now Springfield College. Recently, the college has made renovations to the campus which includes a new campus union (student center). Outside this building there is a polished granite bench with a bronze life-size sit-by-me statue of Dr. James Naismith.

A figure of Dr. Naismith is sitting on a rectangular polished granite bench. He is wearing glasses and dressed in a three piece suit. In his right hand he is holding a volleyball, the original type of ball that was used, against his thigh. His legs are straddling a peach basket, which is the the original target for the game.

The bronze statue was created by Elden C. Tefft and dedicated on the campus of Springfield College on April 13 2010. A bronze plaque on the granite bench is inscribed: