Historic Shuffleboard Trophies Stolen from St. Petersburg Museum

The world of shuffleboard is generally a peaceful place, despite rigorous tournaments and high-stake competitions that make the game such an addictive pastime. However, one of the premier shuffleboard organizations in the country has been rampaged by thieves who ran off with eight of the 20 trophies on display at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club in St. Petersburg, Florida last week.

The Club, which was formed in 1924, has a bevy of antique shuffleboard paraphernalia on display at its museum-headquarters, which is considered by locals to be a landmark destination when it comes to area history.

Of the trophies taken, the oldest date back to the 1930s and ’40s and are made out of pewter and silver. Despite their age and the personal value attributed to the items, Club officials estimate that similar trophies can be bought online for roughly $15, making the crime a baffling situation for locals.

“They’re irreplaceable. They don’t even make trophies like this anymore. They have historic value to us, and I feel like they have historic value to St. Petersburg,” said Club president Christine Page in a story from Tampa Bay Online.

Members of the club didn’t notice the theft until early Saturday morning when the group had their weekly meeting. They immediately contacted authorities and posted information about the theft on the group’s Facebook page.

The thieves also made off with a wooden Festival of States score board which dates back to the 1930s and historic postcards from the era.

When the club was first built it was said to be the largest devoted to shuffleboard in the world, although club historians admit that the founders had no proof of this fact beyond speculation. Today, it still operates as one of the biggest shuffleboard organizations in the country.