The Frisbee is a staple of parks and beaches, but its beginnings are as humble as a pie plate. In the late 19th century, the Frisbie Pie Company in Connecticut made tin pie plates with their name embossed on the bottom. College students discovered that these pie plates could be tossed back and forth, sparking a playful pastime.
Fast forward to 1948, when inventors Walter Morrison and Warren Franscioni created the first plastic flying disc, calling it the “Pluto Platter.” The toy caught the attention of the Wham-O company, which bought the design in 1957 and renamed it the Frisbee, paying homage to the original pie plates.
Today, the Frisbee is more than just a toy—it’s the centerpiece of professional sports like Ultimate Frisbee and disc golf. Who knew that a pie company’s plates would lead to a worldwide flying phenomenon?
