History Of The Foam Finger

History Of The Foam Finger, A general view of a foam finger vendor during the game between the Anaheim Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Edison Field in Anaheim, California. The foam finger or foam hand seen at many sporting events and political rallies. It is a novelty item intended to enhance the experience of a fan by allowing a fan to show support for their team or political candidate in a very visual manner.

The foam finger looks like an oversized hand with an extended index finger and is worn over a fan’s real hand. The surface of the foam finger will often have a name, logo, or slogan, printed on it. The foam finger is also produced in other variations of finger positions, for example: extended thumb and index and pinky, extended index and pinky (see second photo), or extended middle.

In 1978, a high school teacher named Geral Fauss invented the foam finger aka the “we are number one” foam hand, a highly successful and popular piece of sports merchandise. Geral Fauss taught industrial arts at the Cypress Fairbanks ISD in Cypress, Texas. The inventor had a love for design, technical illustration, drafting, and obviously sports.
In 1978, the football team at the high school where Geral Fauss taught had made it into the state finals. Fauss invented the foam finger to show support for the team, to raise funds for the industrial arts club, and as a project that his industrial arts class could produce themselves. The first prototype foam finger was actually made out of plywood and had a painting of a “number one” done in the school’s colors.

Foam Finger History

Foam Finger History, A foam hand, also known as a foam finger, is a sports paraphernalia item worn on the hand to show support for a particular team. The most common version resembles an oversized hand with an extended index finger. Usually the surface displays a silk-screened team name, logo, or other graphic or slogan, such as “We Are #1.” Foam hands are made of open-celled foam; slits in their bases allow them to be worn.

Invented by Geral Fauss in 1978, who originally created the giant finger out of plywood.

Besides being sold at all manner of sporting events and venues as souvenirs, foam fingers are used as fund-raisers for schools and booster clubs as well as corporate promotions.

To date, the majority of “foam hands” have been produced in a planar-like form. However, in early 2009, a product that more-closely replicates the dimensional form of a human hand (like Hulk Hands with an extended finger) was introduced and marketed under the trade name Radhand, a company owned by Vincent DeFelice and Dennis Magner.