A number of interesting things have been invented in Oakland over the years, and Oakland has been home to various inventors.

Food and Drink

Mai Tai photo CC-A by duluoz catspopsicle patent #1,505,592 USPTODreyer's Rocky Road photo CC SA-BY from Our Oakland

Sports

  • fantasy football - invented by Raiders' partner Wilfred "Bill" Winkenbach, Bill Tunnell, Raiders PR manager, and Scotty Stirling, reporter. The initial league was called GOPPPL (Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League). Later leagues met at King's X Bar (now Kona Club) on Piedmont Avenue. (Wikipedia)
  • "the wave" - might have been invented by "Crazy George" Henderson. First televised, October 15, 1981 at an A's game (Wikipedia)

CC BY-SA 4.0 Alan Josephs

Other

Honorable Mentions

Some things that weren't necessarily invented in Oakland, but have Oakland connections:

  • Pelton waterwheel - invented by Lester A. Pelton, "the father of hydroelectric power", who retired to Oakland
  • the "high five" - invented by then L.A. Dodger Glenn Burke and teammate Dusty Baker
  • brick making - the Remillard Brick Company patented various improvements for brick-making

Inventors

Links and References