The 2017 finalists were announced earlier today, which includes Transformers. The winners will be announced November 9th. Here's a link to all the finalists.
2017 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists | National Toy Hall of Fame

 

And I was just about to post that too!! Let's hope they win.

 

I hope! I would think we would rank higher than sand and play food.

 

Wow, that's some heavy duty competition since they only select 2 or 3 every year...up against Clue, Matchbox Cars, the paper airplane, Magic 8 Ball, Risk, play food, sand, Pez Dispensors, Uno and the other long shot My Little Pony.

 

*fingers crossed*

 

If I were a betting man I'd say Matchbox Cars are most likely...they pretty much came up with the scale that is still popular today, Hot Wheels are already in the hall of fame, but they might never have existed if Matchbox wasn't so popular for over a decade and a half first. Hot Wheels, Johnny Lightning, Tomica, Burning Key Cars...all owe their scale to Matchbox.

After that I'd go with Clue...one of the most popular board games ever and has been in print constantly for 70 years this year.

If they include 3 this year it's a toss up between the Magic 8 Ball, the paper airplane and freaking PEZ Dispensers

 

Above is what the website said. It's definitely wrong, I took a shot at revising it to give Transformers a better chance at winning.

 

If \"giant fucking robots that can literally turn into anything\" doesn\'t win, I wonder what kind of imagination people have.

 

Based on that site's history, I'm pretty sure sand will be one of this year's winners.


... and of course they put a G1 Jumpstarter as the example Transformer.  

 

I\'m pulling for the Transformers but man if I\'m honest sand and paper airplanes are pretty sweet.

 

This is why I always laughed at my brother when we were kids, for buying Hot Wheels cars instead of a scout-class figure

 

I can understand Hot Wheels and every other category. It just won't make sense to me if Transformers doesn't win this.

 

Wasn't Transformers nominated last year? I can only wish they make it in this year.

 

To its defense, back then, Hot Wheels really pushed unique interpretations of fantasy, and even built their own mythos. It's too bad I can't say the same for them present day.

 

I think, Transformers, My Little Pony and Magic 8 Ball will win, they are the most popular things out of this list.
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And what the hell is sand doing there? O__o

 

Transformers deserves to own this list; they\'re an archetype for as f*ckin\' far as anyone has ever pushed \"toy!\"

 

Sand made the list?

Dirt is much more fun. Maybe next year. Then again, there is always sticks. Who knows, we could get lucky and rocks will make the cut.

Pez dispensers? Those aren't toys, they are candy machines. Once the candy was gone, I never gave a shit about the dispenser.

 

I feel like the only two toy franchises on that list that deserve a spot would be Transformers and My Little Pony. Clue(do) is one board game - a good one, but far from the most important one -, Match Box should have won an award years ago (and probably has) because it's been around forever (so I guess that's a third one that deserves a spot if it hasn't won previously, but it probably has), the Magic 8 Ball is... does anyone care about those things any more...? And the rest are just more of the same.
Out of all of them, Transformers is easily the most innovative out of the lot, and I think it deserves the award for that alone. I mean, okay, I'm obviously biased, but still, it seems like the most logical choice to me.

 

If sand is a "toy," then water ("enjoyable both as a splashing agent when uncontained, a projectile when loaded into properly designed implements, a safe weight bearing substance when contained such as within a balloon, and a molding material when combined with this year's other entry, sand,") air ("provides hours of fun due to blowing, whistling, singing, and more,") snow ("a handy substance capable of shaping structures and figures, useful for making snow angels, and serving as a makeshift projectile when thrown,") and mud ("depending on its particular viscosity all sorts of fun awaits in this ubiquitous substance, for both kids and as seen at music festivals for decades, adult too,") should be shoe-ins for future years.