Boca Raton resident Avron B. Fogelman has quite the sports collection.
Among his cherished 562 items: Joe DiMaggio’s 1936 rookie uniform, a football signed by the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 1969 Ryder Cup Trophy.
Now, the former Kansas City Royals owner has donated this vast acquisition – considered one of the largest private sports collections amassed and owned by an individual – to Florida Atlantic University.
The memorabilia, along with a cash gift, total more than $10 million, part of which will help create and staff The Fogelman Sports Museum at the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence at the university.
The items will be displayed in a new 3,500-square-foot exhibit scheduled to debut in December. The museum will offer free admission and be open to the public.
“Creating an exhibit to display this collection is a way for us to protect our history; it is a living, breathing account of our country’s history, America’s pastime and other sports told through artifacts, my own personal stories and the stories of my friends,” said Fogelman in a press release. “If we forget our history, we cannot serve as good stewards of our future. FAU understands how to display this collection so it educates and inspires as many people as possible.”
Added FAU President John Kelly: “Securing this collection is a point of pride for our university. Avron’s passion for sports, coupled with his lifelong dedication to education, are evident through this generous donation. His desire to bring sports history to life will manifest through our plans for academic integration and community engagement.”