See $1M Nolan Ryan Memorabilia Collection On Display At Stockton

GALLOWAY, NJ — You can now see what's believed to be the largest Nolan Ryan collection in the world on display through Stockton University.

Earlier in the year, the university received the donation of more than 15,000 items worth more than one million dollars thanks to collector, real estate investor and former owner of Shore Mall in Egg Harbor Township Leo S. Ullman. Read More: Million Dollar Baseball Memorabilia Collection Donated To Stockton

Now, the collection of baseballs, bats, gloves, hats, jerseys and cards are on display at five Stockton locations.

Not interesting enough for you? How about a signed cowboy hat, an autographed horse saddle and even Beanie Babies?

The Richard E. Bjork Library in Galloway, Kramer Hall in Hammonton, Stockton University at Manahawkin and the Noyes Arts Garage and Stockton’s campus in Atlantic City are all locations for a new “pop-up” exhibit on display until Dec. 11. A public reception for the exhibit will be held 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Arts Garage, and Ullman will attend.

“We’ve had calls from all over the country about Stockton receiving the collection,” said Dan Nugent, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the Stockton University Foundation. “Our faculty and students will be making use of the items in the spring, but we wanted to get some of them on display as soon as possible to give the public access.”

Stockton is also developing a class to be offered in the spring that’s tied to the collection, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in the world.

“I tried to get a cross-section of memorabilia that the donor had collected that told the story of Nolan Ryan,” said Michael Cagno, the executive director of the Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton. “It’s called a pop-up exhibit because it’s not long-term. But pop-ups are also tied to baseball, and the five sites are like the four bases of a baseball diamond and the pitching mound where Ryan dominated during his remarkable 27-year career.”

The largest display is found at the Arts Garage, according to Cagno. The walls of the room are painted in the orange and blue colors of the Houston Astros, the team that Ryan spent nine seasons with.

The Kramer Hall exhibit features display cases and wall art, while other items like hats and statutes are on display in Manahawkin and on the second floor of the John F. Scarpa Academic Center in Atlantic City.

Throughout all of the sites are cards detailing Ryan's career and lesser-known facts about his life. Did you know Ryan used to soak his fingers in pickle juice between games to help prevent blisters?

“The goal was to really tie in the different sites,” Cagno said. “Your true die-hard fan, maybe they could go to all of the sites and then also get to investigate Stockton at a different level.”

The Bjork Library is located at 101 Vera King Farris Drive in Galloway Township. The Noyes Arts Garage is at 2200 Fairmount Ave. in Atlantic City. The John F. Scarpa Academic Center is at 3711 Atlantic Ave. in Atlantic City. Kramer Hall is at 30 Front Street in Hammonton. Stockton University at Manahawkin is at 712 E. Bay Ave. in Stafford Township.

Note: An earlier version of this story referenced a blood-stained jersey worn by Ryan. Patch has learned that the jersey was not worn by Ryan, and the "blood" was part of a painting done by an artist on the jersey. Patch apologizes for the error.