Play Ball! showcases the incredible collection of autographed baseballs amassed by devoted Tigers fan, Steve Nagengast. Steve and Mary Nagengast generously donated Steve’s collection of 1,200 autographed baseballs and other memorabilia dating between 1901 and 2020. Play Ball! The World’s Largest Collection of Detroit Tigers Baseballs displays the rich legacy of the Detroit Tigers through artifacts, images, and interactive displays that tell the stories of iconic players and historic moments in baseball. Visitors can explore the collection, sit in authentic Tiger stadium seats used from 1978-2008, and even imagine their own team through an interactive game. Highlights include the autographs of baseball legends like Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, and Miguel Cabrera. The collection also features signatures from team owners, managers, and players spanning over 100 years. With a special focus on West Michigan connections, this one-of-a-kind exhibit provides a deeper look into the stories and memories of some of the most celebrated figures in baseball history.

Donor Steve Nagengast became a Tigers fan as a 10-year-old in 1961 upon moving to Detroit. However, he didn’t get his first autographs until the 1990s during a signing event at Woodland Mall and while attending Detroit Tigers Fantasy Camps in Lakeland, FL. Nagengast then found more baseballs through national auctions, personally meeting with players, networking with memorabilia dealers, attending national shows, and mailing baseballs to former Major League Baseball (MLB) players. Steve and Mary Nagengast wish to recognize their four grandchildren in making this donation possible. Harrison and Eleanor Zuidema and Conor and Quinlan Walsh encouraged Nagengast to donate, and are excited to see their grandparents’ collection displayed and preserved for future baseball fans.