The cards of professional baseball legends such as Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan and more will offer visitors of Merkel Legacy Hall a sense of nostalgia when the new Triplett Alumni Center is complete at the University of Mississippi.
Some of the crown jewels of baseball card history will be on display, along with those of former Ole Miss Rebels who went pro, as part of a collection donated by Charlie Merkel of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Another portion of the collection will be sold for over $1.6 million to help fund the new alumni building.
“Baseball was my love growing up. The only aspiration I ever had was to be shortstop for the Yankees,” said Merkel of his goal that never materialized, though he did play shortstop and third base for the Ole Miss Rebels before graduating with BA and JD degrees in 1964 and 1966. He also earned an LLM degree from Georgetown University in 1970.
Collecting baseball cards became an early outlet for Merkel’s passion, beginning in 1952 when he bought packs with bubble gum inside for a nickel and worked tirelessly to complete his first set, which includes every professional player with a card in each baseball season. For example, Merkel’s UM gift set contains 660 cards.
“I don’t remember the first card I was excited about, but I remember the last card I needed to complete my first set: a Giants first baseman named Tookie Gilbert. I traded a Stan Musial Red Heart dog food card for it to finish the set,” Merkel said. “That was the first set I ever completed, and I still have it.”
Mary Kate Skelton, director of fundraising for the Ole Miss Alumni Association, expressed gratitude for Merkel’s gift.
“From growing up a New York Yankees fan to his days playing at Ole Miss, Charlie’s passion is genuine, contagious and deeply inspiring. It’s a reminder of what it looks like to truly love something and carry that with you for a lifetime,” she said. “His collection is incredible, but getting to know Charlie and hearing his stories firsthand has been the real gift.”
Merkel rediscovered card collecting in the early 1980s while trying to spark his young son’s interest in the hobby. The experience revealed that baseball cards were not just childhood keepsakes but historical artifacts with real value, particularly when preserved in excellent condition. That realization led to decades of systematic, thoughtful collecting focused on building complete sets in the best condition possible.
“I never did it as an investment,” Merkel said. “It was always for the love of the game.”
Over time, his collection grew into one of remarkable breadth and quality. It includes landmark sets such as 1952 Topps — his personal favorite — as well as 1933 Goudey and 1915 Cracker Jack. Iconic players like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Pete Rose, George Brett and Reggie Jackson are represented in prime condition.
Jason McCormick, executive director of development, believes the Merkel collection will impress visitors to the Triplett Alumni Center.
“Lots of people start collecting cards at a young age. Sometimes it’s with their dad or grandad or friends. Every kid wants to open a pack and see their favorite player or trade for someone on their favorite team,” McCormick said. “I hope our display of Charlie’s collection will spark people’s memory.”
In total, Merkel’s collection spans multiple eras of baseball history, from early 20th-century legends to stars of the late 1990s and early 2000s like Derek Jeter.
Alongside the cards, he accumulated an extensive memorabilia collection — well over 100 bats, balls, gloves, bases and other artifacts — gathered not as investments, but as tangible connections to the game and its history. One of his most cherished items is a baseball signed by the entire 1952 New York Yankees roster, obtained when he attended games as a child and collected autographs directly from players.
An encounter with second baseman Gil McDougald, who personally helped him secure a final autograph and invited him to ride the team bus, cemented his allegiance to the Yankees for life.
How does it feel to hold bats like Lou Gehrig’s, for instance?
“Oh, I swing them!” Merkel exclaimed. “I’m telling you, every time I touch one — Gehrig’s, Mantle’s, Jeters’, Ken Griffey’s — I hope this is what people feel when they see the collection.”
Merkel’s lifelong fandom led to many memorable encounters. For example, he met Yankees owner George Steinbrenner during his team’s 1996 championship run. Steinbrenner ultimately gave Merkel seats with the players’ families and later connected him with the Yankees’ ticket manager from whom he was able to score great seats for many years.
“Charlie’s love for the game is what it’s all about,” Skelton said. “The way his eyes light up as he shares stories — from riding around town on his bike trading baseball cards as a boy, to his time at fantasy camp with Whitey Ford, to getting to know George Steinbrenner — just draws you in. We are so grateful that he wanted to share his passion with us.”
Merkel’s decision to give Ole Miss a selected portion of his collection grew out of reflection rather than necessity. Having completed most of the sets he set out to build, he recognized that the collection had reached its natural conclusion. Its size and historical significance made it well suited for public display, where it could be appreciated by others rather than remaining in storage.
His hope is that visitors to Merkel Legacy Hall will experience the same sense of wonder that comes from seeing baseball history up close — much like walking through the interactive National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. More than just cards and memorabilia, the collection represents decades of passion, memory and connection to a game that shaped his life.
“To have one of the best collections of baseball cards in the country housed right here in the new Triplett Alumni Center will be special. In fact, some of the memorabilia we’ll display can’t even be found at Cooperstown,” McCormick said. “We couldn’t be more grateful for Donna & Charlie and for their gift to the TAC. This will bring not only our Ole Miss community in to see the collection but people from all over.”
The new Triplett Alumni Center is a $51 million-plus project that will serve as a welcome center, extending hospitality to alumni, prospective students, university guests and others.
In addition to being the starting point for campus tours, the ground floor will house a ballroom and large gathering space in the lobby. The second floor will be home to a 300-seat-plus grand ballroom, large pre-function area, multiple breakout rooms and the president’s hospitality suite.
A significant aspect of the new building is the integration of the athletic legacy of Ole Miss. The third floor will house the M-Club Alumni Chapter, featuring special collections such as Merkel Legacy Hall and memorabilia in the Manning Room and the Jake Gibbs Room.
The fourth floor will accommodate Alumni Association staff, an executive boardroom and meeting spaces overlooking the historic Grove.
To make a gift to the Triplett Alumni Center Building Fund, click here, or for information, contact Mary Kate Skelton at marykate@olemissalumni.com or 662-915-2377.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation