The Sports Museum of Los Angeles [map] will re-open to the general public on weekends only beginning this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gary Cypres’ extensive personal collection is a treasure in the collecting world. Read a feature that colleague Tom Hoffarth wrote about it here. The public re-opening — it had been open for private events only for years — includes a special treat for Dodger fans.
From a press release:
SMLA’s re-opening will feature the incomparable “Dodgers Collection,” featuring thousands of items from the team’s birth in Brooklyn in 1890 to the current team.
SMLA houses the largest and broadest-known collection of iconic sports memorabilia and collectibles in the world. Conveniently located at Main St. and Washington Blvd., just south of downtown Los Angeles and just 1.2 miles east of STAPLES Center and LA LIVE, SMLA is in the mecca of Southern California sports. The 32,000 square foot museum contains more than 10,000 prized pieces valued in the millions of dollars collected during a 30-year period by founder and CEO Gary Cypres and housed in 30 galleries.
The permanent exhibits feature items dating to the 19th Century and include one-of-a-kind pieces from football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, boxing, biking, soccer and other sports. Future exhibits at SMLA will include those featuring the Rams, college and pro football collections and a baseball icon Babe Ruth collection. SMLA includes a hall to host private parties.