When the Philadelphia Phillies took another leap toward baseball greatness under managing partner John Middleton, few suspected that his boldest legacy might hang not in Citizens Bank Park, but on museum walls. For decades, the billionaire owner played his cards close, known more for World Series dreams than gallery tours. But behind closed doors, Middleton and his wife, Leigh, were quietly assembling one of the most significant private collections of American art in the world.

Now, that secret is about to become Philadelphia’s showpiece. In 2026, as the city helps lead the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebrations, the Middletons will lend 120 works from their private trove to A Nation of Artists, a sweeping exhibition split between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. What makes this more than a simple loan? The Middletons are also making multi-million-dollar donations to both institutions to underwrite the cost of what organizers are calling the most expansive display of American art ever mounted in the city.

“It’s an extraordinary opportunity for the public to see a world-class private collection,” said PAFA board chair Donald R. Caldwell. “And when you combine that with the collections from the two museums, I honestly believe it’ll be the world’s biggest, best show of American art ever.”

That’s not hyperbole. According to ARTnews, Middleton’s collection ranks among the finest in private hands, including works by Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, and Jasper Johns. For the first time, 120 pieces from the Middleton Family Collection, alongside over 1,000 others from museum archives, including Revolutionary War flags, early American teapots, and paintings that reflect the country’s complex history across three centuries. “We love pieces that challenge us,” John Middleton said. “And that continues to reveal something new.”

Middleton traces his obsession back to his childhood. “I was an art guy before I was a baseball guy,” he admitted in a recent interview. His collecting instincts were shaped by family—his grandfather painted, his mother collected early American furniture—and by a painting of a caboose he received on his third birthday.

Now, “A Nation of Artists” opens in spring 2026, anchoring Philadelphia’s Semiquincentennial celebrations. It will run 16 months across both museums. The show also marks a pivotal transition: the Middletons are beginning to hand off stewardship of the collection to their children. But for now, the spotlight is theirs, finally.

Phillies owners’ vision? Donations that do more than decorate, for John Middleton’s family

The Middletons aren’t just opening their vault; they’re putting real skin in the game. Alongside lending 120 treasured pieces to A Nation of Artists, John and Leigh Middleton are making multi-million-dollar donations to both the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. These gifts aren’t symbolic gestures; they’re covering major costs tied to mounting, preserving, and promoting what’s being called the most expansive American art exhibition Philadelphia has ever hosted. Their financial support ensures that this isn’t just a display but a cultural landmark.

In a time when major art shows frequently depend on support from corporations or government funding sources for support, the Middletons’ personal financial support stands out as uncommon and well planned. Their contribution demonstrates a dedication to providing access to the public and promoting arts education over the long haul rather than just seeking temporary recognition. “We want people to feel something,” John Middleton said. “To be pulled in by one piece that makes them think or feel differently, and then keep coming back.” The donations give both institutions breathing room to take creative risks and elevate the presentation to something worthy of the nation’s 250th.

But the legacy doesn’t end in 2026. With both of their adult children showing a growing interest in the family’s collection, the Middletons are beginning to pass the baton. “It’s not just ours anymore,” said John Middleton. “Our kids are getting older, and they have their own ideas about what this collection means and where it goes next.” A subtle yet notable change is occurring where discussions regarding purchases and oversight are evolving into more of a family dialogue.

Just as John once received a caboose painting on his third birthday, his own son now holds that piece and, with it, the first brushstroke in what may become the next chapter of the Middleton collecting legacy.