Kauffman considered various philanthropic endeavors. His wife, Muriel, a long-time baseball fan, suggested the best thing he could do for the Kansas City community was to buy a Major League Baseball expansion franchise to replace the Athletics, who moved to Oakland after the 1967 season.
Kauffman stepped up and was awarded the Kansas City Royals, which began play in 1969.
Muriel was a native of Toronto, who graduated from Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby, Ontario, and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.