MLB Will Host Post-Season Auction
Major League Baseball has announced an exclusive auction of game-used and autographed items from the 2007 MLB Postseason.
The auction will take place on MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball. The auction, which runs from Friday, November 23, until Friday, December 7, will feature more than 50 items, including autographed and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Lots available include 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox autographed items including Jason Varitek jerseys and a Manny Ramirez signed base and ball. Game-used bases and balls from many postseason games will also be up for bid.
Proving once again that its authenticators aren't missing many tricks these days, the auction will also feature one of the cans of spray used in the infamous "bug game". The aerosol cans were used in the New York Yankees dugout during Game Two of the American League Division Series when insects descended on the field. Also in the 'unique' department are hand warmers used in the Red Sox dugout during Game Three of the World Series.
Each item was authenticated through the MLB Authentication Program, the first league-wide memorabilia authentication initiative in professional sports. Every item that was either autographed or removed from the field of play was witnessed and marked by a third-party authenticator and was affixed with a hologram containing a unique serial number. The authenticity of each item can be verified on MLB.com using the item's unique serial number.
Major League Baseball says its authentication program "was designed to distinguish officially authenticated Major League Baseball memorabilia from other items on the market." Since its inception in January 2001, MLB says nearly two million autographed and game-used items have been authenticated through the program, including game-used items from every All-Star Game and postseason; game-used bases, balls and auniform from Craig Biggio's 3,000th hit game; and the baseball from the first-ever All-Star Game inside-the-park home run, which was hit by Ichiro Suzuki in 2007.
The Atlanta Braves are also hosting an auction that includes some game-worn memorabilia. The club's Holiday Online Auction runs November 19 - December 11. Among the items up for bid on the team's website: Braves autographed and game-worn jerseys, autographed and game-used bats, and autographed baseballs from current and former Braves greats including Chipper Jones, Jeff Francoeur, John Smoltz, Brian McCann, Tim Hudson, Bobby Cox, Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, and David Justice. Also up for auction is a one-of-a-kind Atlanta Braves clubhouse recliner autographed by the entire 2007 Braves team.
Fans will also be able to bid on these Turner Field experiences:
• Watch batting practice from the field and meet players during a "VIP Field Visit"
• Serve as the Braves Honorary Team Captain
• Guest-star as the Braves Public Address announcer (ages 8-14)
Proceeds benefit the Atlanta Braves Foundation, the non-profit arm of the club that actively supports community organizations and their programs within the metro Atlanta area
