Steelers Hall of Famer Harris highlights 'Boro auction

Content Originally Published by GoErie.com on Sunday April 10, 2011.

Pittsburgh Steelers great Franco Harris will be the featured guest May 25 at Edinboro's ninth Sports Memorabilia Auction.

The fundraiser, which benefits the Fighting Scots' 17-sport intercollegiate athletic program and adaptive athletics, will take place at the Ambassador Center at the Courtyard by Marriott, 7792 Peach St.

A silent auction will start at 5 p.m. followed by a public autograph session at 6 p.m. The live auction will conclude the event from 7:30-9 p.m.

More than 200 items will be up for bid including jerseys autographed by Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison, Steve Young, Thurman Thomas, Joe Greene and Hines Ward and other items signed by Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Lynn Swann, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Mike Krzyzewski, Gale Sayers, Dean Smith, Roy Williams, Dale Jarrett, Carl Yastrzemski, Tiger Woods, Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen and Joe Frazier.

General admission tickets are $10 each; autograph tickets will be available for purchase the night of the event.

Autograph tickets are $50 for premium items such as helmets and jerseys as well as other large items. Tickets for autographs on flats, such as trading cards and 8-inch by 10-inch photographs, are $25. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own pieces to be signed.

Each paying customer will receive an 18-inch by 24-inch poster of Harris designed by Erie artist Kevin-John Jobczynski. There also will be light hors d'oeuvres served and a cash bar available.

Harris, 61, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. The Steelers selected him out of Penn State in the first round of the 1972 draft, and he rushed for 12,120 yards and 91 touchdowns for Pittsburgh from 1972 to 1983 and for Seattle in 1984. He had eight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and was MVP of Super Bowl IX with 158 yards rushing.

Past guests have included Jim Kelly, Jerome Bettis, Rod Woodson, Brooks Robinson, Mel Blount, Thurman Thomas and James Harrison. Since 1995, the auctions have raised more than $120,000.

Admission ticket requests can be made through Todd V. Jay, Edinboro associate director of athletics, at (814) 732-1835.