Stone Auction Raised Thousands |
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Thursday, 04 December 2008 |
 The auction to benefit a former big leaguer diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor was a big enough hit that another one is coming.
The auction to benefit former major league pitcher Ricky Stone and his family drew to a close over the weekend with hundreds of bids and thousands of dollars raised thanks to donations of game worn and autographed memorabilia.
Stone's former teammates and friends in baseball put up items for the auction, which took place on eBay. Many of the players themselves bid on items, according to the Rally for Recovery organizers who were "absolutely thrilled" with the results.
The top bid was entered for a game-worn Derek Jeter jersey from the final game at Yankee Stadium, September 21st. The autographed jersey sold for $1925. A game-used Brad Ausmus catcher's mask brought $1695, a Mariano Rivera signed game-worn jersey went for $1513 and an Alex Rodriguez signed jersey sold for $1100. Numerous other jerseys, bats and photos sold for several hundred dollars each as did some of the players' game-used equipment.
The Yankee players joined David Ortiz, Ichiro, David Wright, Johan Santana, Ken Griffey, Jr., Jim Thome, Ryne Sandberg, Jeff Kent, Jose Reyes, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Quentin, Mark Belhorn, John Smoltz, Brad Ausmus, Joe Nathan, Adrian Beltre, and Stone's close friend Roy Oswalt among over 100 big leaguers donating to the auction. Proceeds will benefit the 33-year-old Stone, relief pitcher for Astros (2001-2004), Padres (2004), and Reds (2005, 2007), who was stricken with a malignant brain tumor in August.
Nelson Figueroa, who played with Stone on a Taiwanese baseball team and played last year for the New York Mets, was a catalyst for the event. His wife Alisa and Erin Pote, wife of pitcher Lou Pote, founded Rally for Recovery to raise funds for the Stone family.
The auction was so well received within baseball that more players have donated items for what is expected to be a slightly smaller auction possibly beginning next weekend. |
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