You might say that Big Ben is giving up a piece of himself. But it’s for a good cause.
SCP Auctions’ Fall Premier online auction includes several memorabilia items belonging to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Fall Premier auction began November 18 and ends on December 5.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Roethlisberger lot will go toward the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation. This organization supports K-9 units and service dogs of police and fire departments nationwide.
“My dad instilled in me a love and respect for animals,” Roethlisberger wrote on his website. “This is a good way to combine that passion with a desire to support the police and fire departments, which deserve all the appropriate resources needed to protect our cities and neighborhoods.”
All items include letters of authenticity from Roethlisberger and were pre-certified by PSA/DNA.
There are five Roethlisberger items on the block. Currently, the one with the top bid is Lot No. 899. This is a game-worn and signed jersey that Roethlisberger wore on December 28, 2008, against Cleveland. It was the final game of the regular season, and Roethisberger took a big hit and suffered a head and neck injury that resulted in a concussion.
Doctors had to cut the jersey off his body as they took care to stabilize his head and neck. Roethlisberger shook off the injury, and five weeks later led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
As of Thursday night, the top bid was $3,328.
Lot No. 897 is a game-worn, signed nine-piece uniform ensemble from his 522-yard, six-touchdown game against Indianapolis on October 26, 2014. Both marks set franchise records, and the 522 yards during Pittsburgh’s 51-34 victory made Big Ben the first quarterback in NFL history with two games of 500-plus passing yards. This lot includes everything but Roethlisberger’s jersey and helmet. The jersey was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio; and the helmet was used in other games during the 2014 season.
The top bid so far is $2,662.
The other three items are pairs of game-worn shoes worn during three different Steelers victories. One pair of cleats were his size 14 Nike “Superbad Pro” cleats from Nov. 2, 2014, when he threw for 340 yards and six touchdowns to lead Pittsburgh to a 43-23 win against division archrival Baltimore. The current high bid for that pair is $1,774.