A promising baseball career came to a halt for University of Georgia infielder Chance Veazey, but some friends and Major League players are helping him out with a big charity auction this weekend.
Certified Real Estate Auctions is conducting a sports memorabilia charity auction on Friday, January 29 to benefit the Prayers for Chance Foundation. Proceeds from the live auction event and internet simulcast will help offset medical expenses for 19-year-old, Chance Veazey, a University of Georgia baseball player who sustained spinal cord injuries in a vehicle accident on October 28, 2009.
Veazey, a University of Georgia freshman infielder and native of Tifton, Ga., was projected to be a starter at second base in the 2010 season. As a result of the accident, Veazey fractured the 10th vertebra and severely damaged his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Since recovering from surgery to stabilize his spine in late October, he has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
The January 29 auction will be held at the UGA – Tifton Campus Conference Center at 15 RDC Road in Tifton, Ga.
The auction will feature more than 125 sports memorabilia items including autographed bats, baseballs, gloves and photos from past and present professional and college athletes. Highlights include baseballs signed by Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, Ryan Howard, David Wright, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Vladimir Guerrero, Josh Beckett and others. There are signed jerseys from Pete Rose and Frank Thomas, a John Smoltz signed glove, Chipper Jones signed bat, a Rose autographed bat and a Babe Ruth card.
An autograph signing with college and professional athletes will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m with the auction to follow. Online bidding is now open at www.CertifiedRealEstateAuctions.com.
A complete list of auction items, including photos and additional auction details can be found here.
