With a local food bank experiencing unprecedented demand, Heritage Auctions is partnering with some popular athletes and local pro sports franchises to raise money through a special auction.
The “In This Together Charity Auction” will benefit the North Texas Food Bank. Among the items in the auction is a one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn and signed play commemorating the famous Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson “Hail Mary” pass in the 1975 NFC playoffs.
The North Texas Food Bank distributed six million pounds of food between March 15-April 15 – which is 1.5 million more than during the previous two months. More than 13,000 families have been served at the mobile pantries in just the past few weeks – with as many as 70 percent of those in-need clients who have never before sought help. More than 2,220 families lined up for food. A normal day sees around 200-300 families.
The Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars and FC Dallas have all donated items and experiences to the auction, which is aimed at filling the food bank’s coffers.
“Dallas is a generous city known for its giving and its can-do spirit, in the best of times and especially during the worst,” says Heritage Auctions’ co-chairman and CEO Steve Ivy. “There’s no better example of those qualities than its sports teams and their owners.”
Bidding is underway at HA.com/InThisTogether and runs through May 13, culminating with a live auction that begins at 8 p.m. Dallas time.
Unquestionably the top sports item in the auction is Staubach’s diagram of the famous play that propelled the Cowboys to an improbable 14-10 victory over Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium on December 28, 1975.
With a white acrylic-paint pen put to a 16-inch-by-20-inch chalkboard canvas, Staubach has diagrammed the Hail Mary – and signed the piece alongside the man who caught the ball, Drew Pearson. The current bid as of Thursday was $6,000.
Dallas Mavericks Kristaps Porzingis, Seth Curry, J.J. Barea, Maxi Kleber, Boban Marjanovic and Delon Wright have signed jerseys, balls and photos – and added for this auction the phrase “In This Together 2020.” Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has also signed a ball with the name of this auction, which he helped encourage and inspire.
“When getting involved with charities, I look for places where I can have the biggest impact,” Cuban said. “And the North Texas Food Bank is such a place.”
FC Dallas is also offering a rare Player for a Day Experience, which includes signing a real first-team contract, a video about the signing and a full FC Dallas kit. The winner will also have the opportunity to train with the FC Dallas first team during an upcoming training session. That will happen later, at a mutually agreed-upon date, but a team-signed ball is yours today.
The Dallas Stars are offering four plaza level tickets and a post-game meet-and-greet during the 2020-2021 season.
There are also signed jerseys, balls, helmets, sweaters and photos from local sports greats and Hall of Famers including Troy Aikman, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Irvin, Luka Doncic, Dak Prescott, Pudge Rodriguez, Ezekiel Elliott, Joe Pavelski and Jerry Jones – to name but a few. Many of the athletes signed their pieces by adding “In This Together 2020.”
Music is represented to, as Eagles co-founder Don Henley donated hand-written lyrics to the band’s iconic song, “Desperado” and a guitar signed by the band.
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