Major League Umpires have gotten into the auction business, but the umps' efforts are strictly for charity.
A Major League Baseball shirt signed by President Barack Obama during last year's All-Star Game is one of more than 100 items up for grabs in the UMPS CARE Charities online auction. The President met with the Major League Baseball umpiring crew prior to the Midsummer Classic.
All proceeds from the auction will support the UMPS CARE Charities youth programs, including tickets to big league baseball games for children awaiting adoption and Build- A-Bear Workshops for hospitalized children coping with serious illnesses.
Fans and collectors can also bid on signed memorabilia from Jim Rice, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson, Joe Morgan, Rod Carew, Randy Johnson, and Nolan Ryan.
The auction is already underway and runs through March 22. Other auction items include baseballs, jerseys, gloves, and other memorabilia. Batting practice trips, "lunch with an ump", game tickets and other experiences will likely draw the heaviest interest, although bidding on the Obama-signed shirt was at $2500 as of late Thursday night.
"Our online auction gives sports fans the opportunity to participate in some once-in-a-lifetime experiences with their favorite sports heroes while helping seriously ill and at-risk children," said MLB Umpire Jim Reynolds. "We urge fans to visit the UMPS CARE Charities website during the course of the auction -- and come back often!"
Winning bidders will be notified after March 22.