Sports memorabilia auction set for March 8
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on February 14, 2005 2:00 PM
The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold its second annual sports memorabilia auction March 8 at Lane Tree Country Club.
Proceeds from the auction will be used to benefit the Red Cross.
The Outback Steakhouse is sponsoring the event and will donate the meal.
The auction is the first event of this year's Heroes Campaign, a fund-raiser for the local Red Cross chapter. The campaign starts March 1 with a luncheon at St. Luke Church. It will end March 31 with a victory dinner at the church.
"The Red Cross doesn't get any government funding," said Chuck Waller, the director of the Wayne chapter. "Every dime that we get, we have to raise. And if we're going to continue to do what we do in Wayne County and everywhere in the country and in the world, it takes money to do it.
Last year's sports memorabilia auction raised about $13,000. Waller said the organization is hoping to raise $18,000 or $19,000 this year.
The goal for the entire Heroes Campaign this year is $60,000, he said.
Tickets for the auction are $20 per person or $150 for a table for eight. Tickets may be purchased at the Red Cross Chapter House at 600 N. George St. Tickets will be delivered if people call the chapter at 735-7201. About half of the 300 tickets are still available.
There are only 150 remaining of the 300 available, said Chuck Waller, director.
Hors d'oeuvres will be served at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will start at 6:15. There will be a live auction at 7:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held throughout the event.
Waller said the local chapter has been collecting items for auction for a year. A few of the items are:
Baseballs signed by Brooklyn Dodger Hall of Famer Duke Snider, seven-time Cy Young Award winner and Hall of Famer Roger Clemens and New York Yankee Hall of Famer Yogi Berra.
*A batting helmet signed by Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench.
*Baseball cards signed by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and Baltimore Oriole Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.
*Footballs signed by Florida State University Coach Bobby Bowden and his son Tommy, the coach at Clemson; Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning; Penn State coach Joe Paterno; and University of Auburn's head coach Tommy Turbeville.
*A rookie card signed by former North Carolina State University football star Phillipp Rivers.
*Basketballs signed by the University of North Carolina 2004-05 team, Duke's 2004-05 team and Wake Forest's 2004-05 team.
*An issue of Sports Illustrated magazine signed by former boxing champion George Foreman.
*A numbered print and card signed by golfer Tiger Woods.
*A Chicago Bears mini-helmet signed by William "The Refrigerator" Perry.
*A football card signed by the Indianapolis Colts' David Thornton, a Goldsboro High graduate.
*University of Texas helmets and plates signed by Coach Mack Brown.
*A floorboard signed by the University of North Carolina basketball player Raymond Felton.
*Photographs signed by NASCAR drivers Mark Martin and Richard Petty and American Idol participant Kelly Clarkson.