Marlins auction offers amazing opportunities

MIAMI -- Fox Sports Florida viewers on Thursday night will have the opportunity to do more than just watch the Marlins play host to the Nationals at Marlins Park. Fans also will have a chance to get closer to the action through various items that will be auctioned during the telecast.
The 13th annual Fox Sports Florida Fantasy Auction, powered by South Florida Ford, will begin with the Marlins' pregame show, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Throughout the telecast, fans can bid on more than a dozen packages that range from eating dinner on the diamond with Marlins alumni to going on a road trip with the Marlins.
Proceeds from the auction benefit the Marlins Foundation with a focus on the Marlins' youth baseball initiatives.
"It's important for our community to pour that money in for our kids, and teach the game," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "There's a lot more that goes into that, like education, leadership skills, a lot of things that will help young people make good decisions."
To participate, fans must register at Marlins.com/Fantasy, which will make them eligible to bid on all of this year's items.
During the telecast, fans will have the opportunity to bid on, among other things, unique travel experiences and exclusive autographed memorabilia.
All bidding will be done online at Marlins.com/Fantasy, and fans at Marlins Park for the game can bid using their mobile phone, via marlins.com or the MLB Ballpark app.
This year, the Marlins have been paying tribute to the silver anniversary of the franchise, and one item up for bid is a 25th Year Anniversary package. There's also a "Just Gettin' Started" package, which follows the team's #JustGettinStarted theme. Fans also will get a chance to bid to play golf with the Marlins.
"The Marlins organization is involved with the community, and we're tied together," Mattingly said. "We need them to be successful, but we also want to help them to be successful, from the standpoint of growing kids' minds and bodies and putting them in position to be great citizens and be part of this community."