MLB and Clubs to raise money for five ALS charities & nonprofit organizations through the 2019 Winter Meetings Charity Auction 

For the eighth consecutive year, Major League Baseball and all 30 MLB Clubs have organized a charity auction during Baseball’s Annual Winter Meetings to benefit a special cause close to the game. This year, the auction will support five charities and nonprofit organizations that are committed to raising awareness, funding research and providing the best possible care for both caregivers and patients of Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” The beneficiaries, and their connections to baseball, include the following:

• ALS CURE Project – Focused on providing incentive-based research grants toward one goal: A CURE FOR ALS. Organization selected in support of the family of Stephen Piscotty, outfielder for the Oakland A’s and son of Gretchen Piscotty who passed due to ALS in May 2018.
• Healey Center for ALS at Mass General – Focused on a worldwide effort to turn promising lab discoveries into life-saving therapies, clinical care for ALS patients, resources for families and caregivers, for people worldwide who are affected by ALS. Organization selected in support of John Carlin, producer for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! who has been supportive of baseball over the years and is living with ALS. Selection is also in support of the Frates Family and the late Pete Frates, who lost his brave battle with ALS today.
• The ALS Association – Focusing on global research, care services and advocacy, The ALS Association has been MLB’s most consistent historical partner in the fight against ALS. Selection is also in support of efforts by Jacob Nottingham, catcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, who lost both his grandmother and aunt from ALS.
• Project Main Street – Devoted to patient and family care, Project Main Street was selected in support of efforts by Jon Sciambi, a long-time advocate for the ALS cause and baseball broadcaster for ESPN.
• ALS Therapy Development Institute – Committed to discovering and developing effective treatments for ALS, the nonprofit biotech was selected in support of Sam Hilliard, outfielder in the Colorado Rockies organization, whose father was diagnosed with ALS in 2018.

This year’s auction, which is now LIVE at MLB.com/wintermeetingsauction until Thursday, December 12th at 10:00 p.m. (ET), continues to provide some of the most memorable baseball experiences, including special interactions with today’s biggest baseball stars and legends of the sport, as well as treasured items. All items and experiences have been generously donated by all 30 MLB Clubs, Players, the Office of the Commissioner, MLB Network and MiLB.

Following are some of the many special experiences and items, donated by each MLB Club & MLB, on which fans can now bid:

• Meet players and ALS advocates Stephen Piscotty (Oakland A’s) and Sam Hilliard (Colorado Rockies)
• Special Meet & Greets with baseball superstars (Mike Trout, Francisco Lindor, Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Pete Alonso)
• Experiences with today’s All-Star players and young stars
• Batting Practice meet & greet w/ Ketel Marte & Eduardo Escobar (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Lunch with John Means (Baltimore Orioles), Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins) or Joe Musgrove (Pittsburgh Pirates)
• Catch on the field with Michael Lorenzen (Cincinnati Reds)
• Get hitting lessons from Keston Hiura (Milwaukee Brewers)
• Play video games with esports star and Minnesota Twins reliever Trevor May
• Premier tickets, including sitting in the “Judge’s Chambers” or Brian Cashman’s private box at Yankee Stadium, the “Green Monster” at Fenway Park, Opening Day at Progressive Field, or a full luxury suite at PNC Park or Petco Park. Other offers include special access to commemorative games, such as the Atlanta Braves’ celebration of the 1995 World Series Championship Team
• Throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Los Angeles Angels, ride the bullpen cart for the D-backs, be a “balldude” or “balldudette” for the Giants, change the bases for the White Sox, announce players for the Red Sox, shoot hot dogs with the Phillie Phanatic at Citizens Bank Park, and more!
• Golf with Hall of Famers, including John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, and Iván Rodriguez
• Signed items from legends, including Willie Mays, Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Bob Uecker as well as MLB Network analysts & Hall of Famers Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Jim Thome
• Play a best-of-five-round VR Home Run Derby tournament against two Marlins players
• VIP access at Phillies Phesitval, the team's annual autograph and auction party to #StrikeOutALS
• Take batting practice off Cubs legend Ryan Dempster or have a catch in the outfield at Wrigley Field
• Meet MLB Managers Terry Francona (Cleveland Indians), Ron Gardenhire (Detroit Tigers), Mike Matheny (Kansas City Royals), Carlos Beltrán (New York Mets), Derek Shelton (Pittsburgh Pirates), Mike Shildt (St. Louis Cardinals), or Kevin Cash (Tampa Bay Rays)
• These experiences include lunch with Bud Black (Colorado Rockies), sitting with Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers) during pregame media sessions, a hitting lesson from Don Mattingly (Marlins)
• Tour broadcast booths and meet broadcasters for many Clubs, including meals with Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling and Gary Cohen (SNY/Mets), Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser (Dodgers), or Andy Freed and Dave Wills (Rays)
• Coaching sessions from Major League players or coaches, including Brad Keller (Royals), Ramon Laureano (A’s), Mariners pitching coach Pete Woodworth & bullpen coach Brian De Lunas, Rays bullpen coach Stan Boroski, and Nationals bullpen coach Paul Menhart.
• Shadow team photographers (Royals or Rays), gain access provided via a media credential (Reds or Brewers), or be a member of the social media team (Mariners)
• Behind-the-scenes access and VIP experiences at ballparks, including the new Globe Life Field, Camden Yards, SunTrust Park, Guaranteed Rate Field
• 2020 MLB All-Star Experience: The winning bidder will receive four (4) tickets to each of the following scheduled July 2020 MLB All-Star Week events at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA: SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game (Sunday, July 12th), T-Mobile Home Run Derby (Monday, July 13th), and MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard (Tuesday, July 14th). The winning bidder will also receive four passes to an All-Star celebration event held on Sunday, July 12th. As an additional thank you for the winner’s generosity, the winner and his or her guests will be able to watch Batting Practice for the T-Mobile Home Run Derby from the field at Dodger Stadium!
• Special exclusive tours and experiences from the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. as well as from several Minor League Clubs (e.g., BP in uniform, first pitch, etc.)

NOTE: The above is not the full list of items and experiences, but rather a sample of some of the more unique offerings through this auction. A full list of items and experiences can be found here.

Since its inception in 2012, the Winter Meetings Charity Auction has raised nearly $1.5 million toward a variety of causes, including lung cancer research in honor and memory of Orioles Public Relations Great Monica Barlow, a youth baseball and softball field in memory of Mets Public Relations Great Shannon Forde, a scholarship fund in memory of the late, beloved baseball executive Katy Feeney, and for iconic institutions – the Jackie Robinson Foundation and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Baseball has had a long-standing commitment to supporting the fight against ALS, including annual in-ballpark recognitions throughout the month of August. Additionally, in 2017, MLB announced its support of the ALS Association’s “Home Health Initiative” through the MLB Fights ALS campaign, which was a league-wide fundraising effort in early August of that year. Beginning with an initial contribution from Major League Baseball, the effort sought to generate additional funds for the Home Health Initiative, which helps provide in-home care to individuals and families affected by ALS. In 2014, MLB, its Clubs and its players supported the wave of millions of dollars raise through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which led to new discoveries that have advanced the search for a cure. Historically, MLB has supported several ALS-focused organizations in raising funds and general awareness tied to the anniversary of the famous speech by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig as he announced his retirement due to complications with the disease that would eventually bear his name on July 4, 1939.