Padres' favorite things are up for auction

SAN DIEGO -- Thanks to the wives and significant others of the players, fans will get an inside look into some of the Padres' favorite things, as a silent auction fundraiser will be held on Saturday to raise money for the Monarch School.

The players' favorite items will be displayed in baskets just inside the Home Plate Gate on the street level before the Padres and Dodgers play at 5:40 p.m. PT. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on the baskets from the time the gates open through the sixth inning.

Many of the baskets include players' favorite snacks, movies, wine, books and gift cards to their favorite stores and restaurants, as well as game-used and autographed memorabilia.

Some baskets have a personal touch, like Derek Norris', who has little toy dinosaurs displayed on his basket. James Shields' basket includes a skateboard, similar to the one he sometimes rides in to the clubhouse with before games. Clint Barmes made sure to throw a journey CD in his, as the track "Separate Ways" is the shortstop's walk-up song.

"It's always fun to look at everyone's baskets and see what the favorite things are and the creativity of the wives presenting it," said Allison Kennedy, wife of pitcher Ian Kennedy.

The wives said that the players have also enjoyed the process of putting the baskets together, but some Padres did have specific requests.

"I thought you could just go buy golf balls," said Craig Kimbrel's wife Ashley. "He was like, 'You have to buy Titleist.'"

The wives all had a packing party to get the baskets ready, and many agreed that this event is the most fun, because they really get to be hands on.

Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Monarch School of San Diego to build a sun shade structure for its playground. The Monarch School is an educational center designed to help students impacted by homelessness.

"We spent a lot of time during the offseason over at the Monarch School doing various parties for them," said Ashley Hoffman, Tyson Ross' girlfriend. "Going over there and seeing the kids that have such a huge need for help from anybody -- that's what really touches me when we go over there.

"Knowing that they really need things at their school is a great thing for us to help out with. It's one of the better causes we can help."

The goal of the auction is to raise $10,000 or more for the sun shade.