Behind-the-scenes day part of charity auction

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A game-day experience that includes hanging with Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and manager Jeff Banister is up for auction on MLB.com. Also available for bidding is a golf outing with dugout coach Steve Buechele and special assistant Darren Oliver.

Those items donated by the Rangers are among many available for bidding in the annual auction being held by Major League Baseball, MLB Advanced Media, MLB Network and all 30 clubs to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. The online auction runs through 8 p.m. CT Thursday.

This auction initiative has raised nearly $500,000 since its inception four years ago, and a significant portion of the proceeds from this year's event will go to Stand Up To Cancer, a longtime partner of Major League Baseball, its founding donor in 2008. In addition, this year's auction will benefit Do It For Durrett, in honor of the late Texas Rangers ESPN.com reporter Richard Durrett, who passed away suddenly last year, and the YouCaring page established for Miami Marlins Sun Sentinel beat reporter Juan C. Rodriguez, who is battling a brain tumor.

The game-day experience includes a behind-the-scenes pregame meeting with broadcaster Emily Jones, viewing her pregame interview with Banister in his office, as well as dinner with Star-Telegram Rangers beat reporter Jeff Wilson, watching part of the game with Daniels, attending Banister's postgame news conference and receiving a personalized Rangers jersey.

A second game-day experience includes two tickets to sit in the owners box, watching batting practice on the field, dinner in the press box, walking the lineup card to home plate with Banister, an inning in the control booth with voice of the Rangers Chuck Morgan, an inning in the home radio and TV booth, and a Texas flag that flew over Globe Life Park.

The golf outing with Buechele and Oliver will be at the Vaquero Club in Westlake, Texas.