LAS VEGAS -- Mychal Givens was a teenager when he first met Sharon Robinson, the recipient of a premier amateur baseball award named in honor of her father, Jackie Robinson. Sharon personally delivered the award to Givens at a national All-Star Game in Los Angeles, and later traveled to Tampa, Fla., to throw out the first pitch at the first home game of Givens' senior season at Plant High School.
Nearly a decade later, Givens found himself in Kansas City, where the scope of Jackie Robinson's legacy would come more fully into focus. On a private tour through the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Givens was inundated with stories of the African American players who predated Robinson, captivated by their struggle, and reminded to remember how "what they went through allows me to put a uniform on."
The two events bookended an education of baseball history and appetite for activism Givens considers ongoing. They are also what spearheaded Givens' involvement in this year's Winter Meetings auction, which provides an avenue for the philanthropic goals of Major League Baseball and the Orioles' closer to align. This year's auction will support the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, two important institutions that educate future generations of young people through honoring significant moments and individuals of baseball's past.
The auction is live on MLB.com/wintermeetingsauction from now through Thursday, when it will conclude at 10 p.m. ET. Items include special baseball experiences, including meetings with some of the game's biggest stars, along with unique items donated by MLB and the 30 clubs.
"Those guys paved the way for us and it's our turn to pass the baton," said Givens, who also promotes baseball participation and inclusion through his Givens Back Foundation and MLB's RBI initiatives.
The full list of Orioles' items available at this year's auction is as follows:
Lunch with Givens and Trey Mancini: A fan and their guest will have the chance to have lunch with Givens and Mancini prior to a home night game at a local restaurant. The winner will also receive a parking pass, access to the manager's pregame press conference, two batting practice field passes and two tickets for that day's game.
Grounds crew member for a day: One fan will have the opportunity to join the Orioles grounds crew for an Orioles home night game, assisting head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry as a member of her staff prior to and throughout the game. The winner must be at least 16 years old and will also receive a parking pass and a grounds crew polo. Four tickets will be provided for family and/or friends.
Orioles behind-the-scenes experience: A group of four fans has the opportunity to bid on an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Experiences may include: Watching the manager's pregame press conference, watching batting practice from the field, visiting the press box, the MASN television booth, the Orioles Radio Network booth, the MASN television production truck, the Orioles scoreboard production room and watching an inning of the game with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias in his suite. Also included in the package is a parking pass and four tickets to that day's game.