MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL UMPIRES TO HOST 11TH ANNUAL ONLINE AUCTIONFOR UMPS CARE CHARITIES FRIDAY, APRIL 19 – MONDAY, APRIL 29

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires will offer up more than 400 items that include priceless autographed sports memorabilia, one-of-a-kind VIP experiences and VIP ticket packages during its 11th Annual UMPS CARE Charities Online Auction. The auction is currently underway at www.mlb.com/UmpsCare and closes at 10 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 29.

Some of the items up for bid include signed baseballs, jerseys and bats; opportunities to watch batting practice FROM THE FIELD at many MLB ballparks; hotel stays with game tickets; opportunities to have lunch with a Major League Baseball umpire; more than 50 suites or ticket blocks from Minor League Baseball clubs for fans to watch the future stars of Major League Baseball, and great UMPS CARE Charities logo apparel to show your support. 

There are signed jerseys, bats, baseballs and other items from current stars and past greats of the game including José Abreu (bat), Nolan Arenado (baseball), Cody Bellinger (baseball), Miguel Cabrera (baseball), Aroldis Chapman (baseball), Bobby Cox (hat), Lorenzo Cain (cleat), Jacob deGrom (baseball), Carlos González (baseball), Luis Gonzalez (baseball), Matt Harvey (baseball), Félix Hernández (baseball), DJ LeMahieu (baseball), Andrew McCutchen (baseball), Terry Pendleton (bat), Gaylord Perry(baseball), Cal Ripken (baseball), Vin Scully (baseball), Ichiro Suzuki (baseball), Alan Trammell (bat), Joe Torre (jersey, baseball), Justin Turner (baseball), and Ben Zobrist (bat). 

“The online auction is one of the biggest fundraising initiatives for UMPS CARE Charities and has grown tremendously since our first auction in 2009,” said Gary Darling, who served as an MLB umpire for nearly three decades and now serves as Board President for UMPS CARE Charities.  “The auction has something for everyone, from autographed memorabilia to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, so we encourage fans to tell all of their friends and family to check out the available items on MLB.com and bid generously to help support a great cause.”

Auction items from other athletes and celebrities outside of baseball also are available from the likes of Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (signed football), actor Will Ferrell (signed baseball), ESPN baseball analyst Jessica Mendoza (signed baseball), actor/comedian Bill Murray (signed baseball), former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (signed Cowboys jersey), Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney (signed football), (signed baseball) and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (signed baseball).  

All proceeds from the online auction support UMPS CARE Charities youth programs, which connect children and families in the communities in which the umpires work all season through the game they love. UMPS CARE provides once-in-a-lifetime Major League Baseball experiences for critically ill kids, at-risk youth and military families, Build-A-Bear Workshop® experiences for children battling serious illnesses at more than 15 pediatric hospitals in the United States and Canada, college scholarships for deserving young adults who were adopted as children, and financial assistance for families in the baseball community in need.  UMPS CARE Charities is the official charity of Major League Baseball umpires.

For more information or to make a bid, visit www.mlb.com/UmpsCare. The auction is currently underway and closes at 10 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 29.  
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UMPS CARE Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established by Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires to provide financial, in-kind and emotional support for America’s youth and families in need.  Through its youth-based programs, professional baseball umpires enrich the lives of at-risk youth and children coping with serious illness by providing memorable baseball experiences, supporting pediatric medical care, and raising funds for college scholarships for children adopted later in life.  UMPS CARE Charities provides benefactors with “Major League” support by remaining true to its established creed, “Helping People is an Easy Call.”  For more information visit www.UmpsCare.com. 
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