3rd Annual Umps Care Charities Online Auction

Tickets to the 2011 MLB All-Star Game in Phoenix and PGA Championship event tickets are among the highlights of more than 200 great items up for bid today in the UMPS CARE Charities 3rd Annual Online Auction. The auction starts March 9 and ends at 10 p.m. EDT on March 20 at www.biddingforgood.com/UmpsCare

In addition to the items mentioned above, there is something for everyone in this year's auction. We were happy to donate a Wilson Titanium umpire mask with tan wraparound padding, an Ump-Attire.com exclusive item.
Some of the other items up for auction include:

• A Major League Baseball jersey autographed by President Obama
• Game-worn cleats signed by Albert Pujols, a signed Roy Halladay perfect game baseball, and other signed sports memorabilia
• Opportunities to watch batting practice from the field at many MLB ballparks
• More than 50 suites or 24-ticket blocks from Minor League Baseball clubs for fans to see some of baseball’s rising stars up close
• Several golf packages at some of the country's best courses, including a round of golf with ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt
• 2-night stays at a number of luxury hotels

The auction is a major fundraiser for UMPS Care Charities, the official charity of Major League Umpires. All proceeds from the Online Auction support UMPS CARE Charities youth programs to provide Major League Baseball experiences for children awaiting adoption, Build-A-Bear Workshop® experiences for hospitalized children coping with serious illnesses, college scholarships for deserving young adults who were adopted as children, and financial assistance for families in need.

This year's Online Auction will also feature a number of "Bid for a Buck" items announced at random times via Twitter and Facebook. The bidding for these items will start at $1 and will be available for a day or less throughout the auction. Follow @UmpsCare on Twitter or Facebook for details.