Orioles offering memorabilia, ballpark experiences for charity

SAN DIEGO - Major League Baseball redirected the Winter Meetings flow of information this morning, however briefly, by announcing details of its annual charity auction.

This year's auction, with the Orioles again active members, will benefit five charities and nonprofit organizations committed to research, care and awareness/education of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is more commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease."

The Orioles are making available a collection of autographed memorabilia and experiences. The items will be fulfilled on a mutually agreed upon date.

The experiences include an opportunity for a fan and guest to have lunch with left-hander John Means, a 2019 All-Star who placed third in American League Rookie of the Year voting, prior to a game at Camden Yards.

Four fans will get the chance to go behind the scenes at Camden Yards. The experience may allow for entrance into manager Brandon Hyde's pregame press conference - but no snickering at any of the ridiculous questions he has to field - and viewing an inning of the game with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias in his suite.

The Orioles also have made available four baseballs autographed by four Hall of Famers, the legends list consisting of Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray.

The auction runs until Thursday at 10 p.m. EST and can be accessed at MLB.com/wintermeetingsauction.

All 30 teams make donations each year to a particular charity. The 2014 auction to benefit the LUNGevity Foundation raised $176,000 while honoring former Orioles public relations director Monica Barlow, who passed away in February of that year after a 4 1/2-year battle with Stage 4 lung cancer.

This year's auction items and experience also include the chance to ride in the Diamondbacks' bullpen cart for a game, the chance to be a Braves broadcaster for a day, a round of golf with John Smoltz and Chipper Jones, a "change the base" experience with the White Sox, a meet and greet with an Astros All-Star, the Mets' Pete Alonso and the Angels' Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, the chance to be a Royals' team photographer and an opportunity to "shoot hot dogs" with the Phillie Phanatic.