Lunch with Mancini and Givens included in MLB auction experience

LAS VEGAS - The Orioles are providing fans with an opportunity to have lunch with two of their players next year, assist the grounds crew and enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience at Camden Yards.

It's also for a good cause, a win-win situation before the first pitch has been thrown.

Major League Baseball revealed this morning that its annual charity auction at the Winter Meetings will benefit The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. And the Orioles are offering three experiences to assist in raising funds.

Bidding takes place at mlb.com/wintermeetingsauction and ends at 10 p.m. Eastern time Thursday.

For starters, a fan and one guest can have lunch with outfielder Trey Mancini and reliever Mychal Givens at a local restaurant prior to a home night game. 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 the game.

The identity of the manager remains unknown, but don't let that dissuade you.

The current high bid at last check was $500.

One fan will have the opportunity to join the Orioles grounds crew for a game at Camden Yards, assisting head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry as a member of her staff. The gig starts before the game and runs through its entirety.

The weather tends to keep the crew busy, so be prepared. Tarp-pulling skills aren't a requirement, but they couldn't hurt.

The winner must be at least 16 years old and will receive a parking pass and a grounds crew polo. Four tickets will be provided for family and/or friends.

A rainout would be ironic, to say the least.

The current high bid is $525.

And finally, a group of four fans will have the chance to bid on an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at Camden Yards that could include attending the manager's pregame gathering with the media, watching batting practice from the field, visiting the press box, MASN television booth, the Orioles Radio Network booth, the MASN television production truck and the Orioles scoreboard production room, and watching an inning of the game with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias inside his suite.

A parking pass and four tickets to the game are included.

The current high bid is $750.

Note: Double-A Bowie outfielder Ryan McKenna was chosen to the Arizona Fall League's Top Prospects Team.

McKenna batted .344/.474/.590 for the Glendale Desert Dogs. He was the only player in the AFL with two four-hit games.