2024 Winter Meetings Charity Auction to support renovations for Willie Mays Park in Fairfield, Alabama

DALLAS, TX – For the 11th overall year, Major League Baseball and its Clubs have organized a charity auction during Baseball’s Annual Winter Meetings to benefit a special cause. As a continuation of the memorable effort of June’s MLB at Rickwood Field experience, the 2024 Winter Meetings Charity Auction will honor the legacy of the great Willie Mays. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Willie Mays Park in Willie’s hometown of Fairfield, Alabama, a field that has served generations of aspiring youth baseball players in the area. Unfortunately, the field has fallen into some disrepair and is unusable for most competitive levels of the game.

The auction, which is now LIVE at MLB.com/wintermeetingsauction until Thursday, December 12th at 10:00 p.m. (ET), provides a diverse offering of memorable baseball experiences for everyone, including special interactions with Major League stars (e.g., Mike Trout), VIP experiences at MLB & MiLB Ballparks, as well as incredible on-field opportunities (e.g., first pitches), treasured items and more.

“It means so much to have the opportunity to continue serving the community that gave baseball and the world the great Willie Mays,” said April Brown, SVP of Social Responsibility and Diversity, Major League Baseball. “As a signature initiative of MLB Together, this charity auction is truly unique in that it gives our fans the opportunity to have a hand in celebrating Willie’s legacy and have an impact on the lives of children. We cannot thank the Clubs across our sport for their generosity and creativity in providing amazing auction items and experiences for our fans.”

City of Fairfield Councilman, District 4, Cedric Norman said: “The City of Fairfield, Alabama, is honored to partner with Major League Baseball on the remarkable initiative to honor the legacy of Fairfield’s beloved son, Willie Mays, by restoring the park that carries his name. Willie Mays is not only a baseball legend but also a symbol of hope and inspiration for generations in our city. The generosity and efforts of Major League Baseball, its Clubs, and community partners in hosting this charity auction demonstrate a strong commitment to uplifting communities through the spirit of sport. The planned renovations will revitalize the community and provide our young athletes the opportunity to dream big and follow in Willie’s footsteps.”

All items and experiences have been generously donated by all 30 MLB Clubs, more than 40 Minor League Clubs, the Office of the Commissioner, MLB Network, and the Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown, NY. Following are some of the many special experiences and items, on which fans may now bid (NOTE: this is not the full list, which can be found here):

• MLB Ticket Package:
  • 2025 MLB All-Star Week in Atlanta – Tickets to all events at Truist Parkincluding the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, T-Mobile Home Run Derby, All-Star Futures Game and All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, as well as the LIVE 2025 MLB Draft. Package also includes an opportunity to watch batting practice from the field before the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 14th.
• Special Meet & Greetswith baseball superstar Mike Trout; 2023 National League Rookie of the Year and All-Star Corbin Carroll; Orioles EVP & GM Mike Elias or Manager Brandon Hyde, players and coaches from the Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and more.
• Personal experiences including:
  • Private hitting lesson with Washington Nationals Hitting Coach, Darnell Coles.
  • Little League coaching session at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy facilities to receive one-on-one instruction from a Texas Rangersplayer or coach. Little League team will also be invited to attend batting practice and will receive two tickets to a game per player.
  • Throw a bullpen session pregame in the Tampa Bay Raysbullpen with instruction from Jorge Moncada, meet members of the Rays bullpen, and get a tour of the Rays private bullpen lounge.
  • Relive the tales of 1983 Chicago White Soxteammates, AL Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle and Hall of Famer Harold Baines over dinner for three. You and three guests will enjoy a pre-game dinner with Harold and Ron in the all-inclusive Guaranteed Rate Club.
• Ceremonial first pitch and PLAY BALL! opportunitiesat Guaranteed Rate Field, T-Mobile Park, Comerica Park and others!
• Incredible ballpark experiences, including:
  • Take in a San Francisco Giants game from the Willie Mays “Say Hey” Suitex at Oracle Park, which will feature special guests and bring 12-16 guests to enjoy the day.
  • Watch a game with New York Mets Owners Steve andAlex Cohen at Citi Field.
  • Child can walk out the line-up card and also receive four tickets for his/her family on the “Green Monster” at Fenway Park.
  • Meet New York Yankees players following a behind-the-scenes tour of Yankee Stadium, which will include a special opportunity to hold artifacts from Yankees players past and present.
  • VIP Padres experience including field level seats and VIP Owners Box experience from the one and only Owners Box at Petco Park.
  • Watch batting practice from the field and receive premium seats at Rogers Centre.
  • VIP batting practice experiences at T-Mobile Park
  • Take a special tour of the historic Wrigley Fieldscoreboard and receive four tickets to a Cubs game.
  • Take in a Houston Astrosgame and batting practice with four tickets and receive custom jerseys, and Astros hats
  • Take in a Cincinnati Reds game with infield box seats at Great American Ball Parkand view batting practice from field-level.
  • Opportunity to assist the Target FieldGrounds Crew as they prepare the field prior to a game. Guests will watch batting practice from the area in front of the Twins dugout and collect player autographs, then jump into grounds crew mode to water the field and put the bases in place, among other prep activities.
  • Take in an opening day experience at Busch Stadium with Cardinals Nation Pre-Game Party Tickets, Loge Game Tickets, Redbird Club Passes.
  • Field-level MVP tickets and batting practice viewing experience at Dodger Stadium.
  • Meet Phillies Legends Charlie Manuel and Larry Bowa as well as Manager Rob Thomson at the Phillies Spring Training Home Openerin Clearwater, FL. Experience includes a three-night stay and travel vouchers for air travel.
  • Home Plate Club tickets to a 2024 Pittsburgh Piratesregular season home game, the opportunity to hold the finish line for the Mrs. T's Great Pierogi Race, and an autographed and authenticated Jared Triolo Pirates jersey!
• Learn the Business of Baseball:
  • Be a team photographer with theKansas City Royals or Tampa Bay Rays.
  • Be a media member for the day with the Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Experience a day as an Arizona Diamondbacksmedia member including a private walkthrough of the press box, viewing of Manager Torey Lovullo’s pregame press conference, four passes to batting practice on the field, professional photo opportunity, autographed memorabilia and four ticketed seats.
• Broadcast Experiences:
  • Be a Tampa Bay Raysbroadcaster for the day, which includes a meet and greet with Rays Radio Broadcasters Andy Freed and Neil Solondz, a private pregame interview session with Manager Kevin Cash, a pregame media meal and being a part of the broadcast for two innings.
  • Sit in on Marlins ManagerClayton McCullough’s meeting with Bally Sports Florida and Marlins Radio Network broadcasters, take part in pre-game media availability, and a pre-game interview on Marlins Radio Network
  • Meet Louis CardinalsRadio and TV Broadcaster personalities and take in the game from the radio booth. Also enjoy a special pregame field visit and UMB Champions Club dining experience.
  • In addition to taking in Batting Practice and a Minnesota Twinsgame, enjoy a private meet and greet with Twins TV or Twins Radio broadcasters and spend an inning during the game in the TV or Radio broadcast booth and press box.
• Minor League Clubs:Packages similar to the above have been donated by dozens of Minor League Clubs all throughout America, including:
  • Roundtrip airfare for two to Las Vegas, a two-night stay at the Red Rock Casino and Resort, tickets to two Las Vegas Aviatorsgames in the owner's suite and more.
  • Throw out a first pitch, take lineup card to the umpires with the manager, be with the El Paso Chihuahuas' radio guy Tim Hagerty for an inning, and sit in luxury seating for the rest of the game.
  • Nashville SoundsOwners Experience with four Club Level tickets, a two-night hotel stay provided, pregame ballpark tour, watch batting practice before gates open and more.
  • Dozens of opportunities to throw out a ceremonial first pitch, watch games from luxury suites and join radio broadcasters on the air for half of an inning.
• MLB Network Studio Tour:
  • Tour MLB Network studiosand receive four autographed baseballs from Hall of Famers.
• Hall of Fame: An exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum archives, where you will hear little known stories about Hall of Famers and learn about the greatest collection of baseball artifacts in the world.

ABOUT THE WINTER MEETINGS CHARITY AUCTION

Since its inception in 2012, the Winter Meetings Charity Auction has raised more than $2.3 million toward a variety of causes, including lung cancer research in honor and memory of Orioles Public Relations Great Monica Barlow, a youth baseball and softball field in memory of Mets Public Relations Great Shannon Forde, a scholarship fund in memory of the late, beloved baseball executive Katy Feeney, for the Jackie Robinson Foundation and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and for the five organizations leading the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Most recently, donations were given in support of the establishment of a new Boys & Girls Club in Uvalde, TX, a much-needed resource for Uvalde youth and their families following the aftermath of the Robb Elementary shooting in 2022 and Stand Up To Cancer in 2023.