January 16, 2007

NEW BERN--The sports memorabilia auction at the 2nd Annual River Rats Hot Stove Dinner & Auction will feature more than 25 signed items, including pieces signed by Hall-of-Famers Hank Aaron and Yogi Berra, and future Hall-of-Famer Roger Clemens.  The auction items include memorabilia from pro and college sports, baseball, football, basketball, auto racing, and more.

The Hot Stove Dinner & Auction, which will feature Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, will take place Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 6:30 PM at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.  Tickets are $35 per adult and $20 for children 12 and under.

"We are very excited to bring memorabilia of this level to New Bern," said River Rats Vice President Buddy Bengel.  "We worked closely with the auction company to find pieces that would specifically fit the desires of our fans."

Among the pieces Bengel thinks will garner the most interest:  a Roger Clemens signed Yankees jersey; a Hank Aaron signed mini-statue; a Yogi Berra signed picture of Berra and Babe Ruth; a Chipper Jones signed Braves jersey; a Vince Carter signed UNC blue jersey; and a Michael Vick signed Atlanta Falcons jersey.

Other items of note:  A 1982 Baseball Hall of Fame plate signed by Hank Aaron, Al Chandler, and Frank Robinson; a Don Larsen/Yogi Berra dual-signed photo commemorating the 50th anniversary of Larsen's 1956 perfect game; a Lawrence Taylor signed New York Giants football helmet; a Ray Lewis signed Baltimore Ravens mini-helmet; a Jim Rice signed Boston Red Sox mini-helmet; a Dick Butkus signed football; a Y.A. Tittle signed football; a Carlos Beltran signed New York Mets baseball; and an Andy Pettite signed New York Yankees baseball.

Most of the items will be part of a silent auction that will run during the course of the evening, Bengel noted.  A few select items will be auctioned live.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by phone at (252) 675-5689 or in person at New Bern Tours located at 333 Middle Street in historic downtown New Bern.  More information about the event can be found on the team's website at www.NewBernRiverRats.com.

About the River Rats:

The New Bern River Rats baseball club is a member of the Coastal Plain League, a high-profile wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league.  In 2007, the team will play its third season at New Bern High School’s Boykin Field.  The team’s official website is www.NewBernRiverRats.com.

About the Coastal Plain League:

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 10th anniversary season, the CPL is the largest summer league in the country, featuring 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL is certified by Major League Baseball, and gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.