Auction items highlight Garvey event

Staff Reports

Many outstanding items have been donated for the live and silent auctions to be held during Western Nevada Community College's fund-raiser featuring former Major League Baseball great Steve Garvey as the keynote speaker.

The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. March 31 at the Carson City Community Center. Among the items to be offered during the live auction will be:

A luxury box package for a San Francisco Giants-Oakland A's game the weekend of June 26 in Oakland; an autographed Joe Montana custom framed jersey; a customed framed New York Yankees jersey autographed by Yogi Berra and Don Larsen; a Barry Bonds autographed framed ticket collage; a photo of Garvey with winning bidder along with a custon framed Garvey jersey; an autographed Los Angeles Dodgers collage; and a Garvey rookie card.

Silent auction items will include two tickets for the Dodgers-San Francisco Giants game on Monday, June 21; a room, show and dinner package for two at John Ascuaga's Nugget; an autographed Tommy John baseball; an autographed Dontrelle Willis baseball; Honduran cigars; dinner for four at Bill and Virgie Miller's; Harley-Davidson leather jackets and chaps for two; Starbucks basket; two Mantel clocks donated by Winans Furniture; a manicure and pedicure from Nails by Anna; $50 Borders gift certificate; wine basket from Ben's Liquor; breakfast for two at the Cracker Box with Nevada Appeal columnists Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse and gift certificates for two meals at the Cracker Box.

Garvey, a 10-time all-star, was the National League most valuable player in 1974 with the Dodgers. As a write-in candidate that year, the fans voted for him to be the starting first baseman in the all-star game and Garvey went on to be the game's MVP. Garvey, who played for the Dodgers and San Diego Padres, was a two-time all-star MVP.

He holds the all-star game record for most appearances at first base with 10. He hit .356 in 22 National League Championship Series games, .319 in 28 World Series games and .393 in 10 all-star appearances.

Garvey holds the National League record with 1,207 straight games played. He was part of the longest running infield in baseball history along with Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey. They played together for 8 1/2 years.

In 1977, Garvey hit 33 home runs, becoming part of the only Dodger team with four players who hit 30 or more home runs, joining Cey, Dusty Baker and Reggie Smith. A junior high school in Lindsay, Calif., is also named in his honor.

The event will be a casual affair that will feature beef tri tip, hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and other ball park fare, along with games such as a pitching speed gun and agility ladder.

Proceeds from the event will go to WNCC's rodeo team along with the effort to begin baseball and women's soccer programs. Tickets are $75 or $50 for youth 16 and under and includes hosted drinks. A limited number of autographed baseballs can be purchased for $30. Reserved tables for 10 can be purchased for $1000 and includes 10 autographed baseballs.

Tickets can be purchased at Carson City's Bully's Sports Bar & Grill, Douglas County's Play It Again Sports, the Sportsman in Reno, Tommy's Grandstand in Sparks or through the WNCC Foundation (775) 445-3240.