April 24, 2008
Ortiz "Yankee curse" jersey sells for $175,100
Auction benefits Dana-Farber's Jimmy Fund, which supports adult and pediatric cancer care and research
The Jimmy Fund, which supports adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, has more than 175,100 reasons to thank the New York Yankees.
The Jimmy Fund raised $175,100 from the eBay auction of the David Ortiz replica Red Sox jersey that was chipped from beneath two feet of cement in the new Yankee Stadium. Imperialcars.com president Kevin Meehan, of Mendon, Mass., made the highest bid. A total of 282 bids were made during the weeklong auction, which attracted more than 1 million visitors to the eBay site, 50,000 of whom added the jersey to their "watched item list."
The jersey was placed in wet cement during the construction of the new stadium by a construction worker who, as an ardent Red Sox fan, sought to curse the Yankees. The Yankees learned about the shirt, dug it up and donated it to the Jimmy Fund.
"The Jimmy Fund, and all it does to support cancer patients and research, is a wonderful cause and one that is important to all of us at imperialcars.com," said Meehan.
In addition to winning the jersey, Meehan will attend a 2008 Red Sox home game with a guest and be presented with the jersey at that time, date to be determined. He also will receive a new, authentic David Ortiz Boston Red road jersey and a New York Yankees Universe t-shirt.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the winning bid as it will help the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber make a very real difference for cancer patients today and tomorrow," said Mike Andrews, chairman of the Jimmy Fund and former Red Sox second baseman. "We are grateful for the generous bid, and extend our deep gratitude to the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox for coming together again in the fight against cancer."
The Jimmy Fund (www.jimmyfund.org) supports the fight against cancer at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for children and adults with cancer around the world. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives by furthering cancer research and care.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.danafarber.org) is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
Contact
Janet Haley Dubow
(617) 632-4090
