Fundraisers and benefit events continue to be held for the family of Lt. Shannon Stone of the Brownwood Fire Department who passed away after a tragic accident at a Texas Rangers’ game in early July. The latest benefit is an auction of a jersey signed by 2011 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game participants and other celebrities.
According to an ESPN report by Richard Durrett on ESPN.com, their own Erin Andrews donated the jersey she wore during the game, on which she had nearly all of the players sign the jersey before the game so that it could be auctioned to benefit the Stone family. To read the full article, click here.
This auction is underway currently on MLB.com with the proceeds going to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation Memorial Account in Honor of Shannon Stone. The auction will continue through August 7, 2011 at 5pm. (All funds donated to this account will directly benefit the Stone family. The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will not benefit in any way.) To bid on the jersey click here.
In an interview with Mark Newman of MLB.com, Andrews spoke of how she and her dad enjoyed so many sports together and how the tragedy hit close to home for her. Because of the all star game being so close to the coverage of Stone’s death, and the fact there were so many celebrities around, she felt it was a perfect time to have all of them sign the jersey and raise some money toward the fund for the Stone family. To read the entire article, click here.
According to the articles from ESPN and MLB.com, there were nearly 30 autographs on the jersey from celebrities such as Andrews, Nick Jonas, Jordin Sparks, Rickey Henderson, Joe Torre, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kate Upton, Jason Aldean, Jennie Finch, Chris Pratt, Greg Grunberg, Rollie Fingers, Chord Overstreet, James Denton, Larry Fitzgerald, Ozzie Smith, Ernie Banks, Mark Grace, Steve Garvey, Bernie Williams, Fred Lynn, Mike Piazza and many more, with signatures witnessed and documented by MLB authenticators.
