DEREK JETER, A-ROD, DAVID ORTIZ, ICHIRO, DAVID WRIGHT, JOHAN SANTANA, GRIFFEY JR., AND JIM THOME ARE AMONG MORE THAN 100 MAJOR LEAGUERS DONATING TO AN ONLINE MEMORABILIA AUCTION TO BE HELD THIS WEEK TO BENEFIT A FORMER MAJOR LEAGUER STRIKEN WITH A MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR

Two large boxes from the New York Yankees arrived at the Chandler, Arizona, home of Alisa and Nelson Figueroa on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. They were filled with autographed Yankees jerseys, baseball caps, and baseballs, their donation to Rally for Recovery, an online auction being held to benefit 33-year-old former National League relief pitcher Ricky Stone who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in August.

were a signed at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, September 21st, the day the Yankees played their last game at the House That Ruth Built. The jersey Derek Jeter signed was one of the jerseys he wore that last day. Included were signed jerseys of A-Rod and Mariano and a number of signed caps including one signed by Yogi Berra who was at the Stadium that day to say goodbye.

Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Ichiro, David Wright, Johan Santana, Ken Griffey, Jr., Jim Thome, Ryne Sandberg, Jeff Kent, Jose Reyes, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Quentin, Mark Belhorn, John Smoltz, Brad Ausmus, Joe Nathan, Adrian Beltre, and Roy Oswalt are among over 100 baseball players donating to an online memorabilia auction to be held this week to benefit 33-year-old Ricky Stone, relief pitcher for Astros (2001-2004), Padres (2004), and Reds (2005, 2007), who was stricken with a malignant brain tumor in August 2008.

May 2008, Ricky Stone was signed by Taiwan’s Uni-President Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He suffered an injury in Taiwan and he returned to the United States. After Ricky had a Grand Mal seizure, it was discovered that he had a malignant brain tumor. Nelson Figueroa, who pitched for the New York Mets in 2008, had pitched for the Uni-President Lions in 2007. His wife Alisa and Erin Pote, wife of Lions pitcher Lou Pote, founded Rally for Recovery to raise funds for the Stone Family.

highlights of the auction of signed baseball memorabilia include a selection of game used items: a catcher mask worn by the Astros Brad Ausmus, a cap worn by Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, a bat used by Red Sox 2nd baseman Mark Belhorn during Boston’s 2004 World Championship season, spikes worn by Padres shortstop Khalil Greene, and a baseball used in practice by Mets pitcher Johan Santana before his 3-hit shutout on the next to the last game at Shea Stadium. Also, jerseys signed by Ryan Howard, Andy Pettitte, Ichiro, and Miguel Tejada, spikes signed by Jose Reyes and David Wright, bats signed by Ken Griffey, Jr., Jim Thome, and Morgan Ensberg, caps signed by Jeff Kent, Mike Mussina, Jorge Posada, and Joba Chamberlain, bobbleheads signed by Roy Oswalt and Adrian Beltre, and dozens of single signed baseballs. A 2008 All Star Game ball signed by 26 All Stars and a Cincinnati Reds team signed bat and helmet will also be auctioned.

Rally for Recovery auction items will be listed on http://stores.ebay.com/Rally-For-Recovery-Baseball-Auction in random order from 6 PM PST to 8 PM PST on Sunday, November 23, 2008. The auction will end on Sunday evening, November 30, 2008.