RED SOX: A secretly buried jersey that was supposed to start a curse has instead become a goodwill gesture between longtime baseball rivals.
The official charity of the Red Sox, the Jimmy Fund, began an eBay auction Thursday for the David Ortiz jersey that was buried under the New York Yankees’ new stadium by a Boston fan hoping to create a hex.
All proceeds will go to the children’s cancer charity, which is affiliated with Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The jersey was recovered Sunday and the Yankees sent it to the Jimmy Fund.
“I hadn’t given it much thought,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said with a smile before Thursday night’s game at the Yankees. “I can tell you this, that nobody in the Francona household will be bidding on it.”
The auction lasts for one week. The starting bid was $500 for the jersey, a brand new jersey and two seats to a Red Sox game.
Manny Ramirez hit his 494th home run Thursday night against the Yankees in New York, passing Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff for sole possession of 24th place on the career list. The Boston left fielder added No. 495 an inning later. Ramirez, who grew up minutes from Yankee Stadium, has 55 homers against New York. Jimmie Foxx (70) and Ted Williams (62) are the only players with more. Ramirez has homered at Yankee Stadium in 10 consecutive seasons. He has 29 home runs at the ballpark, which is in its final season before the team moves into a new stadium under construction across the street.
YANKEES: Joba Chamberlain’s father is making progress while remaining hospitalized, the team said. Chamberlain missed his fourth consecutive game to be with his stricken father in Nebraska. The hard-throwing reliever left the team Monday and was placed on the bereavement list.
Catcher Jorge Posada said his ailing throwing arm felt better and he hopes to be behind the plate Saturday in Baltimore. Posada hasn’t started at catcher since April 8 because of a dead arm.
RANGERS: Texas placed outfielder Marlon Byrd on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left knee and purchased the contract of infielder German Duran.
BLUE JAYS: Toronto recalled pitcher David Purcey from Class AAA Syracuse and placed right-hander Brian Wolfe on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right triceps.
A’S: Oakland’s expected move to Fremont will probably be delayed at least until 2012, a year later than the team hoped.
Associated Press
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