This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/31/2005.
All proceeds for this lot will be sold to benefit The Katrina Foundation. Hurricane Katrina was not only the costliest but also the most destructive natural disaster in the history of the United States. The first Category 5 hurricane of 2005, it first hit Miami as a Category 1, then gained strength and smashed into the Central Gulf Coast as a Category 4. The ensuing storm surge swelled tremendously, breaching the New Orleans levee system that protected the city from Lake Pontchartrain. Katrina closed the port, destroyed homes and brought business to a halt, especially in the oil industry. 80% of New Orleans was underwater, with an overall death toll exceeding 1200, mostly in Louisiana and Mississippi. With over a million people displaced, the humanitarian crisis continues on a scale not seen since the Great Depression. The Federal Government declared over 90,000 square miles a disaster area, an area approaching the size of The United Kingdom. Along with the Red Cross and many other charities, both domestic and international, the Salvation Army has provided food, water and shelter to the victims of Katrina. In a pre-game ceremony at Yankee Stadium on September 6, 2005, the New York Yankees, represented by Team President Randy Levine, Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost and outfielder Matt Lawton (who resides in Mississippi), presented a check for $1 million dollars to the Salvation Army for its relief effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, throughout that homestand (September 6-11, 2005), representatives of the Salvation Army were stationed outside each of Yankee Stadium's entrances, as well as at all Customer-Service locations inside the Stadium, to collect donations from fans. "The Yankees recognize the need for people from all over the world to assist in the recovery and the rebuilding of areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina," Levine said. "As we have proved in the past, we are a resilient and determined country. It is the Yankees' hope and expectation that the best fans in the world will follow the lead of so many others in giving of themselves at time when so much is needed." Further, in tribute to the efforts of organizations working to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Yankees wore Salvation Army patches on the right sleeves of their uniform shirts. This spectacular collection consists of 42 NY Yankees "Hurricane Katrina" game-used home pinstripe jerseys. Each has the Authentic Majestic Athletic tag, white flag tag with size and white flag tag with wash instructions on the front left tail. Each has the interlocking "NY" logo on the front left breast, done in blue tackle twill, and the player number on the back, also done in blue tackle twill. On the back neck of each is the official MLB logo patch. On the right sleeve of each jersey is the circular "The Salvation Army, Emergency Disaster Services" red on white patch. Of the 42 jerseys, three are game issued, including Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Jason Giambi. Giambi has also signed his jersey. The remaining 39 jerseys are all game used and include Aaron Small, Al Leiter, Alan Embree, Andy Phillips, Bernie Williams, Bubba Crosby, Carl Pavano, Chien-Ming Wang, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Felix Escalona, Felix Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Jaret Wright, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, John Flaherty, Jorge Depaula, Jorge Posada, Luis Sojo, Mariano Rivera, Mark Belhorn, Matt Lawton, Mel Stottlemyre, Mike Mussina, Mike Vento, Neil Allen, Ramiro Mendoza, Randy Johnson, Robinson Cano, Roy White, Ruben Sierra, Shawn Chacone, Tanyon Sturtze, Tino Martinez, Tom Gordon, Tony Womack, Wayne Franklin and Wil Nieves. Accompanied by a LOA from Yankees-Steiner Collectibles.