2004 Red Sox Game Memorabilia from the MLB Authentication Program Available to Fans via Exclusive Auction on MLB.com.

NEW YORK -- Game-used and Autographed Items from 2004 ALCS and World Series Among Items up for Auction

Major League Baseball Properties and MLB Advanced Media L.P. will launch an exclusive auction of game-used and autographed items from the Boston Red Sox 2004 championship season on MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball. The auction, which runs from Tuesday, December 7 until Wednesday, December 15, features the single largest collection of World Series champion-related memorabilia ever put up for auction by MLBP.

Each one-of-a-kind item in the auction has been authenticated through the MLB Authentication Program, the first league-wide memorabilia authentication initiative in professional sports. Every item that was either autographed or removed from the field of play was witnessed and marked by personnel from the MLB Authentication Program's third-party authenticator, Deloitte & Touche. Each authenticated item is affixed with a hologram containing a unique serial number. The authenticity of each item can be verified on MLB.com using the item's unique serial number.

Some of the Red Sox memorabilia from the 2004 season scheduled to be available for auction on MLB.com includes:

--Game-issued World Series base signed by series MVP Manny Ramirez

--Game-used ALCS base signed by series MVP David Ortiz

--Game-used bases from all four World Series games

--Game-used baseballs from all four World Series games

--Game-used Red Sox line-up card from World Series game four

--Game-used on-deck circle from World Series games three and four

--Framed World Series locker name plates for Derek Lowe, Trot Nixon and Keith Foulke

--Commemorative home plate from games two and three of the World Series - used for first pitch ceremonies

--Commemorative pitching rubber from game three of the World Series - used for first pitch ceremonies

--Commemorative home plate from July 4th celebration signed by entire Red Sox team - used for first pitch ceremonies

-- 1 lb. Red Sox commemorative coin made of pure gold

"We are thrilled to provide the great fans of Red Sox Nation and sports memorabilia collectors everywhere an opportunity to acquire a variety of items from one of the most dramatic championship runs in the history of sports," said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball Properties. "These items will enable fans to own a piece of Red Sox history and, since every item has been authenticated through the MLB Authentication Program, each of these items being offered is guaranteed to be authentic."

The MLB Authentication Program was designed to distinguish officially authenticated Major League Baseball memorabilia from other items on the market. Since its inception in January 2001, more than 650,000 autographed and game-used items have been authenticated through the program, including historic achievements from the 2004 season such as Randy Johnson's perfect game and Ichiro Suzuki breaking George Sisler's single-season hits record. In addition, game-used items from every All-Star Game and postseason since 2001 have been authenticated through the MLB Authentication Program.

MLBP official licensees that participate in the MLB Authentication Program include Upper Deck Authenticated, All-Star Lineup, The Highland Mint, Mounted Memories, Pro Access, Steiner Sports Marketing and Tri Star Productions. Official Major League Baseball authenticated memorabilia is available at preferred retailers, Field of Dream retail stores, the shop and auction sections of MLB.com, Major League Baseball Clubhouse Stores and collectibles retailers nationwide.