Seattle Mariners clean out their ‘closet’ during semi-annual sale

We all end up with a bunch of stuff we no longer want. The Seattle Mariners are no exception.

Just like many of us, the M’s are cleaning out the closets and were trying to sell some of it at the team’s semi-annual garage sale Wednesday.

“The majority of it is items and memorabilia from yesteryear, if you will,” said community relations manager Sean Grindley, who organizes the garage sale along with other charity fundraisers for Mariners Care, the team’s charitable foundation.

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“We have a closet just so big and so we try and pull it out and get it into the hands of fans and hopefully raise a little money at the same time,” he said.

The bounty includes autographed baseballs, game-worn jerseys, bats, and other memorabilia from former players.

Some of the stuff has obvious value like an Ichiro autographed ball selling for $200. But you have to wonder who would buy something signed by Fernando Rodney, let alone an autographed camouflage jersey worn in the 2013 Memorial Day game by long-gone Lucas Luetge (asking price, $85)?

Surprisingly, Grindley says hardcore M’s fans scoop up must of the stuff.

“At a certain price, it does not matter what the name is on it,” Grindley said. “It’s memorabilia. The great thing about baseball is everyone has their favorite player. A lot of times a kid just wants a baseball and it doesn’t matter. And if you can buy a baseball and the money goes to charity, that’s what we’re all doing it for.”

The garage sale is just one tiny piece of the Mariners’ overall charitable efforts. Last year alone, Mariners Care raised over $1.2 million for over 1,500 local organizations including Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Seattle Children’s and numerous others. Every player participated in and supported various community programs and causes themselves.

Along with the semi-annual garage sales, the team also holds silent auctions each Saturday home game at Safeco Field, featuring autographed and game-used memorabilia from current players. The auctions raised over $79,000 for charity last year.

“We’re happy to get this stuff in the hands of fans that appreciate it,” Grindley said. “But our goal is hopefully fans learn more about Mariners Care as well, and I think most of our fans are really generous and like helping out as much as we do.”

The garage sale and weekly auctions are held on the main concourse at Section 128, just behind home plate.

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