By Jeremy Walsh
Die-hard Mets fans will get a special chance to get a piece of history this month when the team auctions off Shea Stadium seat pairs.
The online auction starts Aug. 25 at 9 a.m. at mets.com/shea. Fans and collectors worldwide will be able to purchase the 55,000 orange, blue, green and red seats for $869 per pair.
The limited inventory of seats will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each pair will be authenticated by Major League Baseball's Authentication Program and affixed with a tamper-proof hologram displaying a unique identification number.
Mets season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase their particular seats before the Aug. 25 general public sale. The sale of other Shea memorabilia on mets.com/shea will expand to include seat backs and 45-inch sections of bench seating from Shea's Left Field Picnic Area.
Details regarding the sale of additional memorabilia will be announced later this season.
Shea seats are owned by the city Parks Department, while other memorabilia is owned by the Mets, including clubhouse items such as player lockers.
Through an agreement between the city and team, the city will receive a majority of the proceeds of the sale. The Mets will donate their portion to the Mets Foundation, which will distribute the funds to various charities. The city's proceeds from the sale will be deposited into the city's general fund.
