FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: March 13, 2007 Jackie McGinnis 518­880­3524 [email protected] Original/Signed Painting of New York Yankee Legend Bernie Williams Tops WMHT’s Auction List Troy, N.Y., March 13, 2007 ─ With “opening day” just a little more than two weeks away, now is the time for us to start thinking about baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and ­ Bernie Williams. It was announced at WMHT today that an original and signed photorealistic watercolor of the popular New York Yankee legend will be a premier feature of this year’s Great TV Auction. The event will run on the local television station from April 28­May 6 but bidding on many items begins on­line on April 13. Created exclusively for WMHT by renowned sports artist James Fiorentino, the original work entitled “Bernie Goes Boom,” as well as a limited number of giclees on canvas, remarqued giclees, and lithographs autographed by both Williams and Fiorentino, will be auctioned off during this annual event that is held in support of WMHT’s many programs and services. “I am amazed,” said Williams after he got his first look at the artwork. “Your art is beautiful and you really captured my swing.” According to Scott Sauer, WMHT’s senior vice president for development and assistant general manager, “This exclusive artwork is very rare and will only be available one time and only to the viewers and supporters of WMHT. Bernie rarely, if ever, signs anything and it is only because of his support and love of public television that he agreed to do this special signing for us, making these pieces real collector’s items.” Fiorentino has dazzled the sports art community with his ability to capture an uncanny likeness of famous sports icons in his paintings. Fiorentino has painted and illustrated some of the biggest sports legends, among them Yogi Berra, Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre, Roberto Clemente, Eli and Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, and Michael Jordan. The youngest artist to have his work displayed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, his painting of Reggie Jackson was featured when Fiorentino was just 15 years old. By 1999, much of his work had been converted into trading cards for sports card giants like Topps and Upper Deck, had graced national publications such as ESPN Magazine and The New York Times, and had been featured in sports museums across the United States.
1 Williams, who has four World Series rings and seven American League pennants, is only the 10 th player in Yankee history to play for 15 years or more. A six­time all­star and four­time Gold Glove winner, Williams was the 1998 American League Batting Champion and the all­time Major League leader in post­season home runs and RBI’s. A legend on and off the field, Williams has worked extensively in his community, with organizations such as the Children’s Health Fund and Hillside Food Outreach and is also an award­winning classically trained musician and composer. Fiorentino is just one of the Great TV Auction’s many generous donors. To learn more about additional items up for bid or how to participate in the auction as a donor, bidder or volunteer, contact the WMHT Auction Manager at 518­880­3559 or go to www.wmht.org. Visitors to the website can sign up for an E­Z bidder number and begin placing bids on April 13. WMHT Educational Telecommunications public broadcasting services include WMHT­TV, WMHT­FM 89.1/88.7, Classical 97.7 WBKK and RISE, a radio reading service for the visually impaired and print disabled, as well as community outreach and family learning initiatives. WMHT reaches more than half a million households and is the only full­service public broadcaster serving Eastern New York and Western New England. ­30­
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