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Chicago Bears first-round draft pick Shea McClellin is set to make his first scheduled autograph signing. McClellin will appear June 2 at Bleachers Sports, 557 Chestnut St., Winnetka, Ill., from 1-3 p.m. Autographs are $30 each. Advance numbered tickets are on sale from the store. For those who cannot attend the event, the store will take orders. Among the signed items being offered: 8×10 photo ($34), 16×20 photo ($45), Bears mini helmet ($50), Bears replica helmet ($195) and Bears jersey ($225). For tickets or more information, persons may email Bleacherz@aol.com or phone (847) 441-7767.
April Rose always is welcome around here. You weren't expecting a photo of Shea McClellin, were you?
* Speaking of Bears and autographs, former defensive lineman Tyrone Keys of the 1985 team that won Super Bowl XX is scheduled to sign on July 22 from 1-3 p.m. at Sports City Memorabilia, 9241 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, Ill. The event will benefit his All Sports Community Service Foundation. Autographs are $20 per item with $5 per inscription. To reserve tickets, persons should email Sports City at sportscity77@comcast.net with name, phone number, number of tickets and inscriptions.
* Speaking of sports memorabilia, a New York Yankees road jersey worn by Babe Ruth in the 1920s sold for $4.4 million, the highest price for any piece of sports memorabilia. California-based SCP Auctions handled the sale. The previous high was $4,338,500 in a Sotheby’s 2010 auction for the original rules of basketball written by Dr. James Naismith. The previous high for baseball memorabilia was $2.8 million in 2007 for a T-206 Honus Wagner tobacco card. Also sold in the SCP auction was former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring ($230,401), the cap worn by New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson for his 1951 “Shot Heard ’Round the World” home run ($173,102), a Ruth cap owned — and worn — by former Yankees pitcher David Wells ($537,278), and an autographed jersey worn by Mickey Mantle when he hit his 535th home run ($366,967).
* The June 9 Chicago Bandits game against the USSSA Pride will feature Jennie Finch scheduled to attend for the unveiling of her retirement banner before the game and a fireworks show after the contest. It will be the first postgame show for The Ballpark in Rosemont (Ill.). The Bandits also will present members from the 2011 NPF championship team with their rings. Tickets (starting at $5) are available at (877) 722-6348 or at the team’s web site at www.chicagobandits.com.
* The scheduled guests on “Sports & Torts” Thursday (May 24) with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris are former big-league pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant, former NBA standout Bob Kurland and Shari Duffy, the owner at Ladies Night Chicago. She is a soccer enthusiast if you’re looking for some sort of sports connection. The show broadcasts live at noon Chicago time on talkzone.com. It also will be available later on podcast.
Aroud here, we can never go wrong with a video featuring April Rose. Especially when it’s one of her “Maximum Exposure” efforts. And congratulations to the former Loop Rock Girl and 2008 Maxim Hometown Hottie winner on being ranked No. 82 on Maxim’s 2012 Hot 100, although the editorial staff at elliottharris.com thinks April should have been ranked far higher.
Jimmy Kimmel, who predicted at the beginning of season 14 that Donald Driver would win “Dancing With the Stars,” talks with the Packers receiver and Peta Murgatroyd after they captured the mirror-ball trophy Tuesday:
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