PHILADELPHIA — The bat tossed in the air by a New Jersey Little Leaguer to celebrate a home run that earned him a suspension later lifted by a judge sold Friday for nearly $10,000 at auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All proceeds from the sale of 12-year-old Marco Rocco\u2019s signed bat will be donated to the program he plays for, Haddonfield Little League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMarco loves Little League and is happy that he is able to give back to an organization that he is very fond of,\u201d his father, Joe Rocco, said in a text. \u201cLittle League was such a big part of Marco’s life for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The auction by Goldin Auctions drew 68 bids. The winning bid was $9,882, and the name of the winning bidder was not announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marco’s bat flip on July 16 in the final of the Little League sectional tournament resulted in an ejection, a one-game suspension and a legal fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspension would have kept him out of the first game of the state tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joe Rocco took Little League to court and won an emergency temporary restraining order<\/a> that allowed Marco to play in the double-elimination tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The incident was also commemorated with a pin available at the Little League World Series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bat flip also drew attention from major leaguers<\/a>, who sided with the boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n