Hawks banners available through online auction

There's still an opportunity for Blackhawks fans to bid on street pole banners that honored the team during its run to the 2010 Stanley Cup.

The online auction begins Friday and continues through Oct. 22.

According to the Mayor's Office of Special Events, the online auction will feature two player banners: assistant captain and forward Patrick Sharp and former Blackhawk Kris Versteeg. Both were displayed on Chicago's streets during the playoffs and victory parade.

In addition to those two banners, the online auction will also include one of this year's Marathon banners from the street poles along the route, as well as a collector's version mini banner.

Online bidding begins on Friday at 9 a.m. through the Special Events website, explorechicago.org/special events. The auction closes at 5 p.m. Oct. 22.

The online auction is a preview to the annual “Sharing It Banner Auction, which is Nov. 17, beginning at moon at the Daley Center east lobby. In addition to the Blackhawk banners, “stars of this year's auction include: Real Pirates and the Nature of Diamonds from the Field Museum; The Art Institute's Modern Wing and from Broadway in Chicago, Shrek: The Musical.

Additional highlights will include miniature banners (10 x 30) highlighting the Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship and this year's Chicago Marathon as well as other sports highlights and festivals, special city occasions and museum shows throughout the recent past.

Gary Metzner of Sotheby's Midwest will call the bids for the auction. Cash and credit cards are accepted; checks are accepted with proper identification. Proceeds from these sales benefit the “Sharing It program, which raises funds for job training for the underprivileged.