"High Hopes" indeed.
Not even halfway through, the online auction of Phanatic statues has already raised more than $70,000 for Phillies Charities.
And bidding won't begin till Sept. 24 on the biggest prize of all - a statue signed by the entire team.
Twenty nearly full-size likenesses of the Phillies mascot were decorated by artists, then placed around the city since early spring.
Fifteen were selected for the auction. The first round ran from Aug. 27 to Thursday. "Ben Phranklin" fetched $12,100, edging out the $10,100 for Van Gogh-inspired "All-Starry Night," followed by "Inside Out" with $3,600 and "Key to Golden Love" with $3,502.
The latest round, which concludes tomorrow evening, is doing even better.
The bid for "High Hopes" - named for the favorite song of legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas - was up to $14,110 this morning, followed by $12,000 for "Philanatic," $9,600 for "The Sound of Phillie Phanatic," and $5,000 for "Phanatico Latino."
Three more will go on the block Sept. 10 to 16, followed by another trio, Sept. 17 to 23.
The auction will finish with the autographed statue, simply called "The Phillies Phanatic," up for bids from Sept. 24 to 30.
All 20 statues are on display inside the Third Gate Base Gate at Citizens Bank Park. On Saturday, fans can see them without a game ticket because the ballpark will be open for free, while the team is out of town. The Phanatic will be on hand from noon to 1 p.m., and Phillies ballgirls will be there, too, along with balloon artists and face-painters for the kids.
For more on the auction, or to place a bid, go to www.phillies.com, click "Fans" on the black bar near the top, then on "Phanatic Around Town."