DeKALB | Many people see Ed Mathey as the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back.

Such was the case Wednesday at a special auction hosted by the NIU baseball program.

On the eve of opening the MAC slate of its schedule with a three-game home series against Ohio this weekend, the team had a festive gathering at Fatty’s Pub and Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Hwy., to auction the green jerseys the club wore during its St. Patrick’s Day victory over Manhattan.

The No. 45 jersey of the fifth-year coach was won by Dee Abrahamson, NIU associate athletics director, in a silent auction of player jerseys, green hats and other memorabilia. The auction raised more than $2,000 for the NIU baseball program.

An overflow crowd of family, friends and supporters were so jammed into the game room and back portion of the establishment.

“This is a great turnout, we have a great parent group,” Mathey said. “I’m meeting more and more people not connected by family, that are fans just coming out and talking to us. That’s a good sign for us and for what we are doing.”