El Paso businessman Pat Goff to sell sports memorabilia collection for charity

Pat Goff looked at his baseball bat collection at El Paso Saddleblanket at 6926 Gateway East Thursday. Goff will sell his 2,000-piece sports memorabilia collection there Saturday. (Rudy Gutierrez / El Paso Times)
?? Photos: Pat Goff's items at El Paso Saddleblanket's Sports Memorabilia Show
Blame Pat Goff's daughter, Kristi Hendricks, for his vast collection of sports memorabilia.
Twenty-eight years ago, she decided to give her father something special for Father's Day. So she had the Texas Rangers baseball team sign an official Major League Baseball bat.
"She came with the bat," said Goff, best known for owning appliance stores in El Paso and Las Cruces. "I decided to display it in the store. And it continued after that."
Now, most of the collection -- estimated at about 2,000 pieces -- will be on sale today and Saturday at El Paso Saddleblanket's Sports Memorabilia Show. A portion of the proceeds will go to charity. Items will sell from $10 to $2,400.
"It was too much stuff," said Goff, now retired. "I didn't have anywhere else to store it."
The collection features items representing most major sports, including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, MLB, boxing, hockey, golf and college basketball and football.
Dallas Cowboys fans can find everything from a cereal box and jersey signed by former cornerback Deion Sanders to a football and a plaque signed by Hall of Fame running back Emmitt
Smith. There are signed items from former quarterbacks Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach and Danny White. Even former offensive lineman Nate Newton sent a signed jersey to Goff.Goff collected most signed items by making friends with team trainers and by going to sports stores throughout the country. He has been to 16 Super Bowls and other sporting events.
The more interesting items on sale include a pair of yellow wooden seats from the old Boston Garden; helmets signed by a legendary Cleveland Browns running back, Jim Brown, and a famous New York Jets quarterback, Joe Namath; size 22 basketball shoes worn by former Houston Rocket Dikembe Mutombo; and a basketball autographed by retired star Shaquille O'Neal. Boston fans will find a pair of size-12 black basketball shoes signed by Celtics legend Larry Bird.
Green Bay Packers enthusiasts can buy a helmet signed by the 1996 team that won the Super Bowl, which included quarterback Brett Favre and the late defensive end Reggie White.
"It's an amazing collection," said Ed Silva, who helped set up the items at the store. "I'm not even a sports fan, and I would buy some of this stuff. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this stuff. I can actually say I held Larry Bird's shoes."
Luc Henson Wells, El Paso Saddleblanket's general manager, said he expects about 3,000 people at the two-day show.
"A lot of people know Pat and they know what kind of collection he has," Henson said. "It's a lot of great items."
Goff's heart won't be broken to give up his collection. He just wants sports fans to enjoy the items as much as he has all these years.
He said, "As long as the things are going to people who will enjoy it and not end up in a store somewhere, I will be happy."
Paula Monarez Diaz may be reached at 546-6154; pdiaz@elpasotimes.com
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