Wil Wheaton Auctioning Ping Pong Ball For Over $1,000

Yes, you read that right. Wil Wheaton is currently auctioning on eBay “a crappy dented ping pong ball [he] found in [his] garage and made popular on twitter“.

Now, you’re likely asking yourself at this point, “Why would Wil Wheaton auction off a crappy dented ping pong ball in the first place? And why in the name of Flying Spaghetti Monster would someone pay over $1,000 for it?”

Okay, first thing’s first–Wil Wheaton and his wife, Anne, are trying to raise money to help the Pasadena Humane Society improve and expand their facility. They are both “honorary committee members” for the rescue and have also reportedly adopted both of their dogs, Seamus and Marlowe, from there. The Pasadena Humane Society will be holding the Wiggle Waggle Walk, their annual fundraising event that includes both the walk and a small fair, on September 30 in Pasadena, California. According to Wil Wheaton on his Wiggle Waggle Walk team page, with the funds the shelter raises before and during the event they plan to add “a low cost wellness clinic, an obedience training facility and a pet supply store. They are also adding additional kennels and a grassy play area where dogs can be brought out for socializing and exercise.”

In order to help the shelter meet their fundraising goal of $300,000, Wil Wheaton is auctioning off a couple of things he reportedly found in his garage. One of these items is a “Wil Wheaton Personally Autographed Stand By Me DVD” which is currently going for $800. The other is the ping pong ball which, as of this article, is going for $1,135 with 82 bidders so far.

As for why someone would pay $1,135 for a ping pong ball, I don’t really have a clue other than it being for charity. In the description on the ping pong ball auction, Wil Wheaton even explains that “this ping pong ball is probably worth less than the cost of shipping. You will probably laugh a gerat [sic] deal when you place your bid, but will likely have the worst case of buyer’s remorse since that one celebrity wedding. Yeah, that’s the one I’m talking about. You’re probably going to feel like that, without all the attention and free drinks that come between the closing of the deal, and the overwhelming regret.” He’s trying to talk people out of buying it, and they’re still fighting over it like a bunch of middle-aged women over a first-run Beanie Baby in an antique store in the 90s.

But hey, why not? It’s for the homeless puppies and kitties, after all, and everyone knows how much the internet loves their puppies and kitties!

If you’d like to participate in the auction for either item, you’d better hurry; they both have just over a day left before the auctions end. If you’d rather just make a donation to help the Pasadena Humane Society, you can do so here.

Please, think of the puppies and kitties.