'Miracle on Ice' gold medal to be auctioned

LOS ANGELES, May 18 (UPI) -- One of the members of the "Miracle on Ice" 1980 U.S. hockey team is selling his gold medal, an auction house announced Tuesday.

Jim Craig, the then-22-year-old goaltender who helped lead the team to its upset win over the heavily favored Soviet team and eventually to the gold medal in the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, has decided to auction off his medal for financial, as well as charitable reasons.

"I'm selling my 'Miracle on Ice' collection to ensure a healthy financial future for my children and grandchildren," Craig said, in a statement posted on Leland's auction house website. "I also plan to donate proceeds from the auction to charities and causes that are near and dear to my heart."

Craig is selling the medal along with 16 other items, including the American flag he wrapped around himself after the gold medal game. The online auction has begun and will continue until June 17.

Lelands estimates Craig's medal to be worth between $1 million and $1.5 million. So far, there has been one bid for $100,000.

"Even when [U.S. athletes] go bankrupt, they don't want to sell their medals," said Jim Greensfelder, chief executive of Olympic memorabilia trader Cincinnatus Memorabilia. "It represents the biggest event in their life."

Craig, now a motivational speaker, is also auctioning the jersey from the game versus the Soviets, his mask, skates, a hockey stick and his pads among other items.