To watch The Daily Reveille’s video of LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri and Wally Pontiff Sr. unveiling the new national championship lithograph, click here.LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri and noted Louisiana artist Michael Hunt unveiled a lithograph Tuesday commemorating LSU’s 2009 national championship season that will be used to generate funds for the Wally Pontiff, Jr. Foundation. Pontiff was a star third-baseman who played at LSU for three seasons and died from a heart condition in 2002 at age 21.”Amid all the excitement and celebration in winning our sixth national championship, the LSU community remembers all of those who have been such a part of this tradition. Wally Pontiff is one of us, and will always be a part of our family,” said Mainieri.Hunt has received international acclaim for his work and has partnered with celebrities such as Nicolas Cage, Michael Keaton, Willie Nelson, and James Gandolfini to raise money for a variety of charitable causes.”The first piece of art I ever sold was LSU inspired,” said Hunt. “I was a 17 year-old student, and before and after the football games I’d sell posters featuring Mike The Tiger out of a shopping cart. That was so long ago it might even have been Mike I. I am so thrilled to be able to return to my LSU roots and commemorate both a sixth national championship and the world’s classiest athletic program.”The 30″ x 21” lithograph features a proud Mike The Tiger surrounded by an LSU pitcher, hitter, jersey, batting helmet, ball, glove and cap. Hunt created a similar piece after the LSU football team won the 2007 national championship.A limited edition of 1,000 will be autographed by Mainieri and Hunt, and will sell for $90 with a portion of the proceeds going to the foundation.The Wally Pontiff, Jr. Foundation supports a wide array of charities ranging from sports and recreation, to special needs children, grief and loss programs, and faith-based causes. A special focus is to educate area doctors on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition responsible for Pontiff’s death.
 
Mainieri and Hunt hope the effort will result in a sizeable contribution to the foundation. “I hope the fans will join us in honoring Wally in this way. It’s a way to share our successful season with Wally and his family,” said Mainieri.The lithographs are available by calling 1-800-631-2660 or by visiting LSUHunt.com—-Contact The Daily Reveille sports staff at [email protected]