PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates 1979 World Series trophy, now on loan to a sports museum, could be sold at auction because its owner is bankrupt.

The Allegheny HYP Club declared bankruptcy in 2002 and its memorabilia collection - including the trophy - could be sold to pay its debts.

An unidentified New York collector has offered $100,000 for the collection.

The Pirates and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, where the trophy is displayed, now are considering making their own bids to keep it in Pittsburgh.

Major League Baseball awards each year's World Series trophy to a team's owner. The Galbreath family, who owned the Pirates until 1985, donated the trophy to the Allegheny HYP Club, which was formed in the 1970s to help pay for Three Rivers Stadium.