Roberto Clemente Award
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 Logo for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award. | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| League | Major League Baseball |
| Awarded for | The player that "best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field" |
| Country | United States, Canada |
| Presented by | Major League Baseball |
| History | |
| First award | 1971 |
| Most recent | Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Website | MLB.com |
The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player who "best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field."[1] Originally known as the Commissioner's Award, it has been presented by MLB since 1971, and was renamed in 1973 after Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente following his death in a plane crash while delivering supplies to victims of the Nicaragua earthquake.[2]
Each year, every Major League Baseball team chooses a nominee for the award during the regular season.[2] The player who receives the most votes online via MLB's official website, MLB.com, gets one vote in addition to the votes cast by a panel of sportswriters and baseball dignitaries.[2] The winner is announced before Game 3 of the World Series.[2] Since 2007, the award has been presented by Chevrolet, which donates money and a Chevy vehicle to the recipient's charity of choice. Additional contributions are made by it to the Roberto Clemente Sports City, a non-profit organization in Carolina, Puerto Rico, that provides national sports activities for children, and to the charity of choice of each of the 30 club nominees.[2]
The first recipient of the award was Willie Mays, and the most recent honoree is Mookie Betts. No player has received the award more than once. The team to have the most winners is the St. Louis Cardinals. Two Pirates, Clemente's former teammate Willie Stargell (1974) and Andrew McCutchen (2015), have received the honor. Pittsburgh has worn Clemente-era throwback uniforms in recent years on Roberto Clemente Day, when they announce their annual Clemente Award nominee.[3] The award has only been shared once, in 2014, by Paul Konerko and Jimmy Rollins. As of 2025, the active MLB teams without a winner are the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals.
In 2022, Major League Baseball created a circular patch with Clemente's number "21", which may displayed on the back of any winner's hat and helmet.[4]
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