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Roberto Clemente Award

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Roberto Clemente Award
Logo for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award.
SportBaseball
LeagueMajor League Baseball
Awarded forThe player that "best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field"
CountryUnited States, Canada
Presented byMajor League Baseball
History
First award1971
Most recentMookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
WebsiteMLB.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 choses 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 winners' hat and helmet.[4]

Honorees

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Willie Mays won the first award, in 1971
Don Baylor won in 1985
1992 recipient Cal Ripken Jr.
Tony Gwynn was the 1999 recipient
Tim Wakefield won in 2010
The 2016 award went to Curtis Granderson
Key
†
 Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
^ Player is still active
Recipients by year
Year Player Team League Position
1971 Willie Mays † San Francisco Giants National Outfielder
1972 Brooks Robinson † Baltimore Orioles American Third baseman
1973 Al Kaline † Detroit Tigers American Outfielder
1974 Willie Stargell † Pittsburgh Pirates National Outfielder
1975 Lou Brock † St. Louis Cardinals National Outfielder
1976 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds National Third baseman
1977 Rod Carew † Minnesota Twins American First baseman
1978 Greg Luzinski Philadelphia Phillies National Outfielder
1979 Andre Thornton Cleveland Indians American First baseman
1980 Phil Niekro † Atlanta Braves National Pitcher
1981 Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers National First baseman
1982 Ken Singleton Baltimore Orioles American Designated hitter
1983 Cecil Cooper Milwaukee Brewers American First baseman
1984 Ron Guidry New York Yankees American Pitcher
1985 Don Baylor New York Yankees American Designated hitter
1986 Garry Maddox Philadelphia Phillies National Outfielder
1987 Rick Sutcliffe Chicago Cubs National Pitcher
1988 Dale Murphy Atlanta Braves National Outfielder
1989 Gary Carter † New York Mets National Catcher
1990 Dave Stewart Oakland Athletics American Pitcher
1991 Harold Reynolds Seattle Mariners American Second baseman
1992 Cal Ripken Jr. † Baltimore Orioles American Shortstop
1993 Barry Larkin † Cincinnati Reds National Shortstop
1994 Dave Winfield † Minnesota Twins American Designated hitter
1995 Ozzie Smith † St. Louis Cardinals National Shortstop
1996 Kirby Puckett † Minnesota Twins American Outfielder
1997 Eric Davis Baltimore Orioles American Outfielder
1998 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs National Outfielder
1999 Tony Gwynn † San Diego Padres National Outfielder
2000 Al Leiter New York Mets National Pitcher
2001 Curt Schilling Arizona Diamondbacks National Pitcher
Residents of New York City For their relief efforts following the September 11 terrorist attacks.[5]
2002 Jim Thome † Cleveland Indians American First baseman
2003 Jamie Moyer Seattle Mariners American Pitcher
2004 Edgar Martínez † Seattle Mariners American Designated hitter
2005 John Smoltz † Atlanta Braves National Pitcher
2006 Carlos Delgado New York Mets National First baseman
2007 Craig Biggio † Houston Astros National Second baseman
2008 Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals National First baseman
2009 Derek Jeter † New York Yankees American Shortstop
2010 Tim Wakefield Boston Red Sox American Pitcher
2011 David Ortiz † Boston Red Sox American Designated hitter
2012 Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers National Pitcher
2013 Carlos Beltrán † St. Louis Cardinals National Outfielder
2014[a] Paul Konerko Chicago White Sox American First baseman
Jimmy Rollins Philadelphia Phillies National Shortstop
2015 Andrew McCutchen^ Pittsburgh Pirates National Outfielder
2016 Curtis Granderson New York Mets National Outfielder
2017 Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs National First baseman
2018 Yadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals National Catcher
2019 Carlos Carrasco^ Cleveland Indians American Pitcher
2020 Adam Wainwright St. Louis Cardinals National Pitcher
2021 Nelson Cruz Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota Twins[b]		 American Designated hitter
2022 Justin Turner^ Los Angeles Dodgers National Third baseman
2023 Aaron Judge^ New York Yankees American Outfielder
2024 Salvador Pérez^ Kansas City Royals American Catcher
2025 Mookie Betts^ Los Angeles Dodgers National Shortstop
  1. ^ In 2014, there were two recipients of the award, one in each league.
  2. ^ Cruz was nominated for the award by the Twins, then traded to the Rays shortly after the All-Star break.

See also

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References

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General
  • "Roberto Clemente Award". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  • "Roberto Clemente Award winners". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  • "The Hutch Award, Lou Gehrig Award, Babe Ruth Award & Roberto Clemente Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  • "Roberto Clemente Award Winners". ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
Specific
  1. ^ -https://www.mlb.com/community/roberto-clemente-award Roberto Clemente Award], Major League Baseball
  2. ^ a b c d e "Roberto Clemente Award – About the award". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  3. ^ "Pirates' McCutchen Nominated For Clemente Award". KDKA-TV. September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  4. ^ Rivera, Marly (April 7, 2022). "Clemente Award winners get No. 21 cap patch". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  5. ^ "Clemente Award to NYers". Newsday. October 29, 2001. But in an unprecedented decision, Major League Baseball gave out a second Clemente award to the residents of New York City, for their actions since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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