 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 |
TheRoberto Clemente Award is given annually to theMajor 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 theCommissioner's Award, it has been presented by MLB since 1971, and was renamed in 1973 afterHall of FamePittsburgh PiratesoutfielderRoberto Clemente followinghis death in a plane crash while delivering supplies to victims of theNicaragua 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 theWorld Series.[2] Since 2007, the award has been presented byChevrolet, 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 inCarolina, 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 wasWillie Mays, and the most recent honoree isMookie Betts. No player has received the award more than once. The team to have the most winners is theSt. Louis Cardinals. Two Pirates, Clemente's former teammateWillie Stargell (1974) andAndrew McCutchen (2015), have received the honor. Pittsburgh has worn Clemente-erathrowback 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, byPaul Konerko andJimmy Rollins. As of 2025, the active MLB teams without a winner are theColorado Rockies,Los Angeles Angels,Miami Marlins,Texas Rangers,Toronto Blue Jays, andWashington 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]
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† | Member of theBaseball Hall of Fame |
|---|---|
| ^ | Player is still active |
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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