The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes those players who best exemplify the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their teams. The award is named for Clemente, a 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who was killed on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. This award perpetuates Clemente’s memory and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Posada, along with his wife, Laura, created The Jorge Posada Foundation in the fall of 2000 after their son, Jorge Luis, was diagnosed with craniosynostosis 10 days after his birth. The foundation aims to provide financial assistance to families with children affected by this condition and offer them emotional support through its Mentors Program. The organization partners with a number of medical centers, helping underwrite a portion of the costs of initial surgeries and encouraging further research of this medical condition, which to date has several questions unanswered. The foundation also strives to create awareness through events and through funding other educational outreach efforts.

This is Jorge’s second nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award, having been honored as the Yankees’ choice in 2005. Jorge has received many accolades in his career for his off-the-field charity including the 2007 Bart Giamatti “Caringâ€? Award from MLB’s Baseball Assistance Team and the 2006 Mentor of the Year Award from Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. and Fashion Delivers. Jorge and Laura received the 2006 Puerto Rican Family Foundation Excellence Award for their commitment to children, especially those affected by craniosynostosis. He was also named one of the Diamond Dad’s Founding Fathers in 2003 and was also honored with the 2001 Milton Richman “You Gotta’ Have Heart” Award given by the New York Chapter of the BBWAA as well as the Thurman Munson Award in 2000 for his baseball accomplishments and philanthropic work in New York.

For the first time, fans can participate in the selection process of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award. From September 5 through October 5, 2007, fans can log on to mlb.com/chevy21 and vote for one of the 30 nominees. The fan vote winner will be tallied as one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer, and Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Participating fans will automatically be registered for a chance to win a trip to Game Three of the 2007 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award will be announced.