The most prestigious individual award in all of Major League Baseball (MLB) is the Roberto Clemente Award. According to MLB, this award is annually handed out to the player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.
Each team awards their team award and then, beginning today, fans can vote for the MLB Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One. Fans can vote until the end of the regular season on Sunday, September 28. The winner of the fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by the blue-ribbon panel.
Since the award has been issued, starting in 1971 (Willie Mays), African-Americans have held an active place among Clemente award winners. Previous African-American winners include Mays, the first-ever award winner, Willie Stargell, Lou Brock, Dave Stewart, Barry Larkin, Dave Winfield, Eric Davis, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, Jimmy Rollins, Curtis Granderson, Andrew McCutchen, Derek Jeter, and most recently Aaron Judge in 2023.
This year three African-Americans Lawrence Butler (Athletics), J.P. Crawford (Mariners), and Mookie Betts (Dodgers), along with Canadian-Born Bo Naylor (Guardians) are all nominated for the award. I have pasted their Clemente Award bios from MLB.com. Please review and vote for whomever you determine to be worthy of this esteemed honor.
Lawrence Butler (Athletics)
Never forgetting where he came from and the love he has for his hometown, Butler established the L4W Foundation to ignite hope and opportunity in inner-city, underrepresented youth by creating pathways to success through financial education, elite baseball training and impactful mentorship in Southwest Atlanta. He is also very involved in Sacramento, where he has participated in a recess takeover at Mariemont Elementary School and took part in a Nike RBI camp for West Sacramento Little Leaguers. He is also planning to visit UC Davis Children’s Hospital, the Sacramento SPCA and GiGi’s Playhouse, which offers free educational, therapeutic and career-building programs to individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. – Source, MLB.com.
J.P. Crawford (Marines)
Crawford has channeled his passion for the game and his passion for helping his community to help promote youth baseball and softball in Seattle and beyond. Since 2017, he has served on the board of the Baseball Generations Foundation, which seeks to make baseball accessible to all youth. He leads a BBG All-Star event each year that has had 44 players participate who went on to be drafted by Major League teams. In 2020, Crawford teamed up with the Mariners to support underserved youth in the Seattle area. He also works with organizations like broadcaster Rick Rizzs’ Rizzs Toys for Kids Foundation, Seattle Angels (serving girls in foster care), the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Mariners Care Foundation and others. – Source, MLB.com
Mookie Betts (Dodgers)
Through his 5050 Foundation, Betts helps children “break barriers that hold kids back from their potential, particularly those who struggle medically and financially,” through four pillars that represent his values: mental/emotional health, nutrition, financial literacy and physical fitness. In January of this year, he helped victims of the Los Angeles wildfires by donating more than $30,000 worth of Nike clothing. Among the many other ways in which Betts served his community just this year alone, through his foundation he helped provide resources and financial assistance to a family that lost its home in the wildfires; paid visits to UCLA Children’s Hospital, creating the Betts on Us Fund to aid families of pediatric patients in need of financial assistance to gain access to adequate health care support; and much more. – Source, MLB.com.
Bo Naylor (Guardians)
Naylor’s passion for giving back has had a positive impact on humans, animals and the environment. He has served as the face of Guardians youth camps this season, helping to get the next generation involved in baseball and softball across Northeast Ohio. Naylor also spends significant time at the Cleveland Animal Protective League, where he makes snacks, toys and blankets for the animals. He is also focused on supporting the Cleveland Zoological Society’s conservation efforts and spends time with animals that are able to accept visitors. – Source, MLB.com.
VOTE NOW: 2025 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One
