Major League Baseball and
Chevrolet have announced the names of the 30 Club finalists for the 2007 Roberto
Clemente Award. The national award is given annually to the player who combines
outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community.
Wednesday is the sixth annual Roberto Clemente Day.
The Award is named for the 12-time
All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972
while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in
Nicaragua. The award reminds us of
Clemente’s memory and character by recognizing current-day players who truly
understand the value of helping others.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ 2007
nominee is first baseman Albert Pujols. The mission statement of the Pujols Family Foundation says
it all:
- To
promote awareness, provide hope and meet tangible needs for families and
children who live with Down syndrome.
- To
provide extraordinary experiences for children with disabilities and/or life
threatening illnesses.
- To
improve the standard of living and quality of life for impoverished children in
the Dominican Republic through education, medical relief and tangible
goods.
Fans can participate in the
selection process of the national winner. From now through October 5th, fans can
log on to mlb.com/chevy21 to vote. The fan 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 Commissioner Bud Selig. The winner will be announced
during Game Three of the 2007 World Series.