Michael Young named Texas Rangers nominee for the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet
Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, the official vehicle of Major League Baseball, today announced that Michael Young was named the Texas Rangers 2010 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Young is one of the 30 Club nominees who are finalists for the national award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field. Tomorrow will mark the ninth annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially recognize local Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet.
The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet recognizes players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their Clubs. 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 pays tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character by recognizing talented current players who truly understand the value of helping others.
Each local winner will receive a $7,500 donation to the charity of his choice. For the second season, Michael has designated Christ Haven for Children in Keller, Texas as the recipient of this donation. Christ Haven for Children provides a warm, loving, Christian environment in which children in need of basic care can grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually to become productive citizens in society.
Young has donated approximately $450,000 to various charities and causes through the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation over the last ten years. Since 2002, he has donated extensive time and funds to Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer, who mission is to eliminate cancer in children through innovative research, education, and treatment while providing hope to children affected with cancer. Young has also been actively involved with organizations and causes such as Goodwill of Tarrant County, Heroes for Children, Haiti Relief Efforts, Trinity River Mission, Susan G. Komen North Texas, and Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation.
Young will be honored for his Clemente Award nomination in a ceremony prior to the Rangers-Yankees game on Friday, September 10. At that time, he will donate the $7,500 received as the local Clemente Award nominee to Christ Haven for Children in Keller, Texas.
“The Rangers are proud to nominate Michael Young for this most prestigious award,” commented Rangers President Nolan Ryan. “Michael has been a community leader in the DFW Metroplex for a decade, and his efforts and generosity have touched thousands of lives in that span. He is a most worthy nominee for the Clemente Award.”
“It is very humbling to be selected again this year as the Texas Rangers Clemente Award nominee,” commented Young, the recipient of the MLBPA’s 2008 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award. “Being able to help others is very important to me.”
The distinguished list of national Roberto Clemente Award recipients includes 13 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame:
| 1971 | Willie Mays* | 1991 | Harold Reynolds |
| 1972 | Brooks Robinson* | 1992 | Cal Ripken, Jr.* |
| 1973 | Al Kaline* | 1993 | Barry Larkin |
| 1974 | Willie Stargell* | 1994 | Dave Winfield* |
| 1975 | Lou Brock* | 1995 | Ozzie Smith* |
| 1976 | Pete Rose | 1996 | Kirby Puckett* |
| 1977 | Rod Carew* | 1997 | Eric Davis |
| 1978 | Greg Luzinski | 1998 | Sammy Sosa |
| 1979 | Andre Thornton | 1999 | Tony Gwynn* |
| 1980 | Phil Niekro* | 2000 | Al Leiter |
| 1981 | Steve Garvey | 2001 | Curt Schilling |
| 1982 | Ken Singleton | 2002 | Jim Thome |
| 1983 | Cecil Cooper | 2003 | Jamie Moyer |
| 1984 | Ron Guidry | 2004 | Edgar Martinez |
| 1985 | Don Baylor | 2005 | John Smoltz |
| 1986 | Garry Maddox | 2006 | Carlos Delgado |
| 1987 | Rick Sutcliffe | 2007 | Craig Biggio |
| 1988 | Dale Murphy | 2008 | Albert Pujols |
| 1989 | Gary Carter* | 2009 | Derek Jeter |
| 1990 | Dave Stewart |
* Member of Baseball Hall of Fame
Fans are encouraged to participate in the process of selecting the national award recipient by visiting www.chevy.com/clemente, powered by MLB.com and created specifically for the Roberto Clemente Award platform, from September 7 to October 8 to vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. Participating fans will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2010 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet will be announced.
The winner of the fan poll will receive one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, MLB Goodwill Ambassador and wife of the late Hall of Famer; Commissioner Selig; MLB Network analyst and former Roberto Clemente Award winner Harold Reynolds; MLB Network analyst, TBS broadcaster and former Roberto Clemente Award winner John Smoltz; Hall of Famer and ESPN broadcaster Joe Morgan; former All-Star catcher and FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver; and MLB.com senior correspondent Hal Bodley.
MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day as part of the broader “MLB Going Beyond” platform, which strives to integrate community service and the importance of giving back.
