MLB has dropped the ball more than a few times in 2022, but when it comes to honoring a past legend, it is doing things the right way.
Roberto Clemente made a huge impact in baseball, and is remembered as one of the players who cared the most about the community in the history of the game.
In fact, he has an award named after him, and it is given on a yearly basis to the player who best exemplifies the game, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual’s contribution to his team.
The award was renamed after Clemente died on a plane crash in Nicaragua while helping victims of an earthquake.
MLB Made A Classy Move To Celebrate Clemente
But back to MLB: in a classy move, the league invited past Roberto Clemente award winners to New York to commemorate his passing.
“Tremendous move inviting former Roberto Clemente award winners in New York on Sept. 15 to celebrate Roberto Clemente Day on the 50th anniversary of his passing. Here are the award winners who will be present,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted.
Tremendous move inviting former Roberto Clemente award winners in New York on Sept. 15 to celebrate Roberto Clemente Day on the 50th anniversary of his passing. Here are the award winners who will be present. pic.twitter.com/4ozOYS0ZU5
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 14, 2022
Some high-profile names such as Rick Sutcliffe, Dave Stewart, Harold Reynolds, Dave Winfield, Eric Davis, Jim Thome, Carlos Delgado, and Carlos Beltran, among others, are invited.
All these players made a name for themselves for their on-field performance, but reached legendary status in their respective communities for the help they provided outside of the diamond at some point.
That’s the essence of the Roberto Clemente award: a player should be good to keep his roster spot in MLB, but he should show he cares about others to thrive at life.
It’s hard to believe that 50 years have passed since Clemente died.
The Latino community, and baseball in general, still holds him in high regard.
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