Major League Baseball announced this afternoon, this year’s 30 club nominees for the annual Roberto Clemente Award, given in recognition of a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Each club nominates one player to be considered for the honor, a player who best represents the commitment of giving to others as represented by the iconic Roberto Clemente.
Representing the Mets will be outfielder Curtis Granderson, who is endlessly giving to his community back home in Chicago as well as here in New York:
In addition to his work for the Grand Kids Foundation, Granderson backs many other causes, recently donating $5 million to his alma mater, the University of Illinois-Chicago, to help create a new baseball complex. Granderson has also brought groups of children out to Citi Field to enjoy Mets games throughout the season, served as the ambassador for the “Citi Home Runs for Communities” program, participated in the Mets Military Softball Classic and acted as MLB’s league-wide spokesman for the White House’s “Let’s Move” anti-obesity campaign and “Drink Up” water initiative.
“I think about how I got to where I am today,” Granderson said last year about his philanthropy. “Outside of my mom and dad, who are very instrumental in my life, I think about the number of other people who have helped me out along the way and shaped me as an individual. The fact that they got me to work hard, learn how to fail, learn how to set goals, achieve them … now I’m in a situation where I can finally give back in numerous different ways.” (MLB.com)
You can vote for Granderson by using the hash tag #VoteGrandy on Twitter or Facebook.
Original Report – Sep 5
Curtis Granderson has had a miserable season, thus far. Through 127 games, he has hit 23 homers, couple with only 43 RBI’s. The Mets need the Grandy man to catch fire, which is something that he has evaded all season.
However, over the past week, Grandy seems to be finally turning the corner – batting .286/.407/.762 with three homers, eight RBI and six runs in his last six games.
Grandy showed up on Saturday night when the Mets needed him most. Against the NL East leading Nationals, with the series on the line, Granderson delivered a key sac fly and then clobbered a go-ahead home run and collected three RBI on the night.
Over the next few weeks, Granderson will look to prove that this is not just an aberration, but a sign of more to come.
“Curtis Granderson’s just got the moxie, I guess you could say,” Collins said after the game. “When he’s hitting we’re a completely different team.” (Newsday)
Collins has been highly criticized for playing Granderson every day, but Collins knows his team the best. Granderson was such an integral part of this team and if he can get back to that- the Mets will be playing in October. Hey, better late than never right?
