According to a release from Major League Baseball, New York Mets pitcher Steven Matz has been nominated for the 2019 Roberto Clemente Award. The award is presented to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.” Philanthropy and other off the field activities are also taken into account.
Each year, all 30 Major League teams nominate a player during the regular season for the honor. Then a panel of baseball dignitaries decides who among the candidates wins that year’s award. The fans have a say as well as they vote for their choice on MLB.Com. The player with the most online votes gets one additional point added to his total based on the panel’s recommendation.
The winner is announced during the World Series.
Originally known as Commissioner’s Award, it has been presented by MLB since 1971. It was renamed the Roberto Clemente Award in 1973 following the death of the Pittsburgh Pirate icon. The first winner of the award was Willie Mays. The first pitcher to garner the honor was Phil Niekro in 1980. Last year’s winner was St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina. No player has won the Roberto Clemente award more than once.
Four Mets have won the award. Gary Carter was the first to do so in 1989 followed by Al Leiter in 2000, Carlos Delgado in 2006 and Curtis Granderson in 2016.
Matz, who was also the Mets Clemente Award nominee in 2018, started an initiative called Tru 32 in April 2016. Tru 32 honored first responders from the New York City Police Department, the New York City Fire Department and the U.S. Military, inviting them to attend Mets games for free. The initiative was later expanded to offer scholarships for children of individuals who have died in the line of duty.
Later, Matz raised funds for Angela’s House, a charity that helps families caring for children with special health care needs. Matz’s good deeds have not gone unnoticed. Matz was nominated for the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Man of the Year Award in 2017, and was the New York Mets’ Marvin Miller Man of the Year nominee that year.
Here’s hoping with September 11th still fresh in our minds from the remembrance on Wednesday, Steven Matz is recognized for his outstanding contributions he has made both on and off the field.
