2013 Roberto Clemente Award Nominees Announced

Oct 28, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is awarded the 2012 Roberto Clemente Award during a press conference prior to game four of the 2012 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball announced late Monday afternoon the thirty nominees for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award. The annual award is presented to the player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field. Nominees are chosen from each of the thirty Major League teams. Fans can vote through the end of the regular season to help support which player should win in the end.

The award will be presented to the winner during the World Series.

Clemente was truly one of the game’s best, who was tragically taken from baseball far too soon. A right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he hit .317/.359/.475 over an 18 year career that spanned from 1955 through 1972. Clemente won four batting titles for the Pirates and the NL MVP Award in 1966, not to mention twelve consecutive Gold Gloves. He singled in his final at bat of the 1972 season, for his 3,000th career hit.  Clemente is perhaps best known, however, for the terrible circumstances under which he lost his life just a few months later. He was killed in a plane crash as he was bringing supplies to an earthquake ravaged Nicaragua on New Year’s Eve 1972.

American League Nominees include:

• Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioles)
• Craig Breslow (Boston Red Sox)
• Hector Santiago (Chicago White Sox)
• Justin Masterson (Cleveland Indians)
• Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers)
• Jose Altuve (Houston Astros)
• Billy Butler (Kansas City Royals)
• Jered Weaver (Los Angeles Angels)
• Justin Morneau (Minnesota Twins)
• David Robertson (New York Yankees)
• Sean Doolittle (Oakland Athletics)
• Raul Ibanez (Seattle Mariners)
• David Price (Tampa Bay Rays)
• J.P. Arencibia (Toronto Blue Jays)

National League Nominees include:

• Aaron Hill (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Tim Hudson (Atlanta Braves)
• Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs)
• Bronson Arroyo (Cincinnati Reds)
• Todd Helton (Colorado Rockies)
• Adrian Gonzalez (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Logan Morrison (Miami Marlins)
• Jonathan Lucroy (Milwaukee Brewers)
• David Wright (New York Mets)
• Chase Utley (Philadelphia Phillies)
• Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates)
• Carlos Beltran (St. Louis Cardinals)
• Mark Kotsay (San Diego Padres)
• Barry Zito (San Francisco Giants)
• Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals)

This award used to be known as the Commissioner’s Award (the final one was given to Willie Mays), but it was renamed in honor of Clemente with the 1973 season. A special election also resulted in Clemente’s election into the Hall of Fame that following summer as well. Players know the legacy that Clemente established throughout the game and most find it to be an honor to be among this list at season’s end. Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw was the recipient one year ago.