New York Mets: Curtis Granderson Wins Roberto Clemente Award
New York Mets’ Curtis Granderson received the Roberto Clemente Award.
Outfielder Curtis Granderson of the New York Mets received a major honor yesterday when he won the Roberto Clemente Award, reported Paul Hagen of MLB.com. The award, given to one player each year, acknowledged Granderson for his exemplary charitable and community work. Its namesake famously died in a plane crash while on a charitable trip to aid victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua.
For Granderson, the journey to earning the honor began as a child when he watched his parents give back to those in the community. The outfielder said that they would donate his outgrown clothing to students who needed it and offered rides to fellow athletes. Certainly, the lessons stuck with him as a child and carried on into his adulthood.
He gave back to his college, the University of Illinois at Chicago, by personally donating $5 million to fund a new baseball complex that the university shares with the Urban Youth Academy. This complex would go on to provide nearly 10,000 inner-city children with a safe place to enjoy to exercise and pursue their passion of baseball.
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Furthermore, Granderson frequently offers sessions in Chicago, New York, and Florida that teach children about baseball, hard work, and leadership, and he even brings youth to watch the New York Mets play. Combining this with his fundraising activities for numerous deserving charities truly makes Granderson deserving of the award.
Not only has he been a role model off the field, but his on-field production has made him a valuable part of the New York Mets’ lineup. In the third year of a four-year contract, the 35-year-old has helped the Mets achieve their success. Although his batting average was subpar this season, he slugged 30 home runs and provided average defense in the outfield.
Last season went particularly well for both the left-handed batter and the Mets, as he posted a .259/.364/.457 triple-slash along with solid baserunning and defense. FanGraphs valued him at roughly five wins better than a replacement-level player, although this does not include his work in the postseason. He played a big part in helping to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series, and his three home runs in the World Series were mightily impressive.
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The veteran has certainly been an accomplished player in his career, with many great achievements both on and off the field. His most recent accolade is certainly yet another milestone in a remarkable career.