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2014 Roberto Clemente Award nominees announced

By Jennifer Rainwater |

Tomorrow is September 17 which is the day each year that Major League Baseball celebrates the amazing accomplishments of Roberto Clemente. Today the nominees for the award named in his honor were announced by MLB.

Clemente spent his entire 18-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and led them to World Series victory in 1960 and again in 1971 where he was named the series MVP.

A 15-time All-Star, he was one of the greatest of the greats. He could field winning 12 straight Gold Gloves from 1961-1972. He could hit. In the final game of his career Clemente collected his 3,000th career hit. He was named MVP of the National League in 1966.

Clemente was an amazing baseball player but he was an even better person off the field, a true humanitarian. He lost his life in a plane crash while trying personally deliver supplies to an earthquake shaken Nicaragua on New Year’s Eve 1972.

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The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Major League Baseball (and sponsored by Chevrolet) is very prestigious as it honors the one player who most exemplifies Clemente’s values on and off the field. A player who shows good sportsmanship and who best represents what it truly means to want to help others and give back to the community.

Each team is allowed to nominate one player for the award and on Wednesday, which marks the 13th annual Roberto Clemente Day, each team will honor their local player who was nominated.

Starting Wednesday the fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite nominee at ChevyBaseball.com. Fan voting ends on October 6. Fans that vote will also be entered to win a trip to the 2014 World Series where the award winner will be announced.

The nominees will also receive a one vote  from each member of a  committee consisting of former award winners, Commissioner Bud Selig and other high ranking MLB officials. The 2013 award was given to St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran.

Here is the official list of the 2014 Roberto Clemente Award nominees as provided by MLB.com:

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