St. Louis Cardinals Yadier Molina named 2018 Roberto Clemente Award winner
Long considered one of the classiest and hardest working players in the league, the St. Louis Cardinals catcher is being honoured once again.
Yadier Molina, an anchor of the St. Louis Cardinals and one of the most entertaining players in the league, is simply a treat to watch. Sitting 16th among active players in hits, 16th in at-bats and 14th in games played, “Yadi” has mashed 146 homers while slashing a cumulative .282/.334/.406 in 1870 games, all of which he has played with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Wednesday, he was given one of baseball’s highest honours, the Roberto Clemente Award. The award, named after legendary Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente, is given to the player who, according to MLB, “best represents the sport through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
It’s clear that Molina, passionate and exciting, fits that description perfectly. Molina not only helped with relief efforts in his home country of Puerto Rico following the devastating hurricane this past fall, but also continues to help in philanthropic efforts related to the cause. He was seen hand-delivering supplies to the citizens of Puerto Rico and raised a total of $800,000 for relief efforts.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
“Yadi was really the spearhead in some ways of the efforts in Puerto Rico”, noted Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred when speaking of Molina’s humanitarian efforts in the last year.
Yadi himself commented on the honour, saying that the award is “a great honour” to him and his family. Last year’s Roberto Clemente Award was given to Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who was prominent in the baseball world for working with a charity to try and find a cure for childhood cancer.
Next. Red Sox: David Price deserves comeback player award. dark
Yadier Molina, a truly classy baseball player, deserves this honour perhaps more than any other. In a time where class and professionalism in professional sports is arguably at a low point, it’s outstandingly refreshing to see someone passionate about not only the sport they play, but also about the effect their fame and influence has on the world around them.