Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Andrew McCutchen is no stranger to accolades. He is the reigning National League MVP and NL Player of the Month.
Today, he was named the Pirates nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. The award recognizes players that represent the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.
“This award represents everything Roberto stood for as a ‘good Samaritan,'” said MLB Goodwill Ambassador Vera Clemente, Roberto’s wife, through a league release. “Through the Roberto Clemente Award, today’s players are recognized for these same qualities.”
McCutchen is known for a variety of off-the-field charitable contributions, including cutting and selling his signature dreadlocks before this season and donating the proceeds to Pirates Charities.
Clemente, who played right field for the Pirates, died in 1972 in an airplane crash while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Though only 38 when he died, Clemente still holds several Pirates records, including games played (2,433), at bats (9,454), hits (3,000), singles (2,154) and total bases (4,492)
Each of the 30 MLB teams announced a nominee and fan voting will begin on Wednesday, September 16, which will be Roberto Clemente Day across Major League Baseball. Voting will run through October 9.
Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies won the NL Award in 2014. Paul Konerko won the AL Award. 2014 was the first year that one award was given for each league.
The last (and only) Pirates player to win the award was Dave Parker in 1974.
Photo credit: MLB.com
