For the first time in the history of award, there were co-winners of the Roberto Clemente Award. The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes a player (or in this case two players) who embody the late Clemente's commitment to service to the community. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Years Eve, 1973. Clemente was delivering aid to the earthquake-ravaged country of Nicaragua. This year's award receipients were Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox and the Phillies' own Jimmy Rollins.
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig had high praise for Rollins and Konerko (via Paul Hagen of MLB.com):
"Paul Konerko and Jimmy Rollins are two of baseball's great ambassadors and have long distinguished themselves as leaders both on the field and in their communities," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "Their commitment to making a difference in the lives of children is a wonderful reflection of the legacy the legendary Roberto Clemente has left on our game and in society. Major League Baseball is proud to honor Jimmy and Paul, two veteran standouts who have represented the National Pastime with excellence, with our game's most prestigious recognition."
This is the last time that Selig will present the award as he heads to retirement.
Konerko's big contribution to the community is the Bring Me Home Campaign, founded in 2007 with Konerko's wife, along with Jim and Andrea Thome. While Thome went on to play for three more ballclubs, Konerko has been with the Chicago White Sox ever since. Gordon Beckham later joined the effort. The goal of the campaign is to "to raise support for the needs of foster children through public awareness, advocacy and fundraising efforts."
Rollins said in the press conference that he dabbled in a couple other potential charities before settling on the Rollins Family Foundation and JRoll's Aces. The Rollins Family Foundation's website describes the program:
Jimmy developed JRoll’s Aces in 2007 to reward children in disadvantaged areas excelling in the classroom. Through this program, Jimmy personally meets with groups on the field at Citizens Bank Park during batting practice, answers questions and signs autographs. Jimmy also provides each participant with a game ticket, Phillies T-shirt and food voucher to enjoy the game.
Outside of JRoll's Aces, the Rollins Family Foundation helped many needy children in the area:
The Rollins Family Foundation has actively supported children in need in Philadelphia and surrounding communities through the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation and Prevent Child Abuse PA. The Rollins’ have now made a very active commitment to go further in finding a solution to help their community by providing children, families and at risk youth access to fresh food. “Fresh food shouldn't be a luxury. Every family should have access to fruits and vegetables,” says Jimmy. The Rollins Family Foundation is proud to partner with The Food Trust, SHARE Food Program and St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children- Farm to Families initiative all committed to providing fresh food and education to those families most in need.
You can donate to Rollins' foundation here.
Rollins is the third Phillies player to win the award since the award was intituted in 1971, then called the Commissioner's Award before being renamed for Clemente after his death. Former Phillies outfielder Greg Luzinski won the award in 1978, and outfielder Garry Maddox won the award in 1986. Some prominent former Phillies also won the award as players on other teams: Pete Rose in 1976 with the Cincinnati Reds, Curt Schilling in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jim Thome in 2002 with the Cleveland Indians, and Jamie Moyer in 2003 with the Seattle Mariners.
