St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran was named the recipient of the 2013 Roberto Clemente Award by Major League Baseball prior to Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday.
Carlos Beltran wins 2013 Roberto Clemente Award
MLB on Saturday announced its yearly winner of the award created to recognize “positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.”
Beltran was nominated for, and eventually selected as the winner of, the award due to his contributions through the Carlos Beltran Foundation, which was founded by the eight-time All-Star and his wife. The efforts of the foundation include the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, which opened in 2011. Beltran, who has personally donated $4 million to the academy, created it to give children opportunities that he did not have as a young player, according to MLB’s press release.
The 36-year-old star hails from Puerto Rico, as did Clemente. Beltran talked about the honor associated with receiving the award in a press conference earlier on Saturday:
“I feel very honored. This really means a lot to me personally and to my country, Puerto Rico ... when I think about Roberto ... when i was a kid, I always wanted to be like him. Have the opportunity to play baseball and have the opportunity to give back.”
Beltran is the first Cardinals player to win the award since Ozzie Smith in 1995.
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