 09/21/2004 10:00 PM ET
Clemens gets Clemente Award nod
Many groups benefit from pitcher's foundation
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By Alyson Footer / MLB.com |
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| Roger Clemens helped put on a clinic for youth at this year's All-Star FanFest. (Pat Sullivan/AP)
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SAN FRANCISCO -- When Roger Clemens signed a one-year contract with the Houston Astros in January, part of the deal included excused absences from select road trips when the Rocket was not scheduled to pitch.
Those provisions were made so that Clemens could be home with his family, but also because he had already committed to several charitable functions he planned when he thought he would be a retired Major Leaguer in 2004.
Clemens is as active in running the Roger Clemens Foundation as he is on the pitcher's mound. He and his wife, Debbie, have contributed their time and financial support to countless causes, and it's only fitting that the Rocket represents the Astros as this year's Roberto Clemente Award nominee.
Since 1972, Major League Baseball annually has presented an award (originally known as The Commissioner's Award) that recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team.
In 1973, following the tragic death of Roberto Clemente, the award was renamed to honor the man whose spirit and goodwill always will be remembered. The award, sponsored by John Hancock Financial Services, recognizes those individuals who truly understand the value of helping others.
The mission statement on Clemens' foundation's Web site, rogerclemensonline.com, states, "The Roger Clemens Foundation is the realization of a dream Roger had early in his career to help fulfill the needs, ease the suffering, and encourage and support children from all walks of life. In doing so, he and Debbie have been and continue to be able to give back to their community by sharing a portion of their success through the efforts of The Roger Clemens Foundation."
The Web site lists 13 organizations that have benefitted from the foundation, including The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Texas Children's Hospital.
Clemens' commitment to the community was no more evident than his involvement with the John Hancock All-Star FanFest this season.
Clemens teamed with Nolan Ryan to serve as spokesmen for the FanFest, taping promotions, speaking at press events and even putting on a clinic for youth at the event. His efforts to help promote the event were in addition to handling all of the obligations that went along with being the National League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game in his hometown of Houston.
Always one to help assist charitable causes, Clemens has been the guest speaker at dinners and functions from Texas to New York, including the Houston Baseball Dinner, Texas Lutheran University Front Row Event, and The Center for Hearing and Speech. He showed his support for Juvenile Diabetes by taping a public service announcement for the organization.
Clemens lent his name and attended the inaugural banquet for the Roger Clemens Award, honoring college baseball's pitcher of the year and benefiting the Karl Young Summer College League. To assist the Boys and Girls Clubs, Clemens authorized the sale of specially designed plaques, complete with actual Minute Maid Park dirt, commemorating his first Astros regular-season start as a fundraiser for the organization.
A panel of baseball dignitaries, including Vera Clemente and Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, annually selects a winner from a list of 30 nominees, one from each Major League Baseball club. Past winners include Al Leiter, Tony Gwynn, Sammy Sosa, Willie Mays, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett and Jamie Moyer.
The winner of the Roberto Clemente Award will be announced during the World Series.
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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