MLB celebrated the 22nd annual Roberto Clemente Day on September 15, honoring the legacy of the Pittsburgh Pirates legend nearly 51 years after his tragic passing while on a humanitarian trip to deliver emergency aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
MLB established Roberto Clemente Day in 2002 and it coincides with the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. All players and on-field personnel wore “21” patches on their uniforms in honor of Clemente, who donned No. 21 throughout his esteemed career.
Additionally, all active players who have previously won the Roberto Clemente Award wore a “21” patch on the back of their caps.
Among Los Angeles Dodgers players, that applied to Clayton Kershaw, who won the award in 2012. Kershaw, Steve Garvey (1981) and Justin Turner (2022) are the only players in Dodgers franchise history be the league-wide winner.
The Roberto Clemente Award is the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Kershaw, Jason Heyward, Kiké Hernández, David Peralta, Taylor and Kershaw also wore No. 21 Dodgers jerseys. MLB permitted players to do so if they are from Puerto Rico, previously wore it or were nominated for the 2023 award.
Chris Taylor nominated for Roberto Clemente Award
Taylor was voted the Dodgers’ winner of the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award for the first time in his career.
“I’m truly humbled to represent the Dodgers as the Roberto Clemente Award nominee,” he said in a statement. “Mary and I are incredibly proud to be a part of both the Los Angeles and Virginia Beach communities and to be recognized for trying to give something back to these great places and people is something I will hold in my heart forever.”
Every team nominates one player to be considered for the league-wide winner of the award in tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character. MLB’s overall Roberto Clemente Award winner will be announced during the World Series.
Fans can vote for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award through October 1. The winner from fan voting will count as one vote among those cast by a select panel.
A league-wide winner of the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award will be selected by a blue ribbon panel that includes MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, representatives from Capital One, MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS), MLB.com, and Roberto’s children, Enrique, Luis and Roberto Clemente Jr.
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