Justin Turner was voted the winner of the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award, marking the first time he’s received the honor in his career and becoming the third Los Angeles Dodgers player to ever receive what formally was called the Commissioner’s Award.
Steve Garvey (1981) and Clayton Kershaw (2012) are the only other members of the Dodgers organization to ever win the award. Turner was presented with the hardware on Monday night during a press conference at Citizens Bank Ballpark.
“This is a tremendous honor and a very special award. I think when you think about baseball and the history and all the great accolades that can be achieved on the field, this is one that stands out above all of them for me,” he said.
“Because it’s a way that my wife and I have the opportunity to give back in the community, to utilize our platform in a meaningful, positive way.
“To help lift people up who are in need and in times of pain, especially the last few years that we’ve been through with the pandemic as it hit the entire world very hard, but it was especially tough for Angelenos.
“And to be able to have this foundation, this resource to go through to have an impact and dive into impacting people’s lives and lifting them up and providing them with supplies, resources, anything that they need in tough times has been special to us.
“As a Los Angeles Dodger the bar was already set pretty high for Kourt and I with guys like Steve Garvey and Clayton Kershaw who are obviously previous winners. To be able to follow in their footsteps and try to make the organization proud and make the Clemente family proud is something that we hold near and dear to our heart.”
The Justin Turner Foundation was established in 2016 to support homeless veterans, children (and their families) battling life-altering illnesses and diseases, and provide for youth baseball organizations.
Justin and Kourtney Turner are on the board of trustees at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), and regularly participate in various initiatives organized by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF).
“Honestly, I think that she should be the one sitting up here,” answered Turner when asked how much credit Kourtney deserves for the Roberto Clemente Award.
“She is the backbone behind the Justin Turner Foundation. We operate the entire thing together. We don’t have any paid employees on our staff. She does it all. She runs the website, updates the website, she runs the social media, she reaches out and corresponds through e-mail, sets up events, and then also sets up all the stuff with our beneficiaries.”
Making the night all the more special for the Turners was Kourtney celebrating her birthday. She accompanied Justin on the trip to Philadelphia to receive the Roberto Clemente Award.
Rob Manfred congratulates Justin Turner
Monday’s press conference was attended by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, Luis Clemente and Roberto Jr.
“This is one of my favorite days in the baseball calendar, and it is baseball’s highest honor to get the Roberto Clemente Award. I think it is because it demonstrates the bond that exists between our players and the communities where we play,” Manfred said.
“I think it’s a special honor when you see how much good work gets done out there, a special honor for this year’s winner, Justin Turner. Justin, from the very beginning, was always active in the community, going back to his days with the Mets. I think you would probably agree you stepped it up when you went home to L.A.
“Justin and his wife, Kourtney, who is here with us, through their work with the Justin Turner Foundation, have been involved with a variety of charities, the Dream Center, which helps homeless people, the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.
“If you have any doubt about Justin’s impact in the community, Los Angeles in 2019 had Justin Turner Day in Los Angeles for his work in the community. Let me say on a personal note, during the All-Star Game, Kourtney and Justin had a charity event out at the Santa Monica pier. It was to benefit Transition House, which works with homeless veterans. It was a great cause.
“I will have to say, not only did they do great work, it was a hell of a lot of fun. It was really a fun day and it was great. I have one last thing I want to do before I finish. Today is an important day for another reason. It is Kourtney’s birthday, and Happy Birthday to you. Congratulations to you, Justin.”
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