Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees was announced as the winner of the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award. Chris Taylor was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ nominee for MLB’s prestigious honor.
The Roberto Clemente Award is annually presented to a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Each team nominates one player to be considered for the league-wide winner of the award in tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character. Judge was presented with the award at Chase Field prior to Game 3 of the World Series.
Mookie Betts, who was working as a World Series correspondent for MLB, was among the reporters to ask Judge a question during the press conference.
He wondered how Judge felt to be the tallest Roberto Clemente Award winner in MLB history, though the reigning American League MVP reminded him of being the same height as previous recipient Dave Winfield.
“I think I tied the record,” Judge added. “But this is just, like I said, a special moment. “And just like you do with your platform, when we get to this, get to this level in our career and in our lives — I said it earlier on MLB Network: Too whom much is given, much required.
“We’ve been given so much, surrounded by so much great people, surrounded by great family and friends, getting the chance to play the game that we love, this is what it’s about, giving back and helping the next generation to follow in our footsteps.”
Betts also asked if Judge’s two dogs, Gus and Penny, safely made the trip to Arizona as well.
“Oh, yeah, they’re here,” answered Judge.
Judge joins Ron Guidry (1984), Don Baylor (1985) and Derek Jeter (2009) as Yankees players who have won the Roberto Clemente Award.
Judge was recognized for efforts to support children in California and New York through his ALL RISE Foundation. Established in 2018, Judge’s foundation has a mission to inspire children and youth to become responsible citizens through activities that encourage them to reach unlimited possibilities.
The ALL RISE Foundation has supported thousands of youth from communities in San Joaquin County and Fresno County in California, in addition to Bronx, New York.
Thus far in 2023, the ALL RISE Mini-Grant Program has supported Bridge2College, NYC Autism Charter Schools (NYCACS), Tourette Association of America, Edward C. Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology (SUSD), Resiliency Center of Fresno and Birch Family Services.
To date, the program has supported over 27 community-based organizations, public and private agencies, and faith-based organizations.
Also this year, ALL Rise Foundation set 17 junior high school students from Linden Unified to attend the California Association of Directors of Activities and the California Association of Student Leaders Modesto Central Valley Spring Student Leadership Conference.
Since the foundation’s inception, Judge has hosted multiple baseball ProCamps in California and New York. In 2023, local youth attended the Aaron Judge ALL RISE Baseball ProCamp at Fordham University in the Bronx.
Dodgers to win Roberto Clemente Award
Steve Garvey (1981), Clayton Kershaw (2012) and Justin Turner (2022) are the only Dodgers to win the Roberto Clemente Award since its inception in 1971.
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