ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has won the Roberto Clemente Award from Major League Baseball for his humanitarian work.
Lindor was to receive the award before Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night.
“I remember going to history classes in Puerto Rico for second, third and fourth grade,” Lindor said. “You learn about Roberto Clemente and you learn about Spaniards and Christopher Columbus. So it’s so cool to sit here and be recognized, recognized for going out there into communities and give and help and in this case with the Lindor Leaders guide through the process of life.”
A five-time All-Star, Lindor became the fifth recipient of Puerto Rican descent to receive the award after Edgar Martinez (2004), Carlos Delgado (2006), Carlos Beltrán (2013) and Yadier Molina (2018).
"Just like the Delgados, the Beltráns, the Martinezes, the Molinas inspired my generation, hopefully this inspires another generation to continue to care for others, continue to love your neighbors, continue to give back," Lindor said.
“Sometimes us athletes can be seen like we’re so far away from the general public, but we’re not. We are in the communities. We are giving back and we are helping. I’m looking forward to — hopefully this is going to give me a bigger platform to continue to help and create better opportunities for people back home," he added. “So hopefully the young generation that's coming up, they’re saying, man, I would like to be like Francisco a little bit but like Clemente, because we’re all trying to be like Clemente.”
Lindor and his wife, Katia, have worked with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals; the SEEN Foundation, a disability advocacy group; Special Olympics Florida; and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
He donated to relief efforts in Puerto Rico after hurricanes Maria and Fiona, restored athletic facilities in his hometown of Caguas and donated more than $1 million to build Lindor Hall at the Montverde Academy, a school he graduated from in Monteverde, Florida.
Lindor launched a Lindor's Leaders development initiative for students in the sports medicine program at Bayside High School in New York and funded backpacks and school supplies in Queens, the New York City borough where the Mets' Citi Field is located.
Clemente was a 15-time All-Star from Puerto Rico who was killed in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award is given annually to a major league player who represents the sport through character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.
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