Shields nominated for Roberte Clemente Award

Posted Sep 8, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Sep 8, 2010 at 10:37 AM

Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, the official vehicle of Major League Baseball, today announced that James Shields was named the Tampa Bay Rays 2010 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet.

James Shields is one of the 30 Club nominees who are finalists for the national award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field. Tomorrow will mark the ninth annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially recognize local Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet recognizes players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their Clubs. The award is named for the 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award pays tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character by recognizing talented current players who truly understand the value of helping others. 

Shields has been actively involved with supporting efforts to assist foster children through the Eckerd Youth Alternatives and the Heart Gallery of Pasco and Pinellas Counties over the past four seasons. His involvement with these organizations has grown from providing tickets to Rays games to being a spokesperson for their public service announcement.

This season he started the Big Game James Club to provide a stable environment for the children from both agencies. The kids attended several Rays games in the Big Game James Club suite at Tropicana Field and spent time with James on the field during the Rays batting practice.

Shields has also been nominated for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption’s ‘Angels in Adoption’ award in recognition of the efforts of he and his wife, Ryane, have done to promote awareness for the foster care system in the Tampa Bay region.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the process of selecting the national award recipient by visiting http://www.chevy.com/clemente, powered by MLB.com and created specifically for the Roberto Clemente Award platform, from September 7 to October 8 to vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. Participating fans will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2010 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet will be announced.

The winner of the fan poll will receive one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer; Commissioner Selig; MLB Network analyst and former Roberto Clemente Award winner Harold Reynolds; MLB Network analyst, TBS broadcaster and former Roberto Clemente Award winner John Smoltz; Hall of Famer and ESPN broadcaster Joe Morgan; former All-Star catcher and FOX broadcaster Tim McCarver; and MLB.com senior correspondent Hal Bodley.

MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day as part of the broader “MLB Going Beyond” platform, which strives to integrate community service and the importance of giving back.