The Kansas City Royals truly offered a magnificent 2024 season to their fans. Not only did they make the playoffs, but they also swept their opponent in the first round. They then fell to the powerful New York Yankees, in a series more fiercely contested than the final result indicates.
To add a layer to this great 2024 campaign, Salvador Perez, their long-time leader, received a magnificent individual honor in the last 24 hours. The Royals all-star, 2015 World Series MVP, nine-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove winner and, in my opinion, future Hall of Famer, was awarded the highly prestigious Roberto Award Clemente. Let’s remember, for those who don’t know, that the Roberto Clemente Prize is awarded each year to the player who has stood out the most through his involvement in the community and his philanthropy.
A well-deserved honor
Since the start of his glorious career, Salvador Perez has been recognized by his peers for his leadership in baseball. In this sense, on the field and in the locker room, he is renowned for being an outstanding leader through his hard work and his quality presence.
Additionally, the 34-year-old has always been involved in the community. He has a strong presence in his adopted city of the last 13 years, Kansas City, and is just as present in his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela. He is also actively involved in Colombia, another Latin American country, where his contribution serves to honor the memory of Carlos Fortuna, former minor league player for the Royals organization, who died of cancer in 2013 at the age 22. It is nice to see that his dedication is seen and recognized. That he is more than a leader in baseball, that he is a leader as a human being too!
Let’s make one thing clear here. No athlete chooses to get involved in the community because of their image or to look good in front of the cameras. They do it to make a difference, because they are well aware of the influence they have in people’s lives. Professional athletes are often role models and idols for young people. How many times have I heard from members of my father’s generation that when they were young, Guy Lafleur and Gary Carter were their childhood heroes! Why them in particular? Yes, they were prolific on the playing surfaces, but they were particularly present within the community.
A little history
The Roberto Clemente Prize has existed since 1971 and was, at the time of its creation, called the Commissioner’s Prize. The latter was renamed to its current form two years later in 1973, shortly after the tragic death of the Pittsburgh Pirates legend on December 31, 1972. On this sad day, the Puerto Rico native passed away of a plane crash at the age of just 38.
Before Perez, the 2023 winner was Aaron Judge and the 2022 winner was Justin Turner. Willie Mays was the very first recipient in 1971. Al Kaline won it in 1973, the year of the name change.
- Today’s alignment. Shohei Ohtani is there.
- Carlos Rodon: blisters should not prevent him from starting a possible match #6.
- Amed Rosario DFA by the Reds.
- Derek Jeter will throw the ceremonial throw tonight.
