Philly Sports Jabronis
By Todd Zolecki, Phillies.com
SAN DIEGO — Major League Baseball named Jimmy Rollins the Phillies’ 2014 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.
The award recognizes the player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.
Wednesday marks the 13th annual Roberto Clemente Day, which MLB established to honor Clemente’s legacy.
Rollins has raised more than $1 million to directly impact children in the Philadelphia community over the past 15 years. He holds the longest running Phillies’ charitable ticket program, J-Roll’s Aces, and reading program J-Roll’s Readers, each of which is dedicated to directly working with and enhancing the lives of Philadelphia’s students in the inner city.
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been nominated for one of baseball’s most reputable honors. Photo credit – wiki.urbandead.com
He also has hosted major fundraisers to contribute to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF); Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation (JRA); Prevent Child Abuse, Pennsylvania; The Food Trust; SHARE Food Program and St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children.
“It is truly an honor to be named the 2014 Phillies’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee,” Rollins said. “Being associated with the man named for this award and what he stood for is really outstanding. I hope to continue the tradition of ballplayers giving back, especially to the kids in my community, for many years to come.”
