Yelich's Clemente Award nomination takes special meaning in Pittsburgh

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PITTSBURGH -- Being honored as the Brewers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for the second time in the last four seasons was special for Christian Yelich.

It was even better to celebrate Clemente’s legacy in Pittsburgh.

“You don’t do any of that good stuff to get the award, but it’s obviously nice to be recognized,” Yelich said. “It’s nice to do good in the community. It’s nice to support those who support us. And it was extra special this year, being in Pittsburgh.”

Established by MLB in 2002, Roberto Clemente Day is Sept. 15 each year, honoring the legacy of the former Pirates outfielder, 15-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who tragically died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while on his way to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Each of MLB’s 30 teams nominate a player who embodies Clemente’s commitment to community, and fans can vote for the Roberto Clemente Award winner by going to www.mlbtogether.com/clementeaward. Fans can cast their vote until the end of the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 27, and the fan result will count as one vote among those cast by a blue-ribbon panel.

The winner is announced during the World Series. Cecil Cooper in 1983 was the only Brewers player to win the honor, which dates back to 1971, when it was first called the Commissioner’s Award.

Yelich learned a little bit about Clemente early in his career, since he wore No. 21 with the Marlins and was often asked about it during visits to Pittsburgh.

“It’s a great legacy that he had, just a great human being, a great person,” Yelich said. “Not only a tremendous player, but he did a lot of good off the field as well.”

Yelich has tried to do the same. Here’s a portion of what the Brewers wrote in their nomination submission:

Service to military members and veterans has been a consistent priority throughout Christian’s career. His younger brother, Cameron, served in the United States Marine Corps, giving Christian and his family a deeply personal understanding of the sacrifices made by military families.That connection has inspired Christian to use his platform to recognize, support and give back to those who have served our country.

Since the inception of the family’s annual Home Plate Charity Concert in 2023, the event has raised significant funds to support military veterans, youth baseball, and other nonprofit organizations throughout the Milwaukee community, reflecting Christian’s ongoing commitment

to giving back to those who need it most. Christian has also made a lasting commitment to children and families in Milwaukee. Through his support of the Brewers Community Foundation, he helps strengthen programs focused on health, education, recreation and basic needs for children and families throughout Greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin.

What began as a single event has grown into an ongoing effort to strengthen the game at the grassroots level and give young people the opportunity to experience the same sport that shaped Christian’s life.

Christian’s compassion extends beyond organized events and fundraising. Throughout his Brewers career, he has made visits to Children’s Wisconsin, spending time with young patients and bringing toys and encouragement to children and families facing difficult circumstances. These personal interactions reflect a quality that defines Yelich’s approach to community service: he does not simply lend his name to causes, he shows up.

That explains how a player who was born and raised in California and broke into the big leagues in Florida has become an adopted Midwesterner.

“Milwaukee has been a really big part of my life and is always going to be a big part and chapter of my life,” Yelich said. “It’s a huge part of my baseball career and my baseball life. Any time you live somewhere for an extended period of time like we do, you end up meeting people, seeing people, hearing people’s stories and learning about areas of need and going from there.”