Gordon is Seattle's Clemente Award nominee
SEATTLE -- For Dee Strange-Gordon, life is about much more than baseball. So being selected as the Mariners’ nominee for the prestigious 2019 Roberto Clemente Award carries considerable weight for the veteran second baseman.
The Clemente Award is the annual recognition of a player from each MLB club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Gordon’s mom was killed by her boyfriend when he was 6, so he formed his Flash of Hope program in 2015 to help kids who have lost a parent to domestic violence. Several times a month, without fanfare, a child or family in that situation is flown to visit Gordon in Seattle and he spends time showing them around his world and just talking to them.
“It’s very close to my heart,” Gordon said Thursday in the Mariners clubhouse. “I was actually up this morning looking at old pictures of my mom. It’s definitely close to me. Everybody’s rock is usually their mom. The big thing with the Flash of Hope program is making sure these kids understand that just because your rock is gone, you can still be somebody.”
His message is simple and he connects through a common bond that few can share.
“I tell them, ‘Hey, you’re not in this by yourself,’” he said. “The whole village hopefully takes care of you and you can become what I became or better.”
This is the third time Gordon has been a Clemente Award finalist, having also been selected by the Marlins in 2015 and ’17. Fans can vote for any of the 30 MLB nominees at MLB.com/community/roberto-clemente-award through Sept. 29.
Gordon, 31, says just being mentioned in conjunction with Clemente is an honor.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “I honestly don’t do the things I do for people for any recognition. But to be recognized by my peers and Major League Baseball is pretty cool. This is my third one and I’m definitely grateful for all of them.”
The Mariners have had three players win the overall Clemente Award -- Harold Reynolds in 1991, Jamie Moyer in 2003 and Edgar Martinez in 2004.
Gordon obviously would be thrilled to become the fourth to take home that award, but that’s not what motivates him to meet with kids, or contribute to other charities. He traveled to Rwanda last winter to help with the Food for the Hungry program and has also contributed to relief efforts in the Dominican Republic with a Strike Out Poverty campaign, as well as local charities in Seattle like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
“I grew up with kind of the best of both worlds,” said Gordon, whose father, Tom Gordon, pitched for 21 seasons in the Majors. “My dad being a big leaguer and the other side of my family struggling, I know both sides of it. I just want to make sure I help people. I think I’m put on this earth, in this position, to help others and I’m going to continue to do that.”
Worth noting
• Shortstop J.P. Crawford is expected to return to the lineup in Friday’s series opener against the White Sox after sitting out 11 games with a strained right hamstring.
• Right fielder Domingo Santana took batting practice Thursday and is also close to returning from a strained right elbow that landed him on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 19. Manager Scott Servais said Santana could get a shot at designated hitter or as a pinch-hitter this weekend, though he more likely will return next week during the Mariners’ final road trip.
• Reliever Matt Magill, who has four saves and a 4.32 ERA in 16 games since being acquired from the Twins on July 21, is available to pitch again after being held out the past six days with a back issue.