HOUSTON, TX - Major League Baseball has named Jose Altuve as the Houston Astros 2022 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s most prestigious individual honor for Major Leaguers. 

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

As part of the annual program, each MLB Club nominates one player to be considered for the league-wide Award in tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character. 

ALTUVE’S COMMUNITY EFFORTS

Jose Altuve has been an All-Star performer both on and off the field during his stellar Major League career. Since arriving in the Major Leagues in 2011, Altuve has devoted time and effort to giving back to the community and giving back to the fans. Prior to virtually every home game and before most road games, Altuve signs autographs during batting practice, chats with fans and posed for photographs.

Altuve has hosted charity events, supported his teammates charitable efforts and has also participated in all of the Astros fan outreach efforts, which has included the Astros Diamond Dreams Gala, FanFest, Winter Caravan, Picnic in the Park and the annual Charity Gala, many of which raise funds for the Astros Foundation.

Tonight, Altuve will partner with teammates Lance McCullers Jr. and Kyle Tucker to host the annual “Team Up” charity event at Tootsies in Houston. Altuve and McCullers have partnered to host this event for several years, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes. This year’s event will benefit animal rescue efforts, hospice care, children’s charities and other initiatives throughout the Greater Houston community.

Additionally, on July 31, Jose and his wife, Nina, hosted their second annual Uncork for a Cause charity wine event following an Astros game. The event, which was attended by most of his teammates, raised funds for the Astros Foundation. At this event, Jose chatted with, signed autographs and took photos with most of the fans in attendance. Over the last two years, this event has raised over $200,000. 

Altuve was also active during the pandemic as he and Nina partnered with the Astros Foundation to provide 60,000 meals to Kid’s Meals, Inc. to support children in need. Over the years, Altuve has also made several visits to children battling serious illnesses and has supported several charitable efforts in his native Venezuela.

Several years ago, Jose and Nina established the Jose Altuve Foundation, which has benefitted and supported many different charities, most of which involve children.

ROBERTO CLEMENTE DAY

Thursday, September 15 marks the 21st annual Roberto Clemente Day presented by Capital One, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy as a humanitarian and to formally acknowledge Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks. Additionally, a customized tribute video to both Roberto and his wife Vera – Momentito (in English and Spanish) – will be shown in all MLB ballparks on Roberto Clemente Day as well as on MLB Network, MLB.com, Club sites and MLB Social Media Platforms.

The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award will be selected via a blue ribbon panel, including Commissioner Manfred, representatives from Capital One, MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS), MLB.com, as well as Roberto’s children, Enrique, Luis and Roberto Clemente, Jr.

Beginning today, fans can vote for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One via mlb.com/clemente21 (English) and LasMayores.com/clemente21 (Spanish). The site will feature bios of each of the nominees and will allow fans to vote until the end of the season on Wednesday, October 5th. The winner of the fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by the blue-ribbon panel.

The concept of honoring Major League players for their philanthropic work was created in 1971 as the “Commissioner’s Award.” The recognition was renamed to the “Roberto Clemente Award” in 1973 in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.