Robertson's dedication earns Clemente nomination

David Robertson has been selected as the Yankees' nominee for the 2013 Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball announced on Monday.

Tuesday is Roberto Clemente Day throughout Major League Baseball, a day instituted on the 30th anniversary of his passing in 1972 to keep alive Clemente's spirit of giving. Voting runs from Tuesday through Oct. 6 at chevybaseball.com as fans help decide which of those 30 club winners will receive this prestigious recognition.

The nominees were chosen based on their dedication to giving back to the community, as well as their outstanding ability on the field.

Robertson and his wife, Erin, established the High Socks For Hope Foundation in 2011 as a way to give back to the community following the April 2011 tornadoes that ravaged Robertson's hometown of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"We can step in and provide items that families may have lost," Robertson said earlier this year. "We're a small organization and we have very minimal overhead, so everything that comes into our charity, we turn around and use.

"Whether it's buying mattresses or furniture, our main goal has been to get people back in their houses. Once their house gets rebuilt, they don't have money to go out and buy furniture. We can still go in and help those people out."

High Socks for Hope has also been involved with the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in New York and New Jersey. This June, Robertson and his wife helped deliver $20,000 of new furniture to four families in Far Rockaway, N.Y., whose homes had been rebuilt and were ready for move-ins.

The nonprofit has also helped those affected by the May 20, 2013, tornado in Moore, Okla. To help raise money, Robertson has pledged $100 for each strikeout he records.

"The most rewarding part is seeing the families after," Robertson said. "These people lost everything, and it's usually nine or 10 months out after the disaster and they still don't have the furniture that they lost. I'm not saying that we can get them everything, but we can get them some stuff."

Earlier this season, Robertson helped host the Players Trust All-Star Tournament at Bethpage Black, co-hosting a disaster relief golf tournament that was attended by Ken Griffey Jr., Gary Sheffield, Jim Rice and many others.

"I'll go out with anyone who has a good cause," Robertson said.

The Yankees are scheduled to recognize Robertson's nomination for this year's Clemente Award with an on-field ceremony to take place on Friday prior to the 7:05 p.m. ET game against the San Francisco Giants.