For the seventh time in his career, Paul Goldschmidt has been named his team’s nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One 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. It is the most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB.
“I hear the name Roberto Clemente and think of all he did not only on the field, but off the field,” said Goldschmidt. “His humanitarian efforts across the globe are inspirational and I am honored to represent the St. Louis Cardinals as this year’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee.”
The humblest of men, Paul Goldschmidt is highly regarded not only by his teammates, but also by his competition. The 2022 All-Star continues to prove that he is an athlete of extraordinary character both on and off the field. His philanthropic efforts are numerous and far-reaching. Rather than start his own charity, Goldschmidt has chosen to step in and assist a wide array of charitable causes behind the scenes without seeking recognition for his efforts.
Since joining the Cardinals in December 2018, Goldschmidt has joined teammate and 2020 Roberto Clemente Award winner, Adam Wainwright, in several charitable efforts through Wainwright’s charity, Big League Impact (BLI). In 2021, through his partnership with BLI, Paul raised $46,420 to help build a community center in the Dominican Republic with Food for the Hungry as part of the #ALLWIN campaign, an effort where players pledge dollars and support for causes close to their hearts while asking fans to join them in their efforts to support those in need. The center will provide vocational training for youth and women and instruction to community residents on how to improve household sanitation, basic hygiene, and nutritional skills.
As part of BLI’s 2022 #ALLWIN Campaign, Goldschmidt is playing for Habitat for Humanity St. Louis, an organization that provides an opportunity for families living in substandard rental housing to help build and then purchase a home they can afford to maintain. He will also donate to Habitat for Humanity St. Louis for every Cardinals playoff win.
Also this season, Goldschmidt participated in BLI’s special events Swinging for Impact and Trivia Night, which collectively raised $97,000 to continue Big League Impact’s mission to help people meet basic human needs like food, clean water, medical care, shelter, and education in an effort to save lives, restore dignity, and instill hope.
On August 6, 2022, Goldschmidt hosted a free baseball clinic for kids, parents and coaches at Busch Stadium. During the clinic Goldschmidt stressed importance of using sports, specifically baseball, to build life skills rather than solely focusing on winning. On August 14, 2022, Goldschmidt hosted Uncork for a Cause, a gala that benefited Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds and implements safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.
Goldschmidt is also a strong supporter of the St. Louis Cardinals team charity, Cardinals Care. His annual financial contributions and signing of memorabilia used for silent auctions help support the flagship Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball/softball program for children ages 5-13, as well as the charity’s grant and youth ballfield programs.
Goldschmidt’s Player Ticket Program, Goldy’s Golden Ticket, started in 2019 to bring deserving youth organizations to a game. He provides t-shirts, photo cards, tickets and food vouchers and meets with the groups to answer questions, sign autographs and take photos. Over the years, Goldschmidt has met with hundreds of children as part of the program. During the 2022 season, Goldschmidt met with kids from Annie’s Hope, an organization that provides comprehensive support services to children, teens and their families who are grieving a death; St. Louis Down Syndrome Association, an organization that serves, supports, and celebrates the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, through every stage of life; and Common Goals and Minds, an organization that utilizes sports as a platform to mentor our youth and to engage communities together.
“Paul Goldschmidt is truly an athlete of extraordinary character both on and off the field,” said Michael Hall, Vice President, Community Relations & Executive Director, Cardinals Care. “We admire his far-reaching and numerous efforts to help people in need, and are proud to have him as a member of the Cardinals.”
The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One will be selected via a blue ribbon panel, including Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., representatives from 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 overall winner of the Roberto Clemente Award at mlb.com/clemente21. The site features bios of each nominee and will allow fans to vote through the end of the season on Wednesday, October 5. 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 in 1973 in honor of the late 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.
Previous Cardinals to win the Roberto Clemente Award include Adam Wainwright (2020), Yadier Molina (2018), Carlos Beltran (2013), Albert Pujols (2008), Ozzie Smith (1995) and Lou Brock (1975), the most of any MLB Club. More information and award nominees for all 30 MLB teams can be found at mlb.com/clemente21.
