St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright is the recipient of the Roberto-Clemente Award in 2020, Major League Baseball announced Monday.
The 39-year-old veteran was rewarded for his community service, having played in Missouri for about fifteen seasons. As a candidate for his team for the second year in a row, he founded the Big League Impact Foundation with his brother Trey in 2013. This organization offers various resources – food, drinking water, medical care and housing, among others – to people. living in underprivileged areas of the planet.
The Roberto-Clemente Award recognizes the contribution of a major league player who has best represented the values of the league through his philanthropic contributions, his commitment and his exceptional attitude, both on and off the pitch. Each lineup had one candidate: for the Toronto Blue Jays, it was receiver Danny Jansen.
Last year, shooter Carlos Carrasco was elected. Previous winners include Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Gary Carter, Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr.