NEW YORK, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Major League Baseball has announced the names of the thirty nominees, one from each club, eligible for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
It is part of a league-wide effort that has been initiated to honor the memory of the former Pittsburgh Pirates great and coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations that began on Sept. 15th.
The award is presented annually to the major league player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community. A panel of baseball dignitaries including Vera Clemente, Commissioner Bud Selig and David D'Alessandro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Hancock Financial Services, is involved in the process. The national winner will be announced during the 2002 World Series.
Among the recipients are Anaheim outfielder Tim Salmon, Atlanta reliever John Smoltz, who just broke the National League record for most saves in a season, Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson, Cleveland first baseman Jim Thome, who set a franchise record for home runs in a single season with 52, and Oakland pitcher Tim Hudson, who went 15-9 this season.
