Guthrie nominated for Roberto Clemente Award
Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie has been named the club’s 2010 Roberto Clemente Award nominee, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday. Guthrie is one of 30 finalists for the national award given annually to the MLB player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with talent on the baseball field.
The right-hander has been an active member of the Baltimore community since joining the Orioles in 2007, giving motivational speeches to groups in Baltimore and Sarasota, Fla., visiting wounded soldiers and participating in the Orioles annual Holiday Party for underprivileged kids. Guthrie has also spent time with Baltimore’s Helping Up Mission, a program that serves the spiritual and physical needs of poor and homeless men around the city. Guthrie and his wife Jenny have donated $5,000 to the Maryland Food Bank and $5,000 to the OriolesReach Gameday Experience program, which brings underprivileged youth to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for a game, hat and T-shirt and concessions.
Wednesday marks the ninth-annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by MLB to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially recognize local club nominees who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their clubs. The award is named for the 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Fans are encouraged to participate in the selection process for the national award recipient by visiting chevy.com/clemente from Sept. 7 through Oct. 8 to vote for one of the 30 club nominees. Past Orioles to win the national honor include Eric Davis in 1997, Cal Ripken Jr. in 1992, Ken Singleton in 1982 and Brooks Robinson in 1972.
-- Mike Miller
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Congrats to Guthrie, he sounds like a deserving nominee.
I am struck by how polished Guthrie is in front of a microphone. He seems to have a lot of charisma, and I suspect he would be a terrific broadcaster if he chose to try that after his career.
Posted by: Orsulakfan | September 8, 2010 12:08 PM
Guthrie is an awesome dude. I attended a double header a few years ago towards the end of the season. I have three young kids who love the orioles and wanted to go around to the players exit. Very few people were there, and the kids hoped for autographs. I know it is a long season and the players are very tired after a double header, especially position players. Some of the "star" players chose to simply ignore my kids as they went to their vehicles without ever waving or smiling, and I don't fault them for that. Then a guy on a bicycle came riding out of the tunnel and we assumed it was a clubhouse kid on his dirt bike going home. Nope, it was Jeremy Guthrie. He stopped and signed my kid's oriole hats. He was the nicest person in the world at that moment, and spoke with us for a few minutes before heading home. You would never know he was a multi-million dollar player. The next day, my kids each put their hats in a gallon baggie on a high shelf in their rooms and have followed Jeremy's games ever since. Thanks Mr. Gutherie for all that you do in the community!
Posted by: csquare | September 9, 2010 9:35 AM