Anthony Rizzo Wins Roberto Clemente Award
The Roberto Clemente Award is given to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.” This year, that player is Anthony Rizzo, who humbly accepted the award prior to Game Three of the World Series.
As a cancer survivor himself, the honor is meaningful to Rizzo and his family. He has often mentioned how important it was to be able to help those in situations similar to the one he faced.
But in Rizzo’s view, the award is just a platform to further promote cancer awareness and increase cancer treatment efficacy, an effort of which he knows is “bigger than baseball.”
Rizzo’s attempt to help cancer patients is a defining character trait. While the list of the slugger’s good deeds and charitable work is long, one highlight from this season was Rizzo’s eponymous foundation, the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, donating $3.5 million to Lurie Children’s Hospital in May. And just this past week, Rizzo came through after a young fan had her signed photo taken from her hospital room.
While he is an incredible baseball player, it’s always worth reminding ourselves how lucky we are as Cubs fans to have Anthony Rizzo the person as part of the organization and community.
Videos & tweets from the presentation:
“This award is something bigger & better than anything I could do on the field.” – 2017 Roberto Clemente Award winner @ARizzo44 pic.twitter.com/x9kheE3vHR
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 27, 2017
.@ARizzo44 wins the Roberto Clemente Award for positive contributions to baseball on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/bYxNKeL4vd
— MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2017
— A. Rizzo Foundation (@RizzoFoundation) October 27, 2017
Incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Roberto Clemente award. This award means more to my family and I than I could ever express. pic.twitter.com/oxhSvEz8Ms
— Anthony Rizzo (@ARizzo44) October 27, 2017
