Turner named Dodgers’ nominee for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award
by Rowan Kavner
Justin Turner is the Dodgers’ 2017 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.
The award recognizes a player from each MLB club every year who best represents the game of baseball through character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.
Wednesday, Sept. 6 will mark the 16th annual Roberto Clemente Day, established by MLB to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award, which is a tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character.
The Dodgers currently have two Roberto Clemente Award winners on their roster, with Clayton Kershaw winning the award in 2012 and Curtis Granderson winning the award last year while with the Mets.
Since joining the Dodgers in 2014, Turner has been one of the team’s most active players in the community, offering both his time and his financial support to a variety of charitable efforts in the greater Los Angeles area.
He created the Justin Turner Foundation in 2016 to support homeless veterans and children battling life-altering illnesses. He’s organized the annual Justin Turner Golf Classic to support the Los Angeles Dream Center’s Veterans Home. Through Turner’s efforts, the Dream Center is able to house more than 26 veterans, and Turner is currently working with the Dream Center to open a women’s home for veterans in 2018.
The Justin Turner Foundation has provided more than 10,000 toys and 2,000 bicycles to children in the Los Angeles area through its holiday giving efforts. Turner partners with 17Strong Foundation, which is built on giving patients that are recovering from a life-altering illness a victory trip of their choice, and he’s working with the Yokota Air Base in Fussa, Japan, to help create a softball league for U.S. military children.
Turner has also helped with the Dodgers’ community efforts, volunteering at youth clinics and soup kitchens, as well as serving as a spokesperson for Vision to Learn. He’s been the Dodgers’ player representative in support of MLB programming and has served as the club’s spokesperson for Military Appreciation Night. When the Dodgers honor a Military Hero of the Game each night, Turner is there up against the dugout railing shaking that military person’s hand.
Each year, Turner also supports AM 570’s Radio-a-Thon by appearing in studio and taking pledges to raise money for the Paralyzed Veterans of America on Veterans Day. In addition to making community appearances on behalf of the team, Turner also schedules his own visits to hospitals to spend time with children.
“I’m incredibly honored to be the Dodgers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, and be in the company of so many others around the league doing great work in their communities,” Turner said. “I’m grateful for all the support we’ve received for the Justin Turner Foundation, and hope to continue to expand our reach with veterans, military-family youth sports leagues and bettering the lives of pediatric patients and their families.”
Turner will be recognized for his contributions to the community before Wednesday’s game against the Diamondbacks.
“Justin Turner’s ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and help the communities around him is what truly sets him apart,” said Naomi Rodriguez, vice president of external affairs and community relations. “The Los Angeles Dodgers commend him for his leadership in the clubhouse and value his support of veterans, underserved youth, and families battling life-altering illnesses in Los Angeles and beyond.”
The overall Roberto Clemente Award winner will be selected among the group of nominees via a blue ribbon panel that includes individuals connected to the game, including baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., representatives from MLB-affiliated networks and MLB Advanced Media, as well as Vera Clemente, the late Roberto’s wife. Beginning the day after the regular season ends, fans can vote for the overall winner via a dedicated website. The winner of the fan voting, which will run from Oct. 2–6, will count as one vote among those cast by the blue ribbon panel.
The distinguished list of past Roberto Clemente Award winners includes 16 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame:
+ Member of The National Baseball Hall of Fame
* Co-winner
** Originally known as the Commissioner’s Award (prior to 1973)
