Arizona Diamondbacks' Orlando Hudson Gets 2007 Roberto Clemente Award Nod

09/05/2007 -- Orlando Hudson today was named the Arizona Diamondbacks' recipient of the 2007 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. He is now one of 30 Major League Club nominees for the national 2007 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community. Today also marks the sixth annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball in 2002 to honor the memory of Roberto Clemente and to officially recognize local Club recipients of the Roberto Clemente Award.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet, is part of the company's official sponsorship of Major League Baseball, and recognizes those players who best exemplify the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their teams. The award is named for Clemente, a 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who was killed on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. This award perpetuates Clemente's memory and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Article continues below...

Hudson started a program that connects baseball with local children affected by autism, a lifelong developmental disorder that interferes with a person's ability to communicate and form social relationships. He works with the Phoenix-based Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) to provide children with autism an opportunity to attend monthly "game nights," where Hudson provides the families with a private luxury suite and hosts a meet-and-greet session with the children before each game. Recognizing that the children would need their own space to move around and a private bathroom, this private luxury suite makes for a fun and safe environment where the children are able to enjoy the game without the detrimental sensory overload (noise, crowds, etc.) of a typical stadium environment. During the past year alone, more than 180 children and families have participated in this program. On top of his monthly "game nights," Hudson routinely visits SARRC's Campus for Exceptional Children where he enthusiastically and genuinely participates in sing-along activities, talks with each individual child and signs autographs.

"Orlando Hudson deserves this recognition and is a terrific representative of the organization," said Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall. "He understands his role and responsibility within the community, and he remains focused on positively impacting the lives of children throughout our state. He is a true role model who sets the table and the example for a group of players who are part of an organization that is extremely community-minded."

For the first time, fans can participate in the selection process of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. From September 5 through October 5, 2007, fans can log on to mlb.com/chevy21 and vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. The fan vote winner will be tallied as one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer, and Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Participating fans will automatically be registered for a chance to win a trip to Game Three of the 2007 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Chevrolet will be announced. As the official sponsor of the Roberto Clemente Award, Chevrolet will donate $7,500 to the charity of choice of each of the 30 Club recipients. Chevrolet will also be making a $30,000 donation to the charity of choice of the national Roberto Clemente Award winner and a $30,000 contribution to Roberto Clemente Sports City in Puerto Rico.

Source: MLB