Pour One Out For The Homie: Today Is Roberto Clemente Day!

Major League Baseball turned a blind-eye towards steroids throughout the 90’s and early part of this decade, but they did do something right in 2002. They created a special day to commemorate players who strive to fulfill duties beyond the diamond by providing service to their communities. In honor of altruism in baseball, Bud Selig and his cronies decided on a Roberto Clemente Day, and the seventh-annual celebration of that day happens to be today. So, teams all across this great nation will salute the Puertan Rican-born legend who was killed one New Year’s Eve during a horrific plane crash. (Clemente was on his way to Nicaragua to deliver goods to the region.) In honor of his devotion to service, baseball has named 30 players this year who are worthy of a right-seat next to Clemente’s legacy.

The 30 Club recipients of the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy are:
Arizona Diamondbacks - Brandon Webb
Atlanta Braves - Tim Hudson
Baltimore Orioles - Melvin Mora
Boston Red Sox - Kevin Youkilis
Chicago Cubs - Ryan Dempster
Chicago White Sox - Jermaine Dye
Cincinnati Reds - Brandon Phillips
Cleveland Indians - Grady Sizemore
Colorado Rockies - Jeff Francis
Detroit Tigers - Magglio Ordoñez
Florida Marlins - Luis Gonzalez
Houston Astros - Lance Berkman
Kansas City Royals - Mark Teahen
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Justin Speier
Los Angeles Dodgers - James Loney
Milwaukee Brewers - Jeff Suppan
Minnesota Twins - Michael Cuddyer
New York Mets - David Wright
New York Yankees - Johnny Damon
Oakland Athletics - Mark Ellis
Philadelphia Phillies - Jimmy Rollins
Pittsburgh Pirates - Jack Wilson
St. Louis Cardinals - Albert Pujols
San Diego Padres - Trevor Hoffman
San Francisco Giants - Kevin Frandsen
Seattle Mariners - Raul Ibañez
Tampa Bay Rays - Carlos Peña
Texas Rangers - Kevin Millwood
Toronto Blue Jays - Vernon Wells
Washington Nationals - Joel Hanrahan

The national celebration of Roberto Clemente Day will take place tonight during the Yankees/Rays game, but the first Latino hitter to reach 3,000 hits will also be saluted at other ballparks. Because just like Martin Luther King Jr., Roberto Clemente belongs to us all, so there should definitely be pachangas kicking off everywhere.
Major League Baseball and Chevy announce national nominees for the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy [MLB]
Image [MLB]