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Dodgers' Mookie Betts wins prestigious Roberto Clemente Award
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
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Sean M. Haffey
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Getty Images
)
Topline:
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has been chosen as the recipient of the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award.
Why it matters: The award is given to one player each year who "best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field." It's considered one of the game's highest honors.
Betts founded the 5050 Foundation in 2021 to help underserved young people with things like mental health, financial literacy, physical fitness and more. He also donated more than $30,000 in Nike apparel to Eaton Fire survivors.
The backstory: Roberto Clemente was an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates who played 18 seasons in the Major Leagues. In addition to being a Hall of Famer, and being considered by many to be among the greatest to ever play baseball, Clemente was also known for spending most of his time during the offseason doing charity work in Puerto Rico, where he was born and raised, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean. Clemente died in a plane crash in 1973 while flying to Nicaragua to deliver emergency supplies to earthquake survivors.
You can read more about Clemente and the award that bears his name here.
Go deeper: ...and check out our World Series cheat sheet to catch up on everything you need to know about what's at stake.
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