Hawkins named Clemente Award nominee

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday announced reliever LaTroy Hawkins as the club's 2011 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented annually to the player that best represents the game of baseball through sportsmanship and community involvement. The team will honor Hawkins before Wednesday's game, which is the tenth annual Roberto Clemente Day throughout Major League Baseball. The day was established to honor the legacy of the Hall of Famer, who died in a 1972 plane crash while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. "I have always made it a priority to contribute to the community wherever I have been in my career," Hawkins said in a team release. "The organizations I have worked with are ones I truly care about and I appreciate the honor named in memory of someone as great as Roberto Clemente." Throughout his 17 seasons in the major leagues, which has included stops with eight teams, Hawkins has dedicated a great deal of time and money to various communities. This season alone, Hawkins has contributed 50,000 to the Brewers Community Foundation to support youth programs, scholarships and education throughout Wisconsin. Additionally, Hawkins has been involved with numerous charities including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Milwaukee Mayor's Fatherhood Initiative and the Foundation for Children with Cancer. He also supports a nonprofit in his home state of Indiana called Lifeline, which is dedicated to helping at-risk children and families. "LaTroy's commitment to the Milwaukee community has been extraordinary and very sincere," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in the statement. "He's been a leader in the clubhouse and in the community for this team." The Brewers have one winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, formerly the Commissioner's Award, in club history. Cecil Cooper earned the honor in 1983. Beginning Wednesday through Oct. 9, fans can vote for the award's winner at www.chevybaseball.comclemente.