During shutdown, Freddie rose up to help

ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman was humbled to learn he was selected to be the Braves’ nominee for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award.

“That’s pretty special,” Freeman said. “When you have a little bit of a platform and you use it for something good, it definitely makes you feel good.”

As MLB celebrated Roberto Clemente Day on Wednesday, members of the baseball world honored the memory of the selfless and beloved former Pirates outfielder, who was killed when a plane he was on carrying relief supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua crashed on Dec. 31, 1972.

Dating back to 1973, the Roberto Clemente Award has been annually given to the player who demonstrates the values Clemente displayed in his commitment to community and his understanding the value of helping others.

This year’s winner will be announced during the World Series.

“It’s been a neat process to see Freddie grow on the field, off the field and in the clubhouse,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “This is a well-deserving honor. Hopefully, he takes it a step farther.”

Shortly after Spring Training was shut down in March, Freeman made a $125,000 commitment to Atlanta-based charities that aided those who needed food and/or shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Freeman gave $50,000 to The Giving Kitchen, which helped pay rent and utilities for more than 30 food service workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. His $50,000 donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank helped many students whose families relied on the nutrition provided at school. He contributed $25,000 to The Salvation Army.

“Obviously, I didn’t donate to get recognition or anything like that,” Freeman said. “That’s not who I am. I was in a position to help people, and that is what [my wife and I] wanted to do.”

Freeman has spent the past few years visiting patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. To continue showing support despite this year’s restrictions, the All-Star first baseman decided to create Freddie’s Friends, a fan section that will include the faces of his friends from CHOA.

The section will be filled with cardboard cutouts featuring the faces of patients, staff and community members who have joined the fight against pediatric cancer, along with sickle cell and blood disorders. It will be located in Section 152, which is around the area where he hit his first career grand slam on Friday.

“We’re doing as much as we can and raising as much awareness as we can,” Freeman said.