Orioles Nominate James McCann for 2024 Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One
The Orioles and Major League Baseball today announced that catcher JAMES McCANN has been named the Orioles’ 2024 nominee for the esteemed Roberto Clemente Award. The most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB, the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One, is the annual recognition of a Major League player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, sportsmanship, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
The Orioles will join Major League Baseball in honoring the 23rd annual Roberto Clemente Day on Sunday, September 15, as they take on the Detroit Tigers at 12:05 p.m. ET at Comerica Park. This commemorative day was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, all players will wear a ‘21’ patch on their jersey, and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks. Once again this season, each team’s Clemente nominee will wear ”21” on their uniform, joining players and uniformed personnel from Puerto Rico, previous nominees, and those who have worn “21” on prior Roberto Clemente Days.
The Orioles will recognize McCann in a special on-field ceremony on Saturday, September 21.
Since joining the Orioles prior to the 2023 season, McCann has emerged as a cornerstone of community support in Baltimore, earning him a nomination for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. His unwavering dedication to community service is a family affair, with McCann, his wife Jessica, and their twin boys actively contributing to their communities year-round. This past offseason, the McCann family donated 50 pairs of shoes to Church of the City’s Wrap Around Closet in Nashville, Tenn. supporting children in foster care.
Earlier this season, the Orioles announced their adoption of Harlem Park Elementary Middle School, aiming to foster a lasting relationship and support students from pre-k all the way through their entry into the workforce. McCann eagerly embraced this partnership, actively engaging with Harlem Park students and staff at Friday home game batting practices, proudly donning a Harlem Park-branded t-shirt. His involvement extended to the classroom as well, where he visited PE classes to teach baseball skills and inspire students to pursue their dreams with perseverance. To further support Harlem Park, McCann and Jessica provided Harlem Park students with essential items such as backpacks, clothing, and shoes for the new school year, underscoring their dedication to fostering the growth and success of Baltimore’s youth.
The McCann family also has a profound connection to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), having experienced it firsthand with their twin boys born prematurely. Understanding the emotional challenges faced by NICU parents, they have dedicated themselves to supporting local NICUs by visiting hospitals, bringing gifts, and offering encouragement to families in need.
Even with his demanding schedule, McCann remains actively involved in supporting organizations virtually, such as by creating a compelling video for Meals on Wheels to promote their 'Night of A Million Meals' event.
As a veteran in the clubhouse, McCann's leadership is evident both on and off the field. He supports his teammates' charitable endeavors, such as Cedric Mullins’ Big League Impact event at TopGolf before a doubleheader, exemplifying his commitment to philanthropy.
McCann's exemplary leadership and compassion reflect the spirit of Clemente, making him a true role model for young baseball stars, Baltimore's youth, and his own children, seamlessly blending his roles as a baseball player, teammate, and dedicated community leader. His passion for giving back has shined through his storied 10-year career.
The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One will be honored at the 2024 World Series following selection by a blue-ribbon panel. This panel includes representatives from the Commissioner’s Office, Capital One, MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS), MLB.com, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as Roberto’s children, ENRIQUE, LUIS and ROBERTO CLEMENTE, JR. Beginning today, fans can vote for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One via MLBTogether.com/clementeaward (in both English and Spanish). The site, which features bios of each nominee, allows fans to vote through the end of the season on Sunday, September 29. The winner of the fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by the blue-ribbon panel.
The concept of honoring Major League players for their philanthropic work was created in 1971 as the “Commissioner’s Award,” but was renamed to the “Roberto Clemente Award” in 1973 in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.