Colorado Springs Colo. - The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) is pleased to announce St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt as the overall winner of the 2022 Heart and Hustle Award. This esteemed award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game. The Heart and Hustle Award is also the only award in Major League Baseball that is voted on by former players.

A five-time winner of the Arizona Diamondbacks team Heart and Hustle Award and first-time winner of the St. Louis Cardinals team award, Goldschmidt proves to play a critical role on the field and within his community. During the Cardinals 2022 season, Goldschmidt recorded 178 hits, 115 RBI and 35 home runs, earning him his seventh All-Star appearance and fifth Silver Slugger award. Beyond the diamond, Goldschmidt remains active in his community, sponsoring an MLBPAA Legends for Youth Clinic at Busch Stadium in the summer of 2022. The free baseball clinic for local St. Louis youth and parents was led by Goldschmidt and eight alumni members. He remains a continued supporter of the Cardinals’ team charity, Cardinals Care, and was nominated for the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award for his valiant efforts in supporting local St. Louis charities as well as other various youth organizations.

The MLBPAA formed 30 committees comprised of Alumni players with established relationships to each team. Fans, alumni and active players vote to select the final winner from 30 team winners. The previous overall winners are David Eckstein (2005), Craig Biggio (2006, 2007), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012), Dustin Pedroia (2013), Josh Harrison (2014), Anthony Rizzo (2015), Todd Frazier (2016), Brett Gardner (2017), Mookie Betts (2018), Howie Kendrick (2019) and Ozzie Albies (2021). No award was presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information regarding the Heart and Hustle Award, please contact Kendall Meisner by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (719) 477-1870, ext. 201.

To learn more about the MLBPAA, please visit www.baseballalumni.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@MLBPAA).