Posada nominated for Clemente Award

When Jorge Posada was a youngster growing up in Puerto Rico, there was no more important name in baseball history for him than that of Roberto Clemente.

Posada played many American Legion games at a baseball complex named after Clemente, which featured a museum honoring the life of the Hall of Famer. Before each Saturday doubleheader, he would visit the museum and talk about Clemente's legacy, aware of the man he was both on and off the field.

That's why Posada's nomination for this year's Roberto Clemente Award has extra meaning for the Yankees catcher -- not only is he being recognized for his work in the community, but he's being mentioned in the same breath as his baseball hero.

"He did a lot of things; he died trying to help people," said Posada. "He was a big influence on me. To be mentioned with him, that's pretty neat."

Five years ago, Posada and his wife, Laura, established the Jorge Posada Foundation after their son was diagnosed with craniosynostosis, a congenital or birth defect, characterized by premature closure of one or more sutures which causes an abnormally shaped skull.

The purpose of the Foundation is to create awareness of the condition, to provide financial support to families whose children are affected by craniosynostosis and to further encourage research of this medical condition, about which there are still many unanswered questions.

"Just to be nominated is cool," Posada said. "I've always wanted to give back and do something, especially for the kids. We started the foundation because of my son, but it's grown way beyond that. I try to help out, which is all I wanted to do."

"He's such a humanitarian, and with anything that involves children, he's completely Jell-O," said manager Joe Torre. "Even during a game, you have trouble getting his attention back when a foul ball goes into the stands and it involves a child."

The Posada Foundation has received a tremendous amount of support in the past few years and continues to make people aware of craniosynostosis. This year, the Foundation has raised about $500,000, most of which came at the annual fundraising dinner in Manhattan.

"Before we started the foundation, I knew I wanted to help people. When my son was born, I knew I wanted to do that," Posada said. "We still don't know what causes it, but we try to do research on why it happens. The more we get into it, the more we find out, and the money we raise helps that. We can't find a cure, but we can help fix it."

"All the problems he's had with little Jorge have made him so much more sensitive to the needs and the fragility of children," Torre said. "He certainly takes a lot of pride in his foundation, and when you're at his dinner, he and his wife speak, but the kids are always up there with him. He's a devoted family man, and it's nice that he's being recognized for his work."

In addition to the work with his Foundation, Posada has also lent his time to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Starlight Foundation. He and Laura also visit sick patients at hospitals, and the entire family brought holiday gifts to children at local hospitals in New York and Puerto Rico every December.

"Being part of the Yankees, you can use your fame and your name to help out," Posada said. "It's all part of the fun."

The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. It is named in honor of the former Pirates outfielder whose spirit and goodwill will always be remembered. Clemente died in a plane accident while attempting to transport relief supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua on Dec. 31, 1972.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Posted By: By Mark Feinsand // MLB.com

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Posada nominated for Clemente Award