On the eve of Roberto Clemente Day, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that Jacob Stallings is the Pirates’ nominee for the prestigious award.
"I got emotional when Bob [Nutting] told me that they were nominating me, because I'm certainly not a perfect person," Jacob Stallings told reporters Tuesday. "So to even be mentioned in the same realm as him is pretty special and certainly not something I take lightly."
"Extremely excited for him," Derek Shelton said over Zoom. "To be in the room when he was told was very cool. Very well-deserving. I think you guys all know how special I feel Clemente and the Clemente family is, not only for what he did on the field but what he did off the field. For Jacob to be the person representing the Pirates I think is very well-deserved."
The Roberto Clemente Award is given to the player who best represents the game of baseball through their character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, on and off the field.
Before the season, Stallings spent time with the youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County, Fla. and hosted a virtual PLAYBALL event for area youth players.
Once the season began, he continued to team up with Pirates Charities, including hosting “Caleb the Crusher,” a popular Miracle League player, at PNC Park for a special pitching session and meet-and-greet. Caleb pitches in the Miracle League and got to spend time with Stallings before a game in August.
Stallings also participated in this year’s Pirates Charities Players’ Favorite Things Basket Auction, which supported Allegheny Health Network’s efforts to provide free mammograms to women in need in the Pittsburgh region. The amount Jacob’s basket raised went to provide three women with a life-saving screening.
Those off the field contributions to the community come alongside him being one of the clubhouse leaders of a young team and group of pitchers.
“Jacob embodies the spirit of The Great One in the way he carries himself and how he represents our organization on and off the field,” Nutting said in a statement. “The Roberto Clemente Award is very special to the Pirates, and we are incredibly proud of Jacob and all of the 2021 nominees.”
This is the first time Stallings has been nominated for the award.
"He takes pride in what his voice is in the community and the things that he can get behind," Shelton said. "I think that’s what exemplifies not only him as a leader in our clubhouse but in the community and for Pirates Charities."
Fans can vote for who they want to win the award here. The winner of the fan vote will count as one part of a panel that includes MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, representatives from MLB-affiliated networks, MLB.com and Clemente’s children, Enrique, Luis and Roberto Jr.
Last year's winner was Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals. The last Pirate to win the award was Andrew McCutchen in 2015.
Roberto Clemente Day will be this Wednesday, Sept. 15. MLB recently announced that Sept. 15 will be the permanent date for Roberto Clemente Day in future years.
The Pirates will once again wear No. 21 jerseys for their game against the Reds Wednesday night.
