ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Adam Wainwright says he found out while he was driving.
"I almost ran into an oak tree," he joked Monday morning from his offseason home in Georgia.
Wainwright, a veteran pitcher of 15 MLB seasons, was named the 2020 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, considered the most prestigious honor a player can receive. He was recognized for his outstanding philanthropic work around the world through Big League Impact, the organization he founded in 2013.
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In that time, trips to Haiti (opening a school and building a clean water system), Ethiopia (partnering with Crisis Aid International to feed starving children and aiding victims of sex trafficking), and Honduras (funding a clean water system) have been among his efforts. He's also helped provide millions of meals in the United States and Canada through a partnership with Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation.
Wainwright was previously nominated for the Clemente Award in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
"This is the crown jewel of any award I have ever received," Wainwright said. "But to me, it's more than just an award. What Mr. Clemente stood for, and the way his lived his life on and off the field, goes beyond what any award could fully embody."
The award, voted by fans and media, is given annually to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, character, philanthropy, community involvement and positive contributions to his team.
That team is the St. Louis Cardinals, who now have had six of their players win the award, the most of any MLB club: Lou Brock (1975), Ozzie Smith (1995), Albert Pujols (2008), Carlos Beltran (2013) and Yadier Molina (2018).
"This tradition of being charitable goes way back inside the Cardinals clubhouse," Wainwright said. "But beyond that, in the entire city of St. Louis. People in St. Louis, in general, have just very giving and charitable hearts."
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Wainwright joined the Cardinals organization in 2004, made his MLB debut in 2005, and won a World Series as a rookie in 2006.
It didn't take him long to recognize the tradition of giving - not only locally but around the world - saying Pujols was leading the charge at that time.
"When you become a player, especially for a long time there, there's a sense that you need to go back out into the community and give back. Because you want to... but also because you know they expect that of you. It just kind of feeds into you. There's a whole charitable thing going on in St. Louis that is very, very unique."
Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. released a statement congratulating Wainwright on behalf of the club.
"In addition to his many accomplishments on the field, Adam has been a tireless contributor in the community and around the globe, giving back to those in need," DeWitt said. "There can be no better tribute to Roberto's lasting legacy than the difference making humanitarian efforts demonstrated by Adam and past Clemente Award winners."
Clemente, the Hall of Fame outfielder for the Pirates, died in a plane crash in 1973 while delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Commissioner Rob Manfred made the official announcement Monday afternoon.
"Congratulations to Adam for this well-deserved recognition of his long and meritorious philanthropic efforts in St. Louis, across the United States and around the world," Manfred said in a statement.
Just some of the numbers you can learn at BigLeagueImpact.org:
- Big League Impact serviced more than 15,000 people with the clean water system in Honduras.
- Weekly meals are provided for 3,000 families in need, including 200 families per year in South St. Louis.
- Approximately $5.8 million has been donated to 94 charities from the efforts of more than 150 MLB players through Wainwright's foundation.