Konerko, Rollins named co-winners of Roberto Clemente Award

Oct 24, 2014 - 11:47 PM San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Retiring Chicago White Sox slugger Paul Konerko and Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins were honored Friday as co-winners of this year's Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who combines outstanding play on the field with devoted work in the community.

Both players were presented their awards prior to Game 3 of the World Series between the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants.

Rollins and Konerko tied in the final voting, which was conducted via fan balloting combined with a distinguished panel that included commissioner Bud Selig along with several Hall of Famers. It's the first time there has been a tie for the award.

Konerko and his wife Jennifer founded the Bring Me Home Campaign in 2007. They, along with former White Sox teammate Jim Thome and his wife Andrea, helped to raise awareness and recruit foster parents and advocate for the needs of foster children. The campaign has raised nearly $450,000 in its first seven years.

Konerko, who played 18 major league seasons, also supports several White Sox charities, including the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Rollins started J-Roll's Aces, which is a charitable ticket program that provides opportunities for inner-city students. He has also been the head of the J-Roll's Readers program.

"Paul Konerko and Jimmy Rollins are two of baseball's great ambassadors and have long distinguished themselves as leaders both on the field and in their communities," Selig said. "Their commitment to making a difference in the lives of children is a wonderful reflection of the legacy the legendary Roberto Clemente has left on our game and in society. Major League Baseball is proud to honor Jimmy and Paul, two veteran standouts who have represented the National Pastime with excellence, with our game's most prestigious recognition."

The Commissioner's Award was renamed in 1973 in honor of Clemente, who was killed in a plane crash Dec. 31, 1972, while helping transport relief supplies to Nicaragua after an earthquake on Dec. 23 that killed more than 6,000 people.