Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo nominated for Clemente Award

The Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo is the team’s 2017 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.

For everything the Chicago Cubs‘ first baseman does for the team, it’s what he does for his community that makes him stand out. This season, Rizzo has been nominated for the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player that “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.” If that’s the case for it, they need to go ahead and give the award to Rizzo.

Recently, Rizzo made a $3.5 million donation to the Lurie Children’s Hospital–a place he holds very close to his heart. It was a place that he spent a lot of time at after being diagnosed with Hodgkins-Lymphoma 10 years ago, at the age of 18. Now he has a chance to give back to a place that essentially gave him his life back.

Fan voting for the award will be conducted Oct. 2-6 and will be selected by a panel that includes MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Home teams will honor their nominees on Wednesday, while the away team will do so on a following homestand.

The award has been presented to a Cubs player two times. In 1987 when pitcher Rick Sutcliffe won it. And in 1998 when Sammy Sosa won the award. Never has a player won the award twice. And it won’t happen this year as none of the previous winners are nominated.

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Rizzo has gone above and beyond this season for pediatric cancer, and whether or not he wins the award, he’s not stopping there. In his career, Rizzo has donated $4 million to help families pay for their care. And there’s no intention to stop there.

The winner will be announced during the World Series, and Rizzo hopes to still be a part of that this season.