NEW YORK — The New York Yankees stand alone among Major League Baseball franchises with five recipients of the Roberto Clemente Award, a record that stretches across 40 years. This distinction underscores the franchise’s unmatched tradition of humanitarian excellence.
The award, named after the legendary Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, honors players whose impact off the field rivals their success on it. It celebrates community service, leadership, and sportsmanship. Since 1984, Yankees players have won the award five times, with their combined charitable efforts raising more than $50 million. Their work has reached countless people in areas such as intellectual disability advocacy, medical research, youth programs, and social awareness.
Established in 1971, the Roberto Clemente Award remains one of MLB’s most meaningful honors. No team besides the Yankees has produced winners in four separate decades, highlighting both organizational commitment and the individual character of the players selected.
Ron Guidry, 1984, Special Olympics dedication
Ron Guidry became the first Yankee to win the award in 1984. His passion was rooted in family, as his younger brother Travis was born with a mental disability. That personal connection inspired the Cy Young Award winner to dedicate himself to Special Olympics programs.
Guidry did more than attend events. He organized training camps, participated in fundraising efforts, and helped create opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
“I’d trade every significant achievement I’ve ever had to see Travis progress and be able to lead a reasonably normal life,” Guidry said at the time. “He’s the one who has made the truly significant achievements.”
His selection set the tone for future Yankees winners, establishing a legacy that continues to shape the franchise’s image.
Don Baylor, 1985, medical mission against cystic fibrosis
The following year, Don Baylor extended the Yankees’ run of community leadership. In 1985, he earned the award for his dedication to battling cystic fibrosis.
Baylor worked with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the 65 Roses Club, raising awareness and funds for research. He organized golf tournaments and outreach efforts, offering both financial and emotional support to families confronting the disease.
His back-to-back follow-up to Guidry demonstrated that Yankees stars of the 1980s were more than champions on the field. They were advocates in society, embodying Clemente’s values during one of the franchise’s dominant eras.
Derek Jeter, 2009, transforming youth lives
Derek Jeter carried the Yankees’ tradition forward when he received the Roberto Clemente Award in 2009. His Turn 2 Foundation, launched in 1996, had by then invested more than $45 million into programs promoting healthy lifestyle choices among young people.
The foundation’s Jeter’s Leaders initiative became its signature, providing four years of academic support, leadership training, and college preparation for high school students in New York, West Michigan, and Tampa. The program emphasized mentorship and scholarships, helping students stay on a path to success.
“People in our position, they should take advantage of it,” Jeter said. “They should try to give back as much as possible.”
The award presentation came before Game 2 of the 2009 World Series, handed to Jeter by Commissioner Bud Selig and Vera Clemente, Roberto’s widow. It symbolized how his work off the field mirrored his excellence during another Yankees championship run.
Jeter’s personal involvement, including attending graduations and maintaining close ties with participants, reflected his character as much as his iconic career.
Aaron Judge, 2023, blending tradition with modern outreach
Aaron Judge became the Yankees’ fourth Roberto Clemente Award winner in 2023. His ALL RISE Foundation has served more than 2,000 young people since 2018 through programs focused on leadership, citizenship, and character.
The foundation funds 26 community organizations through mini-grants and runs baseball and softball camps in New York and California. Judge’s Aspiring Leaders program emphasizes civic engagement and responsibility, with beneficiaries including Bridge2College, NYC Autism Charter Schools, and the Tourette Association of America.
Aaron Judge has also used his profile to bring modern attention to social causes. He supported the #ICanHelp campaign to combat harmful online behavior and joined the Real Heroes Project during the COVID-19 pandemic to honor healthcare workers.
Fundraising remains a major piece of his work. His 2024 “All-Star Evening” gala on Wall Street generated nearly $800,000 for youth initiatives. Judge’s focus reflects his journey from high school athlete in California’s Central Valley to captain of the Yankees.
Carlos Rodón, 2025, supporting families through parenthood struggles
Carlos Rodón carried the mantle forward in 2025 as the Yankees’ nominee. His foundation, co-founded with his wife Ashley, focuses on helping families navigate infertility and pregnancy loss.
Their deeply personal mission led to the creation of the Willow Grant program, named after their daughter. Each year, it awards $10,000 to $20,000 to 25 couples seeking parenthood after miscarriage or fertility challenges.
The program has grown quickly. The Willow Gala raised $150,000 in 2024, followed by $560,000 in 2025. That funding expanded partnerships with clinics and nonprofits nationwide.
“Rodon and his wife Ashley have used their own ordeal with starting a family as the impetus to help others going through similar struggles,” MLB noted in announcing his nomination.
Rodón also participates in Yankees outreach during HOPE Week. He has worked with Bottomless Closet, an organization that helps women prepare for employment through interview coaching and access to professional attire.
As one of 30 MLB players nominated in 2025, Rodón’s candidacy continues the Yankees’ standard of impact. The winner will be announced during the 2025 World Series. If chosen, Rodón would join Guidry, Baylor, Jeter, and Judge as the franchise’s fifth official Roberto Clemente Award recipient.
Yankees tradition sets MLB standard
From Guidry’s work with Special Olympics to Rodón’s foundation supporting families, Yankees winners reflect both diversity of causes and consistency of values. Their combined efforts highlight advocacy for intellectual disabilities, medical research, youth empowerment, and modern social challenges.
With recipients across four decades, the Yankees have maintained a rare balance: stars who shine on the field and embrace humanitarian leadership off it. Their contributions extend Roberto Clemente’s legacy while setting the standard for athlete activism and social responsibility in professional sports.
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