Los Angeles, CA (News 4 Us Online) – It is Game 7 of the World Series, but it is important to remember that life is bigger than sports. That has clearly been on display with the bullpens from both teams wearing “51” on their hats in support of Alex Vesia, who is away from the Dodgers because of a “deeply personal family matter.”
One of Los Angeles or Toronto will be crowned champions on Saturday night. While the other will be deeply disappointed, they will tip their cap to their opponent because the organizations and players taking part in this year’s World Series are class acts.
There are many excellent athletes, as well as exceptional people, on the Dodgers and Blue Jays, and one player in particular has been honored this year for personifying this very idea.
Mookie Betts is the 2025 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, the most prestigious accolade in the sport. The Dodgers’ shortstop has won many awards for his play on the field, but this particular trophy has nothing to do with how many home runs or highlight plays he makes, but rather his character and the work he has put in away from the diamond.
“The thing that he is most proud of about this award is that it has nothing to do with his performance, but everything that he does in life off the field, so this will mean so much to him, even more than we know,” said Unique Kizer, Betts’s cousin, who runs the 5050 Foundation.
“We are a family and love a good family project together. We have always had a commitment to children and love the youth and community work,” said Kizer.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, one of Roberto Clemente’s sons, Luis Clemente, and just as much a recipient of the award, Mookie’s wife, Brianna, all took the podium with the Dodgers shortstop when it was announced just prior to Game 3 of the World Series that Betts had earned the award.
“The first thing I usually do is talk about somebody’s on-field accomplishments,” said Manfred. “Talking about how Mookie Betts plays the game on the field in Los Angeles seems like we’ve already covered that topic. You were, in case you don’t know, an overwhelming choice in this vote.”
Betts has accomplished everything there is to accomplish on a baseball field, and his off-the-field achievements are nothing new. He is just now being recognized for them, but has been heavily involved in the community dating back to his time in Boston.
As one of the runner-ups last season, the competitor in Betts took over this year.
“I remember last year when we were nominated and we lost, and I remember after that, telling (Unique) like, No, I want to win this award. I’m not used to losing, so I wanted to win this,” said Betts.
The 5050 Foundation provides many humanitarian resources to the Los Angeles community, but Betts and his team’s primary focus is to help underrepresented youth get involved in sports and educational programs.
“Life is about more than what you do, I think, as far as work. It’s about how you affect people. People always remember how you make them feel. So I know we live by that. So when we come across people, we always try to make them smile, do what we can to help them, and the Lord blesses you. So that’s kind of what we care about. We just want to be a good example for all the kids growing up and to know that they can do it, no matter what,” said Betts.
Like Betts, Roberto Clemente was a tremendous player on the field, but an even better man in his community. He devoted much of his time to creating sports facilities for underprivileged youth in Puerto Rico, which Betts has adopted here in Los Angeles.
Clemente’s passing was a tragic day for baseball. He was on his way to Nicaragua to personally deliver goods after a devastating earthquake. The overloaded aircraft never reached the destination.
His legacy lives on as one of the greatest athletes of his time, but even more so for the man he was. Clemente is the type of figure who transcends sports, whose story will outlive any number of home runs hit or MVP trophies won.
“I always say that dad never knew how big he became, and thanks to Major League Baseball, the way they continue to honor him is so amazing. Dad has been gone for 53 years, but still students read in school about his life story, and when they see their favorite players winning the Clemente Award, not much tops that, and Dad’s name continues to perpetuate that,” said Luis Clemente.
While Betts seeks a fourth World Series ring, no matter how high the count gets, there is a good chance he will be more proud of his Robert Clemente Award than any of his Silver Sluggers, Gold Gloves, MVPs, or World Series titles when his career is all said and done.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.
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