John Lannan--Roberto Clemente Award Nominee

Given since 1971 by Major League Baseball to reward excellence--not only on the field of play but for Community Service--John Lannan was named today Our Washington Nationals Nominee for The Roberto Clemente Award. Beginning September 2nd and running through October 4th, fans can log onto www.chevy.com/clemente and vote for their favorite nominee from each of the 30 Major League Teams (The Chevy Link is not active as I write this on September 1st).

13 Hall Of Fame Players have received the award in past years.

Our Number 31 has helped to anchor our young pitching staff this year while directly getting himself personally involved with children from The National Institute of Health's Children's Inn. And recently, he joined up with The Washington Humane Society in an effort to find pets a home. Over the past two seasons, Lannan has made numerous public appearances including one at The National Children's Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

In fact, "Lannan's Cannons", which provides an afternoon of Sunday Baseball at Nationals Park for needy children and their families from The Children's Inn at NIH began last month.

John Lannan is expected to be introduced at Nationals Park this coming Friday Night in a pre-game ceremony acknowledging his community service accomplishments before Our Washington Nationals take the field against The Florida Marlins.

Complete Information In The Press Release Below.

JOHN LANNAN NAMED WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOMINEE FOR THE 2009 ROBERTO CLEMENTE AWARD PRESENTED BY CHEVY

Fans Have Opportunity to Vote Online for the National Winner of Prestigious Award

John Lannan today was named the Washington Nationals nominee for the 2009 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. He is one of 30 Major League Club nominees for the national 2009 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines exceptional performance on the baseball field with devoted
work in the community.

Tomorrow will mark the eighth annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente. Fans are encouraged to participate in the selection of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy. From September 2 through October 4, 2009, fans can log on to www.chevy.com/clemente and vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. The site is not active today--September 1st, 2009.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy is part of Chevy’s official sponsorship of Major League Baseball, and recognizes those players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their teams. The award is named for Clemente, a 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. This award perpetuates Clemente’s legacy and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of
helping others.

An active member in the Washington, D.C. community since being called up in 2007, this summer Lannan launched Lannan’s Cannons, a ticket program designed to bring joy to children and their families staying at The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health. The Children’s Inn is a “place like home” for sick children and their families who have come from across the country and around the world to undergo newly developed therapies at NIH, the world’s leading biomedical research center. Through the program, Lannan hosts residents from The Children’s Inn at Sunday home games and provides them with a voucher for a hot dog, chips and a drink as well as a Lannan’s Cannons t-shirt. Schedules permitting, Lannan meets with his guests prior to the beginning of the game. Additionally, the Nationals pitcher serves as a Sports Ambassador for The Children’s Inn, helping to bring awareness and funds to support their $93-a-night campaign, which refers to the cost of housing families at the residence. Lannan has selected The Children’s Inn at NIH to receive the $7,500 donation from Chevy, awarded to each nominee’s charity of choice.

Lannan has participated in a number of team-sanctioned events, including both the 2008 Winter Tour and 2009 Winter Caravan, and the annual Washington Nationals Dream Foundation Dream Gala (2008 & 2009). Throughout 2008, he visited Children’s National Medical Center, Lafayette Elementary School, Tenley-Friendship Interim Library, and with wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In May of 2009, Lannan served as the player representative for Mental Health Awareness Month at Nationals Park, recording a PSA and meeting with a Mental Health Association patient and mentor at the ballpark. Always available to sign autographs and meet with fans visiting the park, this season Lannan greeted the Nationals Honorary Bat Girl, a breast cancer survivor who was recognized by MLB and the Nationals for “going to bat against breast cancer”, and met with 50 children attending a Nationals game through MLBPA’s Buses for Baseball program. Lannan also served as a guest instructor at the inaugural Washington Nationals Baseball Camp, providing professional instruction for boys and girls ages 7-14.

“John has proven to be a leader both in the community and in the Nationals clubhouse during his time with the ballclub,” said Nationals Vice President of Communications and Community Relations, Chartese Burnett. “He is always willing to head out into local neighborhoods, meet with fans inside the ballpark and encourage his teammates to do the same. The Nationals are proud to announce John Lannan as our 2009 Roberto Clemente Award nominee.”

The Nationals will host Roberto Clemente Night, on Friday, September 4 when they face the Florida Marlins at 7:05pm. Lannan will be recognized in an on-field ceremony prior to the evening’s game. A left-handed pitcher, Lannan is in his second full season with the Nationals with a record of 8-9 and 3.95 ERA in 2009.

The winner of the fan poll will receive one vote among those cast by the official selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer, and Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Participating fans automatically will be registered for a chance to win a trip to Game Three of the 2009 World Series, where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevy will be announced. MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day as part of its broader “MLB Going Beyond” platform, an initiative that strives to integrate community service and the importance of giving back.