MLBPAA Honors Kole Calhoun with Angels Heart and Hustle Award
One player from each MLB team wins respected honor voted on by Alumni players
WHO: Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun, winner of Heart and Hustle Award. Calhoun is an AL Gold Glove winner and is receiving his first Heart and Hustle Award this year. The award is being presented by Alumni Major Leaguer and Special Assistant to Angels General Manager Bud Black, who won a World Series in 1985 and received the Manager of the Year Award in 2010.
WHAT: The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) is pleased to announce the 30 preliminary winners of the 2016 Heart and Hustle Award. This esteemed award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game.
The MLBPAA formed 30 committees, comprised of Alumni players with established relationships to each team. One player from each Major League team is chosen by the committees based on the passion, desire and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field. As the season draws to a close, fans, all alumni and active players will vote to select the final winner from the 30 team winners. The previous overall winners are David Eckstein (2005), Craig Biggio (2006, 2007), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012), Dustin Pedroia (2013), Josh Harrison (2014) and Anthony Rizzo (2015).
The final winner will be announced Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 at the 17th annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City. This event is the primary fundraiser for the series of free Legends for Youth Baseball Clinics. These clinics impact more than 15,000 children each year, allowing them the unique opportunity to interact with and learn from players who have left a lasting impact on the game of baseball. To purchase tickets to this event, email [email protected].
For more information about the MLBPAA, visit www.baseballalumni.com or follow the MLBPAA on Facebook and Twitter @MLBPAA. The official hashtag for this award is #HeartandHustle.
About the MLBPAA
The MLBPAA was founded in 1982 with the mission of promoting baseball, raising money for charity, inspiring and educating youth through positive sport images, and protecting the dignity of the game through its Alumni players. The MLBPAA is headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO with a membership of more than 7,600, of which approximately 5,600 are Alumni and active players. Alumni players find the MLBPAA to be a vital tool to become involved in charity and community philanthropy.
