CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Jamie "Cat" Walker, an Austin Peay State University baseball alumnus, has been selected by the Baltimore Orioles as their nominee for Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet.
Walker does his charitable work with military veterans and underprivileged children, and most of it revolves around baseball. He donates money to the U.S. Army Emergency Relief Fund, and has a luxury box at Camden Yards with the sole intention of hosting soldiers who have come back from war and want to get away from their reality for a few hours.
"It's for the troops -- wounded veterans," Walker said about the ballpark accomodations. "Some people call me up when they have people coming back from Iraq, and I'll send them up to my suite to have a good time. And the bill's on me. They can drink whiskey and they can drink beer. They can eat whatever and drink whatever. I just want them to have a good time."
The left-hander also buys blocks of tickets for kids that may have no chance to go to a game under other circumstances. He said that Baltimore's community relations staff is the best he's ever dealt with, and they make the process much easier for him. Walker, who was signed to a lucrative three-year contract last winter, has always wanted to give back to society.
"I felt once I started making some money, you're supposed to tithe," he said of his religious and moral conviction. "But I don't really go to church, because with baseball, we play every Sunday. The way I can tithe is with some of my money and some of my time to good organizations like the Army Relief Fund and by buying tickets for underprivileged kids."
The award, is named for the 12-time All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award perpetuates Clemente's memory and character by recognizing current-day players who truly understand the value of helping others.
The 2007 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet marks an extension of the existing partnership between Major League Baseball and Chevrolet. A donation of $30,000 will be made by Chevrolet to the national winner's charity of choice and an additional $30,000 will be donated by Chevrolet to Roberto Clemente Sports City, a not-for-profit organization in Carolina, Puerto Rico designed to provide recreational sports activities for children regardless of economic circumstances. Additionally, Chevrolet will donate $7,500 to the charity of choice of each of the 30 Club recipients.
For the first time, fans can participate in the selection process of the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. From September 5th through October 5th, fans can log on to mlb.com/chevy21 and vote for one of the 30 Club nominees. The fan vote winner will be tallied as one vote among those cast by the selection panel, which includes Vera Clemente, wife of the late Hall of Famer, and Commissioner Selig. Participating fans will also automatically be registered for a chance to win a trip to Game Three of the 2007 World Series where the national winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet will be announced.
