ST.
LOUIS (AP) _ When Carlos Delgado was growing up in Puerto
Rico, he learned all about the legacy of Roberto Clemente
and idolized the late U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder.
That's
why it meant so much to Delgado to win the 2006 Roberto
Clemente Award, given to the U.S. Major League Baseball
player who best combines community service with excellence
on the field.
"This
is a great honor for me,''the New York Mets' first baseman
said Tuesday before Game 3 of the World Series between
the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. ``This is
something really special, just because I'm Puerto Rican
_ 34 years after Roberto has passed, his legacy is still
very much alive.''
Delgado,
who wears No. 21 as a tribute to Clemente, was chosen
from 30 nominees, one from each MLB team. He joins a list
of previous winners that includes 11 Hall of Famers, such
as the late Kirby Puckett, Ozzie Smith and Dave Winfield.
Clemente
grew up in Puerto Rico and became a MLB All-Star right
fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He died in a plane
crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while trying to deliver relief
supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He finished
his career with exactly 3,000 hits.
"He's
an icon,''Delgado said. "I'm a fan before anything.
When they talk about Clemente, I'm a fan. I (said), `When
I grow up I want to be like that.'''
Delgado
joined former Seattle star Edgar Martinez (2004) as the
only players from Puerto Rico to win the Clemente Award.
Players are eligible to win only once.
