The story of Pablo Sandoval has been a wild one, to say the least. Homegrown prospect turned young star turned disappointment turned World Series MVP turned awkward breakup turned awkward reconciliation turned fan favorite.
Now, nearing the end of what will likely be his last year in a San Francisco Giants uniform, Sandoval has one more chance to add to his already weird and wonderful saga.
Today, MLB released its list of nominees for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, a list that includes the Panda himself. As a reminder, the award recognizes “a Major League player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field,” so even a nomination is no small feat. Although each team gets to select one player for consideration, that still means Sandoval earned the nod over confirmed good guys such as Buster Posey, Stephen Vogt, and Brandon Crawford.
Here’s how MLB describes Panda’s “extraordinary character”:
Pablo has focused on promoting healthy lifestyles for kids. His nickname, Kung Fu Panda, prompted the creation of “Operation Panda” in partnership with the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the American Heart Association, with a mission of connecting with children in the San Francisco Bay Area and encourage them to live healthier lives by eating right and exercising.
In 2017, he donated his prorated Giants salary that season to Junior Giants, the flagship program of the Giants Community Fund that is a free, non-competitive and innovative baseball and softball program, serving over 24,000 boys and girls across California, Oregon and Nevada.
In response to the 2017 North Bay fires, some of the most devastating in California history, Pablo teamed up with former Giant Jeremy Affeldt to provide 20,000 meals to families affected by the North Bay fires as well as Hurricane Harvey. He also chartered a bus that December for kids from low-income families who were affected by the fires to attend Holiday Heroes, a holiday party at Oracle Park hosted by the Wender Weis Foundation for Children.
He also supports Family Builders, an organization that offers foster care and adoption services, by hosting families and case workers who support foster children; has teamed up with the Good Tidings Foundation “to renovate the youth game room at the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco’s Columbia Park Clubhouse”; and donated goods to support those in need in his native Venezuela.
The winner will be selected by a panel consisting of Commissioner Rob Manfred (boo!); network representatives (hiss!); and Vera Clemente, the widow of the award’s namesake and MLB’s Goodwill Ambassador (yay!). There’s also a fan vote element, which seems weird to me, but hey, go vote, I guess.
If Sandoval manages to win, he’ll join Willie Mays as the only other Giant to receive the award. I have no idea how the panel decides who is worthy, but if past honorees are any indication (e.g. Andrew McCutchen, Clayton Kershaw, David Ortiz, and Derek Jeter), it essentially boils down to a popularity contest. In other words, Sandoval probably won’t end his Giants tenure with two of the biggest feel-good awards in baseball. (The other one, of course, being the Willie Mac Award.)
However, that should not diminish either his generosity or that of this year’s eventual winner. Just like regular people, ballplayers are under no obligation to give back, and even when they do, they’re not obligated to give back much. The fact that Sandoval and his fellow nominees go above and beyond in their community efforts is worth celebrating, regardless of their profession.
Here’s wishing the best of luck to Panda, a Good Giant™ in every sense.