Brent Suter Named Brewers Nominee For the 2022 Robert Clemente Award Presented by Capitol One
The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is the annual recognition of a player from each MLB Club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Major League Baseball announced that Brent Suter was named the Brewers 2022 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One, one of baseball’s most prestigious individual honors acknowledging community and philanthropic commitment. This is Suter’s third time receiving the honor.
The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is the annual recognition of a player from each MLB Club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Each Club nominates one current player to be considered for the Roberto Clemente Award in tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character. Thursday, Sept. 15 marks the 21st annual Roberto Clemente Day presented by Capital One, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to formally acknowledge Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks. Suter will wear #21, along with Victor Caratini and Andrew McCutchen, during the Brewers home game, Sept. 17 against the New York Yankees, with the rest of the Brewers team wearing a #21 patch.
“Roberto Clemente’s legacy of service, leadership and humanitarianism is unmatched in our game. I am so humbled to be the Brewers nominee for this prestigious award,” said Suter. “I want to thank my family, the Brewers organization, the city of Milwaukee and my teammates for their unwavering support throughout the years. Thank you!”
The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One will be selected via a blue ribbon panel, including Commissioner Manfred, representatives from Capital One, MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS), MLB.com, as well as Roberto’s children, Enrique, Luis and Roberto Clemente, Jr. Beginning today, fans can vote for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One via mlb.com/clemente21 (English) and LasMayores.com/clemente21 (Spanish). The site will feature bios of each of the nominees and will allow fans to vote until the end of the season on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The winner of the fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by the blue-ribbon panel.
The concept of honoring Major League players for their philanthropic work was created in 1971 as the “Commissioner’s Award.” The recognition was renamed to the “Roberto Clemente Award” in 1973 in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
As a Harvard graduate who studied environmental science, Suter uses his platform to draw attention to various environmental issues, the effects of climate change, the global crisis of plastic waste and emphasizes positive change. Known as the team’s resident environmentalist, he leads by example through his active and engaging philanthropic efforts, as well as in the clubhouse.
Brent has served as an active member and ambassador for “Players for the Planet” since 2019, participating in cleanups projects around the world and making a series of appearances on behalf of Major League Baseball on Earth Day. He further supports multiple environmental groups such as Milwaukee Urban Ecology, the Outrider Foundation, ECO in the City of Milwaukee, One Tree Planted, and EcoAthletes.
This season, Brent and his teammates teamed up with Victory Garden Initiative to plant fruit trees to invest in the future growth of Milwaukee’s Harambee community. The Harambee community is predominately an African American neighborhood with a rich history in Milwaukee. The fruit trees will contribute to a healthy ecosystem, decrease carbon footprint, and provide cleaner air to breathe. In addition, the trees will be used to teach classes on plant care, composting, food preservation and vermiculture. The harvest will be shared with the neighborhood.
Brent is particularly committed to using local trees to support food security by strategically planting fruit trees. Last season, he launched a community wide effort to plant 100 trees in the Milwaukee-area for every Brewers win after the All-Star break. The effort allows community members to participate in planting and learning about the importance of urban tree canopy, which provides a plethora of health benefits for the community.
To further extend his commitment to trees, Brent has spearheaded an effort with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every Brewers save and has recruited several players to join in making a financial contribution towards this effort.
In 2022, Brent took his passion for the environment and once again applied it in real-life situations to help fans – particularly kids – think about how their actions can help the planet. Brent wrote and published a children’s book called, “The Binky Bandit.” The book centers on main character Wally the Doodle, inspired by Brent’s mini golden doodle and master of binky banditry, and follows his wild adventures as his household grows with an arrival of a new baby. Wally must balance his jealousy with the temptation of stealing binkies, while discovering that individual choices can make a great difference. The book is based on a true story, with an exaggerated twist to encourage readers to help protect the planet. All season, Brent has participated in book tours with families and children to connect and talk about ways to protect the planet.
Brent uses his platform to elevate educational messages about the environment and teach children. He, along with SC Johnson and EarthEcho International, collaborated earlier this season to create the “Waste Free Crew,” an educational initiative the provided educators in the Milwaukee area with instructive modules for fourth, fifth and sixth graders to learn and discuss environmentally friendly practices. Brent participated in small group discussions as well as answered children’s questions as part of a panel discussion with Founder of EarthEcho International Philippe Cousteau, Jr. – the grandson of the Jacques Cousteau – a family that has dedicated generations to educating the public about environmental and conservation issues.
In addition to his notable contributions on and off the field, Suter leads in the clubhouse with a positive attitude and an unflappable sense of humor.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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