Shane Victorino has already secured a place for himself in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. N.Y.
No, it’s not for his on-field exploits — yet. It’s for his humanitarian work.
Victorino, of the Philadelphia Phillies and Wailuku, Maui, who Friday hit his first regular-season Major League grand slam, has won this year’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, sponsored by the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity, headquartered in Oxford, Ohio, the fraternity said in a press release.
The award is presented annually by Phi Delta Theta to the Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who was a member of the fraternity’s Columbia University chapter.
The award was first presented in 1955, and is permanently maintained at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
A team of representatives from Phi Delta Theta and the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association will officially present the award to Victorino at Citizens Bank Ballpark on July 4, when the Phillies take on the New York Mets.
The presentation will be a part of “4ALS,” a day celebrated throughout Major League Baseball to honor the 70th anniversary of Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” speech and to raise awareness for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Originally scheduled to participate in this presentation was Phillies Hall of Fame announcer and member of Phi Delta Theta, Harry Kalas. Although he passed away prior to the presentation, Kalas will be with his fraternity brothers in spirit to present the award to Victorino.
Kalas had served as a member of the Gehrig Committee since 1994, helping select the winner each year, and represented the committee at Veterans Stadium in 1995 when Curt Schilling won the award.
“Traditionally, the Gehrig Award has recognized veteran players who have made an impact through a long-standing relationship with their community,” says Sean Wagner, spokesman for the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Committee and Associate Executive Vice President of Phi Delta Theta.
“The fact that Shane has won this award at such an early stage in his career demonstrates the incredible impact he has had in the fight against ALS as well as on the city of Philadelphia, and speaks volumes about him as an individual.”
Victorino’s Gehrig Award win caps off quite the year for him, both on and off the field. As a member of the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies, Victorino had the finest and most notable year of his young career as an intricate piece and starting center fielder of the World Series champs.
During the Phillies playoff run, Victorino made crucial hits and defensive plays, and became the first player in Major League Baseball post-season history to have a home run, double, and two steals in a game, and hit the first grand slam in Phillies post-season history.
During the 2008 regular season, Victorino also set career highs in starts, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, home runs and walks.
Victorino is also known as a champion in the community, especially as it pertains to the ALS Association, the Phillies’ principal charity.
In 2006, his participation in the Phillies Phestival helped raise $600,000 for ALS. In 2008, Victorino became an active supporter of the SaVes4ALS program, which raises thousands of dollars for the Philadelphia Chapter of ALSA by events such as “Dining and Dancing with the Stars” and through the fundraising program that earns donations from sponsors based on pledge levels for every save (SV) recorded by the Phillies bullpen.
“When Shane makes a commitment, you can count on him to do his very best work and rely on his positive attitude,” says Suzanne Bruce, co-founder of the SaVes4ALS program.
“We are proud to have him recognized for his support and efforts in this meaningful way.”
He is also committed to a number of other causes outside of ALS.
Victorino is one of three Action Team Captains for MLB, promoting volunteerism in schools throughout the country.
In Hawai‘i, Victorino hosts “A Round to Remember,” a celebrity golf tournament featuring local celebrities to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter.
With teammate Chase Utley, he co-hosted the Philadelphia Futures “Get In The Game” charity bowling/billiards tournament in April 2008, raising over $150,000 for Philadelphia Futures, a mentoring program for inner-city high school students.
He also recently received an honorary badge from the Police Athletic League in 2007, recognizing his community service.
“I was inspired by the work being done through the SaVes4ALS program and other important causes in our community,” said Victorino.
“I am honored to be the recipient of this award, but it is really a team effort. I am glad to be a part of these organizations that make a tremendous difference. They are the real ‘champions,’ and I congratulate their staff and supporters for their continued commitment,” said Victorino after hearing that he was to be honored with the Gehrig Award.
Victorino is the fourth member of the Phillies to win the Gehrig Award.
For detailed information about the history of the award and its recipients, go to www.LouGehrigAward.org.
