The Rotary Club of Denver announced Thursday that Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells is the winner of its 2010 Branch Rickey Award.
Wells is the 19th recipient of the award, which is presented annually to a person in baseball who has made humanitarian contributions to his community and has been a strong role model for young people.
Stephen Straight, the executive director of the Branch Rickey Award committee, said Wells’ candidacy was boosted by his actions when he signed a contract extension with the Blue Jays after the 2007 season.
“He donated $1 million out of his new contract to the Toronto Blue Jays Foundation,” Straight said. “I believe that was a factor in his selection.”
The idea of the Blue Jays Foundation is to empower and inspire children.
Wells will receive the award at a banquet Nov. 13 at the Marriott City Center in downtown Denver. The recipient is selected by a 300-member national committee of sports media, past winners, baseball executives and Rotary district governors. All 30 major-league organizations nominated a candidate.
The award honors Branch Rickey for his longtime service to baseball, including breaking the color barrier in the majors in 1947 when he brought Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Dave Winfield, Kirby Puckett, Ozzie Smith, Paul Molitor, Tony Gwynn and Tommy Lasorda are previous winners who also are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
