NEW YORK, N.Y. --- College of Charleston baseball alum Brett Gardner '05 has been named as the New York Yankees' nomination for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, which goes to a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
 
 Gardner batted .264 with 21 home runs, 26 doubles, 63 runs batted in, and 23 stolen bases while leading the Yankees back to the postseason. The 2005 third-round pick paced New York to an 8-4 win over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Wild Card game last night with a 2-for-4 night, which included three runs scored and a solo home run.
 
Off the field, Gardner is an avid supporter of the Ronald McDonald House – both in South Carolina and New York. Gardner and his wife, Jessica, work tirelessly to help lift the spirit of those staying at the house, and often provide meals and holiday gifts. They have even gone so far as to purchase a puppy named "Gardy" as a therapy dog for the children.
 
In addition to his efforts to educate youths on the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs, Gardner hosts a Thanksgiving luncheon for active-duty soldiers, as well as many other philanthropic ventures. Gardner also hosts a group of children and families at Yankee Stadium for a game each month during the season. As part of the experience, the children have the special opportunity to visit the clubhouse and meet Gardner prior to each game.
 
The award winner will be selected from the group of nominees – one per team – via a panel of individuals connected to the game, including Commissioner Rob Manfred, several representatives from MLB-affiliated networks, and Vera Clemente, Roberto's wife. Fan voting is open through this Friday, October 6, with the winner of the fan ballot counting as one vote among those cast by the panel.

Cast your vote for Brett Gardner here.