Special player, special person--Beltran deserving of Clemente Award

By COREY NOLES

In the game of baseball, great players come along every so often who are amazing to watch on the field because of their raw athletic ability.

Athletic ability, however, doesn't breed character.

Once in a while that special player comes along who is not only amazing on the field, but is a genuine, caring person off the field.

Carlos Beltran is one of those rare souls.

He's a superstar at everything he does and prior to Game 3 of the 2013 World Series, he was given baseball's highest honor for giving back--the Roberto Clemente Award.

As if this October wasn't already special enough to him after 16 years in search of a World Series, tacking on such an honor made it so much more than he expected even just a few short weeks ago.

"It means everything to me," Beltran said in a brief interview as he was leaving the Cardinals' clubhouse following the Saturday night victory over the Boston Red Sox. "It means all of the work that I have put into playing this game and the sacrifices are really paying off."

They certainly are.

At a time in his career when some have considered him to be winding down, Beltran still finds himself right in the middle of many key moments throughout October.

Even though it's happened time and again, this October is special to Beltran.

"Having the opportunity to be here after 16 years in professional baseball is really a dream come true," he said.

With that said, he's quick to point out that making the dreams of others come true is far more important to him.

"Receiving the Roberto Clemente Award today is something that is very special to me because it has nothing to do with baseball," Beltran said after the game. "It has everything to do with what we do off the field and that's something that we take a lot of pride in."

By we, he is referring to himself and his wife, Jessica, who is also very involved in their charitable projects. On hand for the award ceremony, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and Vera Clemente, widow of the award's namesake, made sure to mention her role in the award.

These values, according to Carlos Beltran, have everything to do with his upbringing.

"I come from a humble family, a family that we fought together to get where we are right now," Beltran said in the acceptance ceremony before Saturday's game. "And I decided to use all the blessings that God has given me through baseball to help other families that cannot work like me, that have the necessity to continue to develop themselves."

He thanked God--first. He always does.

Beltran's faith is paramount in his life and has everything to do with why he wants to give young people in Puerto Rico the same opportunities that he had.

"The most important thing for me was academics--having the opportunity to educate kids.," he said. "Through baseball you can have education. At the same time, the game of baseball is a game that comes and [goes], but education is something that stays with you for the rest of your life."

Giving back is important to Carlos and Jessica Beltran and that is a value taught at the baseball academy they opened in their native Puerto Rico.

He said the desire to give back is something that needs to be instilled as early as possible.

"Giving back doesn't have to mean that you have to give money; time also, being able to take out of your time to visit people that are sick in hospitals," he said. "So, there's different ways to give back, not only [with money]."

Now, deep in the heart of October, Beltran's teammates want to give back to him.

There is no doubting the fact that everyone on this St. Louis Cardinals team has their own reasons this seasons push means the world to them.

For many it would be their first championship. For others it might be the second time meaning they could soak the experience in a little more than in 2011.

They all, however, share one common goal--they want to get Carlos his ring.

"Mr. October" earned his nickname for stellar postseason performance in now 10 separate series, but the crown jewel of baseball still escapes him.

Maybe this October, Beltran will have a little something given back to him for a change.

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Corey Noles is a Cardinals Writer and Columnist for The Daily Statesman. He is also a regular contributor to KSDK.com, StLSportsPage.com and Bleacher Report. Contact him at cnoles@dailystatesman.com or on Twitter @coreynoles.