KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals confirmed on Monday that its very own captain and catcher, Salvador Perez, has won the Martin Luther King, Jr. Diversity Advocate Award in Sports for his service and his attitude both on and off the field.
The NAACP branch of Olathe, Overland Park and Leawood, Kansas, stated that Perez, alongside the previous award winners — Royals chairman and CEO John Sherman, and Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid — were recognized for their alignment with MLK’s principles.
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“Martin Luther King, Jr.’s courage helped change the world and create opportunities for so many of us in sports and other pursuits,” Perez said in a statement. “Receiving an honor with his name on it, wow, this is humbling and something I never could have imagined. His legacy is amazing and will last forever.”
Since starting his Major League Baseball (MLB) career 14 years ago, Perez has played all of his games with the Royals.
With the team, he has had nine All-Star appearances, five Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, five Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards and a World Series MVP in 2015.
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He was named the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award in 2024, which is given to an MLB player who “best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions,” the Royals said.
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“Salvador Perez represents how a person can become the leader of men and a hero to them, and a city, by treating everyone with respect, equality and showing them how to be a winner,” said Henry E. Lyons, the president of the NAACP branches. “These are the same traits that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. possessed.”
On Monday night, Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager J.J. Picollo will accept the award on Perez’s behalf as part of the 22nd annual Legacy and Scholarship Awards Dinner at the Sheraton Overland Park.
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