Sept. 9, 2010

MIAMI, FLA. -

Former California catcher John Baker, who was a standout for the Golden Bears from 2000-2002 and is a current member of the Florida Marlins, has been named the Marlins' nominee for the 2010 Roberto Clemente Award for his recent humanitarian efforts in Haiti. Baker, who grew up in Walnut Creek and attended De La Salle High School, is part of the Marlins and the Food for the Poor program which is raising money to help construct concrete homes in Haiti eight months after the country was devastated by an earthquake.

Baker also visited United State military troops in Kuwait and Iraq in late January and early February as part of a group of Marlins' representatives who travelled to the Middle East to recognize and honor those serving our country.

Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the selection of Roberto Clemente Award, which is presented by Chevrolet. The Clemente Award is given to the individual who immerses themselves in the type of humanitarian and community efforts that distinguished the life of the former Pittsburgh Pirate All-Star right fielder, who passed away at age 38 on New Year's Eve 1972 while aboard a plane delivering aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

Fans can cast votes for any of the 30 Major League clubs' nominees through Oct. 8. For more information on Baker's humanitarian efforts and an opportunity to vote for this prestigious award, view Baker's Sept. 7 feature and video on MLB.com Baker feature and Clemente Award voting on MLB.com.

This season Baker has spent the majority of his time on the disabled list after suffering a flexor muscle strain in his right elbow during Spring Training and was only able to play in 23 games, last competing on May 12. In September of 2009, Baker was named the Marlins' winner of Major League Baseball's Heart & Hustle Award while batting .271 with 25 doubles, nine home runs and 50 RBI for Florida. The Heart & Hustle Award is voted on by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and is presented to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.

In his three years in the major leagues, Baker now has a .273 career average with 42 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs and 88 RBI. After six and a half years of Minor League Baseball, Baker was called up to the majors for the first time in his career on July 9, 2008.

Baker was teammates with fellow major leaguer Conor Jackson (Oakland A's) on Cal's 2001 NCAA Regional squad that traveled to Baton Rouge, La. As a junior in 2002, he earned first team All-Pac-10 honors and was drafted in the fourth round by the Oakland A's (128th pick overall). Baker finished the `02 campaign batting a team-leading .383 with 12 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 29 RBI, despite missing three weeks with a broken right hand. He also had a Pac-10-leading .516 on-base percentage and a team-best .456 batting average against conference competition. Baker was one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher as well.