Goldschmidt remains second to none when giving back?

ST. LOUIS – Paul Goldschmidt can still remember the days when he was growing up in Texas, going to MLB games, monitoring the mannerisms of the players he looked up to and dreaming of someday being in their position.

When he made it to the big leagues, Goldschmidt remembers thinking years ago, he would do everything he could to help others less fortunate than him and always try to let fans know how appreciative he is.

“We don’t take this opportunity lightly and this platform that we’re given,” said Goldschmidt, who is now in his 12th MLB season and fourth with the Cardinals. “You can make a big difference in a person’s life with a small amount of time, or even just a smile or an autograph. It’s cool to be in a position where literally two seconds of your time can make someone’s day. I don’t forget being that kid who was watching all my favorite big leaguers on TV and wanting to be just like them. Now, I try to do what I can to help.”

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Goldschmidt, a 2022 All-Star in the midst of his finest MLB season, has helped thousands of people in the St. Louis area with his charitable work off the diamond. Goldschmidt’s tireless work and commitment to helping others has made him a Roberto Clemente Award nominee for the seventh time in his career.

Goldschmidt credits past Clemente Award winners on the Cardinals – Adam Wainwright (2020), Yadier Molina (2018) and Albert Pujols (2008) – for helping to set the expectations of players doing what they can to help others in the St. Louis community and throughout Missouri. Carlos Beltran (2013), Ozzie Smith (1995) and Lou Brock (1975) are also former Clemente Award winners while playing for the Cardinals, giving St. Louis the most service awards of any MLB club.

“I just try to do my part and we have a lot of good role models in here with Albert, Yadi and Adam,” he said. “When I was younger, so many of our veterans in here were doing stuff off the field to help others and they kind of set the example and I try to follow that.”

Goldschmidt worked with Wainwright in several charitable works through Wainwright’s charity, Big League Impact. While working with BLI, Goldschmidt raised $46,420 to help build a Dominican Republic community center with Food for the Hungry as part of the #ALLWIN campaign, an effort where players pledge their support for causes that they feel strongly about while asking fans to join them in their efforts.

Goldschmidt is also playing for Habitat for Humanity St. Louis. A plan is in place for Goldschmidt to donate to Habitat for Humanity St. Louis for every Cardinals playoff win. In addition to being heavily involved in the team’s charitable arm, Cardinals Care, Goldschmidt hosts a free baseball clinic for kids, parents and coaches at Busch Stadium in early August. During the clinic Goldschmidt stressed the importance of using sports as a way to build life skills. He also hosted Uncork for a Cause in early August, a gala that benefited Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds and implements safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.

Additionally, his ticket program, Goldy’s Golden Ticket, provides T-shirts, photo cards, tickets and food vouchers and meets with groups to answer questions, sign autographs and take photos. This season, Goldschmidt met with kids from Annie’s Hope, St. Louis Down Syndrome Association and Common Goals and Minds.

“Paul Goldschmidt is truly an athlete of extraordinary character both on and off the field,” said Michael Hall, Cardinals Care vice president, community relations & executive director. “We admire his far-reaching and numerous efforts to help people in need and are proud to have him as a member of the Cardinals.”

For Goldschmidt, he said he is honored to be in a position where he can help others and try to enlighten their days with his time, his kindness and his willingness to offer support.

“It’s a great honor [to be nominated for the Clemente Award] and there’s a lot of deserving guys on this team, so I’m very thankful that I was chosen,” he said. “I definitely try to do my part on and off the field and I hope to keep doing that as long as I can.”