WASHINGTON — Nationals closer Sean Doolittle is one of six nominees for MLB’s Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.
The award will be given out in November at the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C.
The award is given to eight recipients who possess the values, integrity and dedication to serving the United States that Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller displayed.
Feller pitched for the Cleveland Indians and was the first American professional athlete to enlist for the military during World War II, signing up for the U.S. Navy two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Each year’s eight recipients include one Baseball Hall of Famer; one current player; one U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer; two peer-to-peer mentors (one for Afloat Command and one for Ashore Command); one member of the U.S. Marine Corps, and two military children whose parents serve and who win an essay contest written about one of the 37 Hall of Famers that served in World War II.
This year’s nominees among current players are Doolittle, Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians, Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets, Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Doolittle was named to the National League All-Star team, but won’t be able to play in Tuesday’s game due to a foot injury that landed him on the disabled list.
