Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians has won this year’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, sponsored by the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity, headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta presents the award annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, a member of the Fraternity’s Columbia University chapter. The award was first presented in 1955 and is permanently maintained at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. A team of representatives from Phi Delta Theta will present the award to Kluber on Tuesday evening, September 17 when the Indians host the Detroit Tigers.
Kluber is the first member of the Cleveland Indians to win the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award!
Past recipients of the award include Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Stargell, Lou Brock, George Brett, Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken, Jr., Tony Gwynn, Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, and many more.
“Corey embodies everything our organization stands for on and off the field. He has been a leader on the mound, in the clubhouse, and in our community. He works closely with Cleveland Clinic Children’s and has created his own foundation with his wife, Amanda. The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is another well-deserving accomplishment for Corey during his impressive career, and we are extremely honored to call him a Cleveland Indian.”
– Paul Dolan, Cleveland Indians Owner
A look at the history of the award
Photo by Dan Mendlik
On the Field
Corey authored another Cy Young-caliber campaign in 2018, becoming the club’s first 20-game winner since Cliff Lee (2008) and the first by an Indians right-handed pitcher since 1974. Corey finished the season 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and 222 strikeouts, ultimately finishing in the top three in the American League Cy Young voting for the fourth time in the past five years (2014, 2016-18). He was selected to his third straight All-Star Game in July amidst a season in which he became the only pitcher in Indians franchise history with 200-plus strikeouts and 200-plus innings pitched in five consecutive seasons. Corey’s 20 wins helped him become the Indians all-time leader in winning percentage (.636; 96-55) in the 118-year history of the club (min. 1000 IP).
Among Major League Baseball pitchers in 2018, Corey ranked second in wins, third in innings pitched (215.0), and ninth in strikeouts. His 25 quality starts were second in the American League and tied for fourth in Major League Baseball.
2018 Awards:
- American League All-Star
- Third Place Finisher in Cy Young Award Voting
- Our Lady of the Wayside Champion in the Community
Photo by Cleveland Indians
Off the Field
Corey and his wife, Amanda, once again hosted children and their families from the Cleveland Clinic as part of Kluber’s Kids. This player program impacted 57 people across 11 total experiences at Progressive Field. Each guest received a Corey Kluber jersey, six club tickets to an Indians game, and the chance to meet and interact with Corey and Amanda on the field during batting practice. Following each experience, Corey mailed a framed photo and handwritten note to the child, thanking them for visiting him that day.
In addition, Corey partnered with the VA Medical Center to host a total of 32 veterans this past season. Each group of veterans had the opportunity to talk to Corey on the field during batting practice and attend that night’s game with club seats, courtesy of a donation by Corey. Guests also received camouflaged Indians baseball hats and were featured on the scoreboard during the game.
A leader in the clubhouse, Corey attended teammate Yonder Alonso’s charity bowling event in August. He and his teammates signed team memorabilia and mingled with VIP guests and Indians fans throughout the event.
In September, Corey donated 200 tickets to the Cleveland Clinic as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Patients and their families, along with several Cleveland Clinic caregivers, saw the Indians battle the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.
Corey joined forces with Amanda to launch the Kluber Family Foundation, which hosted its inaugural event, “Curveball for A Cause,” to raise money to support children battling cancer this past September. Corey sent a personal invitation to a young woman, named Ali, whom he had met through Kluber’s Kids and maintained a relationship with over the past few years. Ali spoke alongside the Kluber family at the event, sharing the heartwarming story of how Corey had inspired her during her fight against cancer and how he continues to share positive encouragement with her and other patients whom he has met through outreach efforts.
