WASHINGTON – Versailles High School alumnus Craig Stammen, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, is a nominee for the 2015 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.
Stammen is one of 15 Major League Baseball players nominated for the third annual award, which honors the legacy of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who became the first professional athlete to enlist in the U.S. military after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Stammen is nominated along with Brad Ziegler of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Darren O’Day of the Baltimore Orioles, Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox, Adam LaRoche of the Chicago White Sox, Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds, Trevor Bauer of the Cleveland Indians, Wade Davis of the Kansas City Royals, Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers, Brian Dozier of the Minnesota Twins, Curtis Granderson of the New York Mets, Sean Doolittle of the Oakland Athletics, Charlie Morton of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ian Kennedy of the San Diego Padres and Steve Cishek of the St. Louis Cardinals.
In addition to a current major league player, a Hall of Fame player and a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer also are recognized with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award on Veterans Day at U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Bob Lemon, Johnny Bench, George Brett, Andre Dawson and Rod Carew are the Hall of Fame nominees.
Winners of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award, which have included current players Justin Verlander and Nick Swisher plus Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Tommy Lasorda, are chosen for the way they reflect the values, integrity and dedication to service of Feller, who missed three full seasons during World War II.
Stammen has been active with USO, which included a USO Holiday Tour in 2012. He’s also worked with Defending the Base Line, a military family baseball charity, and hosted military families at Nationals games.
For more information on the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award, visit www.actofvaloraward.org.
