One of the most powerful things about Major League Baseball is the ability it provides its players to give something back to their communities.

 

Many of MLB's players spend plenty of time organizing philanthropic efforts that pay off throughout the year, whether it be handing out turkeys on Thanksgiving Day or honoring our troops in Iraq. Last week, MLB stepped up to the plate with the Players Union to donate $1 million to relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

 

With that in mind, the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, named for the first executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, is given to the player whose combination of on-field performance and community contributions most inspires others to a higher level of achievement.

 

The winner will be announced during the World Series or shortly thereafter in conjunction with the rest of the Players Choice Awards, which include Overall Player of the Year and Outstanding Player, Outstanding Pitcher, Outstanding Rookie and Comeback Player awards in each league.

 

Each Players Choice Award winner will designate a charity to receive a grant from the Players Trust, a not-for-profit foundation created and administered by the players, in an amount ranging from $20,000 to $50,000.

 

The players on each of the 30 clubs have nominated one of their teammates for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award -- Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Jim Thome won it last year -- and now fans are being asked to choose six finalists.

 

Fans should read the 30 nominees' brief community involvement profiles, then vote for one player from each division. The players will then choose the award winner from among the six fan-picked finalists as part of their annual Players Choice Awards balloting at ballparks throughout the country on Sept. 13-14.

 

Voting for the six finalists will take place right here at MLB.com from Sept. 6-11. Here are the candidates:

 

Florida Marlins: Jeff Conine

Jeff and his wife, Cindy, co-founded the Conine All-Star Classic, an annual celebrity golf tournament that raises money for the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Jeff also is involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and several Miami charities. During the season, Jeff does his part to help cheer up sick children by inviting them to attend Marlins games as his personal guests

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=mlb

I voted for Toby Hall, Mike Sweeney, Jeff Conine, Sean Casey, and Mike Matheny.

 

In the NL East, Andruw Jones definitely deserves the award over the others, but I still voted for Niner.

*votes for Steve*

I agree that Andruw Jones is most deserving in the NL East.