Gardner Nominated For Heart & Hustle Award

It's not the MVP Award or anything like that but the Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner has been nominated for the 2013 Heart & Hustle Award for the second time in his career. Past Yankees nominees for the award include Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher, and Mariano Rivera although no Yankees player has won the award. The other nominees include Dustin Pedroia,  Raul Ibanez, Nate McClouth, Sam Fuld, Nick Punto, and Juan Pierre. Obviously this award generally goes to the most "gritty" player on the field so start engraving Pedroia's name in it now. 

Here is the lawyer talk for what the award signifies and how it got it's start:

Created by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association in 2005, the Heart & Hustle Award is voted on by Alumni and active Major League players and is presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.

The MLBPAA formed 30 committees, comprised of Alumni players with established relationships to each team. One player from each Major League team is chosen by the committees based on the passion, desire, and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field. These players will be recognized prior to an upcoming home game. As the season draws to a close, fans, all Alumni and active players will vote to select the final winner from the 30 team winners.