Brian Dozier to receive Legion Graduate of the Year award

Coming off of a record-breaking season, Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier has been selected as the 2017 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year.

Each year The American Legion honors a former American Legion Baseball player who is currently playing in the Major Leagues for his character, leadership, playing abilities and community service.

Dozier, who played for Post 49’s Tupelo 49ers in Mississippi from 2002-05, set the American League record for home runs from the second base position with 42 this year. He hit .268 and added 104 runs, 99 RBI and 18 stolen bases for the Twins, as well.

In addition to his on-field play, Dozier is heavily involved in charity work, which has earned him a nomination for the 2016 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. Feller was a Hall of Fame pitcher, Legionnaire, Legion Baseball alumnus and the first American professional athlete to enlist in the Navy after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Every Friday during the season, Dozier invites a group of soldiers and their families to a game as part of his "Dozier's Heroes" program. Since 2013, more than 2,000 military family and disadvantaged people have attended a Twins game for free through this program.

In 2015, Brian hosted a clinic for youth from the Miracle League. The Miracle League provides specialty baseball fields for youth with physical and developmental disabilities.

The All-Star and his wife, Renee, go to Nicaragua every offseason to work with Amigos for Christ, a nonprofit committed to having a positive impact on the standard of living and spiritual life in Nicaragua.

Dozier also is active in the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

“Brian Dozier is the perfect choice to be named the 2017 Graduate of the Year,” said Gary Stone, American Legion Baseball chairman. “He demonstrates the hard work, commitment, charity and personality that makes him a great teammate, player and citizen of his community.”

Dozier fondly remembered his time playing Legion Baseball in an interview with The American Legion earlier this year. “A part of your development in all sports is the way you interact with your teammates… and have the opportunity to form that kind of unity and team like we did with American Legion Baseball. That’s just as important as learning to field a ground ball.”