Sewald: American Legion Baseball 'sets the right standards'

For 2024 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year Paul Sewald, his time playing Legion Baseball remains one of his favorite baseball playing memories.

“I think I am who I am today because of the standards of the American Legion (Baseball) program,” Sewald said.

Sewald, a relief pitcher with the Arizona Diamondbacks, officially received the award prior to Arizona’s 12-5 win over Philadelphia on Aug. 11.

“I think American Legion Baseball is important because it sets the right standards for how you should act when you’re out on the baseball field. It’s an important part of my career, both for baseball and off the field,” Sewald said.

Sewald played American Legion Baseball for Post 76 in Las Vegas and was part of the 2008 American Legion World Series (ALWS) championship team that won a record 75 games. Sewald also was that season’s James F. Daniel Jr. Sportsmanship Award recipient. The award, named in honor of the late chairman of the Legion’s Americanism Commission, is presented annually to an ALWS participant who best embodies the principles of good sportsmanship.

“I’ll never forget getting to win the American Legion World Series and getting that excitement of being able to go to the World Series in 2008. That’s where I fell in love with playing every single day. It got me into this mode of wanting baseball to be my career. It’s worked out pretty well for me so far,” Sewald said.

Sewald is in his first full season with the Diamondbacks after being traded from Seattle on July 31, 2023. Arizona reached the 2023 World Series as a wild card, with Sewald going 1-0 with six saves in the postseason. In his eighth season in the majors, Sewald has 84 saves and a 20-25 record with the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Arizona.

Sewald and his wife, Molly, have teamed with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Child Crisis to continue Sewald’s Strikeouts 4 Kids to provide children in Arizona a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong and successful families. For each strikeout during the Diamondbacks’ 2024 season, the Sewalds have pledged to donate to Child Crisis to support family programs that directly benefit those in need.

About the American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year Award

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. Individuals are recommended by their respective post.

Recipients of the award:

2024: Paul Sewald (Post 76, Las Vegas, Nev.)

2023: Corey Seager (Post 115, Kannapolis, N.C.)

2022: Brandon Woodruff (Post 49, Tupelo, Miss.)

2021: Jacob deGrom (Post 3, Deland, Fla.)

2020: no award

2019: Neil Walker (Post 548, Gibsonia, Pa.)

2018: Brian Duensing (Post 374, Omaha, Neb.)

2017: Brian Dozier (Post 49, Tupelo, Miss.)

2016: Cliff Lee (Benton, Ark.)

2015: Alex Gordon (Post 3, Lincoln, Neb.)

2014: Michael Cuddyer (Post 280, Chesapeake, Va.)

2013: Chad Billingsley (Post 300, Napoleon, Ohio)

2012: Mark Ellis (Post 22, Rapid City, S.D.)

2011: Corey Hart (Kentucky)

2010: Brandon Inge (Lynchburg, Va.)

2009: Lyle Overbay (Post 15, Centralia, Wash.)

2008: Justin Verlander (Post 201, Powhatan, Va.)

2007: Chris Carpenter (Post 79, Manchester, N.H.)

2006: Albert Pujols (Post 340, Independence, Mo.)

2005: Scott Rolen (Jasper, Ind.)

2004: Darin Erstad (Jamestown, N.D.)

2003: Jeff Bagwell (Post 75, Middletown, Conn.)

2002: Luis Gonzalez (Post 248, Tampa, Fla.)

2001: Todd Stottlemyre (Washington)

2000: Chipper Jones (Post 6, Deland, Fla.)

1999: Steve Finley (Post 31, Paducah, Ky.)

1998: Tony Gwynn (Post 27, Long Beach, Calif.)

1997: Mo Vaughn (Norwalk, Conn.)

1996: Paul Molitor (Post 606, St. Paul, Minn.)

1995: Bob Tewksbury (New Hampshire)

1994: Greg Maddux (Post 8, Las Vegas, Nev.)

1993: Bill Swift (Portland, Maine)

1992: Terry Steinbach (Post 132, New Ulm, Minn.)

1991: Sid Bream (Carlisle, Pa.)

1990: Harold Reynolds (Post 11, Corvallis, Ore.)

1989: Alan Trammell (San Diego, Calif.)

1988: Roger Clemens (Spring Woods, Texas)

1987: Don Mattingly (Evansville, Ind.)

1986: Dale Murphy (Portland, Ore.)

1985: Jeff Reardon (Dalton, Mass.)

1984: Ryne Sandberg (Spokane, Wash.)

1983: Andre Thornton (Phoenixville, Pa.)

1982: Jim Sundberg (Galesburg, Ill.)

1981: Gary Carter (Fullerton, Calif.)

1980: George Brett (El Segundo, Calif.)

1979: Mike Flanagan (Post 2, Manchester, N.H.)

1978: Ron Guidry (Lafayette, La.)

1977: Dave Winfield (Post 606, St. Paul, Minn.)

1976: Rick Monday (Post 123, Santa Monica, Calif.)

1975: Carlton Fisk (Post 37, Bellows Falls, Vt.)

1974: Wilbur Wood (Post 99, Watertown, Mass.)

1973: Johnny Bench (Anadarko, Okla.)

1972: Al Kaline (Baltimore, Md.)

1971: Steve Carlton (Miami, Fla.)

1970: Dave McNally (Post 4, Billings, Mont.)

1969: Harmon Killebrew (Payette, Idaho)

1968: Mickey Lolich (Post 102, Portland, Ore.)

1967: Carl Yastrzemski (Bridgehampton, N.Y.)

1966: Frank Robinson (Post 237, Pleasanton, Calif.)

1965: Eddie Fisher (Oklahoma)

1964: Brooks Robinson (Post 1, North Little Rock, Ark.)

1963: Warren Spahn (Buffalo, N.Y.)

1962: Bobby Richardson (Sumter, S.C.)

1961: Stan Musial (Donora, Pa.)

1960: Ted Williams (San Diego, Calif.)

1958: Sherm Lollar (Arkansas)