Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Chris Young To Receive Class Of 1967 PVC Citizen-Athlete Award
May 21, 2019 | General
Chris Young, who went from dominating two sports at Princeton to a long career in Major League Baseball while earning universal respect and admiration at every stop along the way, is the winner of the top Department of Athletics alumni award for 2019.
Young, a World Series champion and current Major League Baseball executive, will be honored at the Gary Walters '67 PVC Senior Awards Banquet with the Class of 1967 PVC Citizen-Athlete Award, given for noble and selfless contribution to sport and society. As anyone who has ever been touched by his spirit and work can attest, Young is a truly deserving winner.
"We are honored to present our highest alumni award to Chris Young," said Ford Family Director of Athletics Mollie Marcoux Samaan. "Throughout his time as a two-sport student-athlete at Princeton and throughout his career as both a player and now an executive within Major League Baseball, Chris has committed himself to serving and leading those around him. He has successfully used his platform as a Princeton alum and a highly successful athlete to inspire, to educate and to brighten the lives of those around him. We are grateful for his continued commitment to Princeton and to all those he has served."
Young currently serves as the Vice President for On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball. Back in the fall of 1998, he came to Princeton from Dallas to play basketball and baseball, and he became an immediate force in both sports, winning two Ivy League Rookie of the Year Awards. By the end of his sophomore year, he was first-team All-Ivy in both and legitimately one of the best ever to play either sport as a Tiger.
Because his 21st birthday fell one week before the Major League Baseball draft, Young became eligible to be selected after his sophomore year, and his Princeton eligibility ended in both sports after he signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His commitment to the University, though, was just beginning.
First, despite playing Minor League baseball, he graduated on time with the Class of 2002, writing his senior thesis – entitled "The Integration of Professional Baseball and Racial Attitudes in America: A Study in Stereotype Change" – on his long bus rides.
He would spend 13 seasons in the Majors, the highlight of which were his three scoreless innings of relief of Game 1 of the 2015 World Series, earning him the win in the 14-inning classic and sparking the Kansas City Royals to the championship. He also pitched in the 2007 All-Star Game and was the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year in the American League while going 12-9 for the Seattle Mariners after missing the 2013 season with what had been thought to be career-ending shoulder surgery.
Chris and his wife Liz, a four-time letterwinner in women's soccer at Princeton before also graduating in the Class of 2002, have a long history of selfless contributions to the various communities in which he played. Included in this is their "Back To School" event each year, in which they would team up with Nike and Target to provide underprivileged children with backpacks filled with school supplies for the year, as well as shoes and clothes. They are longtime supporters of educational programs and experiences through organizations such as DonorsChoose.org, which Chris named as the beneficiary of a grant earned from the Major League Baseball Players Trust after being named American League Comeback Player.
In Kansas City, the Young's were instrumental in supporting the KC Urban Youth Academy, which created fields, classrooms and a training center in the city. The academy is committed to providing a positive environment for Kansas City youth through athletic-focused training, education, and character development programs.
During his time at Princeton and in the Major Leagues, Young has been known for his accessibility and his kindness, especially to younger fans. Chris frequently participated in visits to Children's Mercy, one of the nation's top pediatric medical centers, where he and teammates handed out gear, games and autographs.
In his current capacity, Young works with MLB's Baseball Operations and Umpiring Departments on issues affecting play on the field, including the application of playing rules and regulations, on-field standards and discipline, pace of play and other special projects. Young also ensures that ballpark alterations meet MLB standards, assists with negotiations with other baseball entities and participates in issues regarding player safety, on-field equipment and wearable technology.
The Young's have three children – Catherine, Scott and Grant.
Young, a World Series champion and current Major League Baseball executive, will be honored at the Gary Walters '67 PVC Senior Awards Banquet with the Class of 1967 PVC Citizen-Athlete Award, given for noble and selfless contribution to sport and society. As anyone who has ever been touched by his spirit and work can attest, Young is a truly deserving winner.
"We are honored to present our highest alumni award to Chris Young," said Ford Family Director of Athletics Mollie Marcoux Samaan. "Throughout his time as a two-sport student-athlete at Princeton and throughout his career as both a player and now an executive within Major League Baseball, Chris has committed himself to serving and leading those around him. He has successfully used his platform as a Princeton alum and a highly successful athlete to inspire, to educate and to brighten the lives of those around him. We are grateful for his continued commitment to Princeton and to all those he has served."
Young currently serves as the Vice President for On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball. Back in the fall of 1998, he came to Princeton from Dallas to play basketball and baseball, and he became an immediate force in both sports, winning two Ivy League Rookie of the Year Awards. By the end of his sophomore year, he was first-team All-Ivy in both and legitimately one of the best ever to play either sport as a Tiger.
Because his 21st birthday fell one week before the Major League Baseball draft, Young became eligible to be selected after his sophomore year, and his Princeton eligibility ended in both sports after he signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His commitment to the University, though, was just beginning.
First, despite playing Minor League baseball, he graduated on time with the Class of 2002, writing his senior thesis – entitled "The Integration of Professional Baseball and Racial Attitudes in America: A Study in Stereotype Change" – on his long bus rides.
He would spend 13 seasons in the Majors, the highlight of which were his three scoreless innings of relief of Game 1 of the 2015 World Series, earning him the win in the 14-inning classic and sparking the Kansas City Royals to the championship. He also pitched in the 2007 All-Star Game and was the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year in the American League while going 12-9 for the Seattle Mariners after missing the 2013 season with what had been thought to be career-ending shoulder surgery.
Chris and his wife Liz, a four-time letterwinner in women's soccer at Princeton before also graduating in the Class of 2002, have a long history of selfless contributions to the various communities in which he played. Included in this is their "Back To School" event each year, in which they would team up with Nike and Target to provide underprivileged children with backpacks filled with school supplies for the year, as well as shoes and clothes. They are longtime supporters of educational programs and experiences through organizations such as DonorsChoose.org, which Chris named as the beneficiary of a grant earned from the Major League Baseball Players Trust after being named American League Comeback Player.
In Kansas City, the Young's were instrumental in supporting the KC Urban Youth Academy, which created fields, classrooms and a training center in the city. The academy is committed to providing a positive environment for Kansas City youth through athletic-focused training, education, and character development programs.
During his time at Princeton and in the Major Leagues, Young has been known for his accessibility and his kindness, especially to younger fans. Chris frequently participated in visits to Children's Mercy, one of the nation's top pediatric medical centers, where he and teammates handed out gear, games and autographs.
In his current capacity, Young works with MLB's Baseball Operations and Umpiring Departments on issues affecting play on the field, including the application of playing rules and regulations, on-field standards and discipline, pace of play and other special projects. Young also ensures that ballpark alterations meet MLB standards, assists with negotiations with other baseball entities and participates in issues regarding player safety, on-field equipment and wearable technology.
The Young's have three children – Catherine, Scott and Grant.
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