One of the most respected and experienced executives in baseball, Roland Hemond was selected as the second recipient of the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's Board of Directors on Feb. 22, 2011, for his extraordinary efforts to enhance the game's positive impact on society. The award will be presented to Hemond in Cooperstown, N.Y. on July 23, 2011, as part of Hall of Fame Weekend.

Hemond is the second winner of the Buck O'Neil Award, which was established in 2007 to honor an individual whose efforts broadened the game's appeal and whose character, integrity and dignity is comparable to the late O'Neil, who passed away in 2006 after eight decades of contributions to the game. O'Neil was honored as the first recipient of the award in 2008.

Hemond begins his sixth season during his second tour of duty with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012. He rejoined the D-backs midway through the 2007 season as Special Assistant to the President & CEO and immediately got to work by strengthening the D-backs' relationships throughout Major League Baseball and enhancing the organization's initiatives in Mexico. For three consecutive Spring Trainings from 2008-10, the D-backs played exhibition games at Hector Espino Stadium in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico against another Cactus League team.

Hemond, a three-time winner of MLB's Executive of the Year award, has 60 years of professional baseball experience, including 23 seasons as a general manager with the White Sox (1971-85) and Baltimore Orioles (1988-95) and five seasons as Senior Executive Vice President with the D-backs (1996-2000). He later served as Executive Advisor with the White Sox (2000-07) until rejoining the D-backs. Hemond, who is considered the architect of the highly successful Arizona Fall League that began in 1992, is a nationally recognized ambassador of the game and a highly sought-after speaker. His professionalism, friendliness and willingness to contribute ideas and advice are attributes unmatched in the industry.

He was inducted into the Boston Braves Historical Association Hall of Fame in 2007, was presented with the prestigious William J. Slocum Award at the New York baseball writer's dinner in 2006 and the Honors Award from the Baseball Coaches of America. In 2003, Hemond was honored with the esteemed Branch Rickey Award, presented by the Rotary Club of Denver to individuals in baseball who contribute unselfishly to their community and who are strong role models for others. He was the first non-uniformed person to receive the award.

During his first stint with the White Sox, Hemond was named Executive of the Year in 1972 and 1983. The 1972 White Sox went 87-67 for the organization's first winning record in five seasons. The 1983 club went 99-63 and won the American League West Division title by 20 games, which was then a record for largest winning margin. While with Baltimore in 1989, Hemond was tabbed Executive of the Year for the third time after the Orioles improved 32½ games from the previous season and made a 22-game improvement in the standings. During his tenure with the White Sox and Orioles, Hemond negotiated 135 trades involving 428 players.

Hemond was honored by Minor League Baseball for his longtime dedication and service to the game as the 2001 "King of Baseball." Hemond's baseball career began in 1951 as a front office member of the Eastern League's Hartford Chiefs. He also worked with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves from 1952-60 before being hired as Scouting and Farm Director of the Los Angeles Angels in 1961. Hemond remained in that role until joining the White Sox in September 1970.

Hemond is president of the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America, a non-profit organization that helps former and current players and baseball personnel in need. Along with White Sox executive and former agent Dennis Gilbert and scouts Dave Yoakum and Harry Minor, Hemond helped found the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation to provide assistance to longtime scouts who are in need of special support.

Three annual awards are named in Hemond's honor: the Roland Hemond Award, presented by the White Sox in honor of those who are dedicated to bettering the lives of others through extraordinary personal sacrifice; the Baseball America Award, presented to the person who has made major contributions to scouting and player development; and the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) Award, given to the executive who has displayed great respect for scouts. Hemond was the inaugural recipient of both the Baseball America and SABR awards. He received an honorary degree in Humane Letters from the University of Phoenix in July 2006 and was named an honorary member of Princeton University's 1954 class after speaking at a sports symposium at the university in 2009.

Hemond is a native of Central Falls, RI. He and his wife, Margo, reside in Phoenix and have five children: Susan, Tere, Robert, Jay and Ryan, and three grandchildren: Taylor, Natalie and Zane. Margo's father is John Quinn, a former Major League general manager for 28 years. Her brother, Bob, served as general manager for the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants, and her brother, Jack, was president of the NHL's St. Louis Blues after serving as general manager for the Pacific Coast League's Hawaii Islanders and Vancouver Mounties. Margo's grandfather, A.J. Bob Quinn, was a player, front office executive and owner of the Columbus, Ohio affiliate starting in 1886, giving the family continuity in professional baseball for three centuries. Hemond's son, Bob, is the founding partner of the PCL's Sacramento River Cats.