Earvin “Magic” Johnson, part-owner of the Dodgers, and David Rubenstein, the principal owner of the Orioles, are among 19 individuals who will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday by President Joe Biden, as announced by the White House.
Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States. It is awarded each year to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the nation’s prosperity, values, security, world peace, or other important societal, public, or private efforts.
Rubenstein leads an investment group that purchased the Orioles in 2024. A native of Baltimore, he co-founded and serves as co-chairman of The Carlyle Group and has funded renovations of several historic sites in Washington, D.C., including the Washington Monument and the National Zoo.
Johnson, a five-time NBA champion renowned as one of the greatest basketball players ever, became part of the Dodgers’ ownership group in 2012. The team claimed World Series titles in 2020 and 2024 during his tenure. Beyond sports, Johnson is known for his philanthropy and entrepreneurship and has been a prominent advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness since publicly revealing his diagnosis in 1991.
In total, thirteen baseball players and one announcer have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Last year, the medal was awarded posthumously to Jim Thorpe, a multi-sport athlete who played in Major League Baseball from 1913 to 1919 with teams like the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves. The most recent living baseball player to receive the medal was Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera in 2019.
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