Former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente, one of the most beloved athletes in baseball history, died in 1972, but remains an icon in Pittsburgh and among Latin American ballplayers. The Puerto Rico native died in an airplane accident bringing relief supplies to Nicaragua after an earthquake in December 1972. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame a year later.
Early Life and Career
Roberto Clemente was one of seven children born into a poor family in Puerto Rico in 1934. Though he excelled at several sports, baseball was his passion as a teenager. In 1952, he signed a professional baseball contract by the Brooklyn Dodgers, but when Dodgers executive Branch Rickey left Brooklyn for Pittsburgh, he helped arrange for the Pirates to sign the fleet-footed Clemente.
Pittsburgh Legacy
Clemente didn't waste time establishing himself as a star in Pittsburgh. He got a hit in his first game in 1955. Clemente went on to play 18 seasons with the Pirates, winning 12 Gold Glove awards and appearing in 12 All-Star Games. He ended his career with exactly 3,000 hits, a major milestone in professional baseball, and with a .317 career batting average. His arm was always considered one of his greatest assets, and in five seasons, he led all outfielders in the major leagues in assists. Clemente was also a key player in two Pittsburgh World Series championships, in 1960 and 1971.
Latin American Legacy
For most of Clemente's career with the Pirates, he also participated in Caribbean baseball in the offseason. He maintained close ties to his Puerto Rican family, friends and fans, as well as the players and communities of Nicaragua, where he devoted time as a player and coach. When a devastating earthquake hit Nicaragua in December 1972, Clemente was immediately called upon as a leader in the relief effort, a role he readily accepted. When his plane, full of relief supplies, exploded shortly after takeoff, he was forever seen as a hero in Latin America. Latino players often choose Clemente's No. 21 to honor their hero.
Posthumous Honors
After Clemente's death near the end of 1972, the Baseball Hall of Fame waived its usual requirement that a player must be out of the game for five years before he becomes eligible. In 1973, Clemente was voted into the Hall of Fame. Major League Baseball also named an annual award for humanitarian service by players the Roberto Clemente Award. A statue of Clemente stands outside Pittsburgh's PNC Park to remind fans of one of the franchise's greatest heroes.
Member Comments