Remembering Roberto Clemente
January 03, 2013
On New Year’s Eve 1972, Pittsburg Pirates star Roberto Clemente boarded a DC-7 aircraft in Puerto Rico filled with food, clothing, and medicine destined for Managua, Nicaragua, which was devastated by an earthquake eight days earlier. Moments after the plane took off, an engine exploded, then three more, and the plane crashed into the ocean. Clemente’s body was never found.
Clemente played 18 years in the Major Leagues, all with the Pirates. During that time, he compiled a .317 batting average, 12 All-Star Game appearances, 12 Gold Gloves, and the 1966 MVP. Clemente’s last regular season hit on September 30, 1972 made him the 10th member of the 3,000 hit club. Off the field, he fought for players rights, held baseball clinics for children from low-income families, and dreamed of opening a "Sports City" in Puerto Rico. Although he did not live long enough to build the sports complex, his wife, Vera, and sons made the dream a reality shortly after his death. Clemente’s legacy lives through the Roberto Clemente Foundation in Pennsylvania, Roberto Clemente Sports City in Carolina, Puerto Rico and the many schools and hospitals dedicated in his honor.
~Jill S.
Parkville Branch
Comments
The Great Roberto
Clemente was a mystery to Pittsburgh fans. The man's intense national and cultural pride as a Puerto Rican was never understood by the vast majority of fans. He was mistakenly regarded as a hypochondriac and a mutilator of the English language- these kept him from being taken seriously in some quarters. However, he was as good a right fielder as ever played the game, and he was an inspiration to me and 2 generations of Pittsburghers, white, black, and Latino.
He was in the same league as Aaron and Mays; all that differentiated him was the lesser prestige of Pittsburgh. He was a pioneer in no lesser measure than Jackie Robinson as well. And a greater humanitarian than anyone who ever played baseball.
We love you always, Roberto.
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