Remembering the Life and Legacy of Roberto Clemente
Remembering the Life and Legacy of Roberto Clemente Celebrities
Expanding economic opportunities for minorities and fighting for social justice and against prejudice were major focuses of Clemente's life. A meeting with further inspired him to pursue his humanitarian goals. “Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth,'’ Clemente said. of One of baseball's all-time complete players, Clemente had a career batting average of .317 and won 12 Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess. He was a 15-time All Star, a two-time World Series champion and the National League's most valuable player in 1966. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973. of Clemente celebrated his wedding day with bride, Vera, on Nov. 14, 1964. They were married at San Fernando Church in Carolina, Puerto Rico. They had met less than a year earlier when Clemente went out of his way to arrange “bumping” into her in a drugstore. The couple came from the same hometown of Carolina. Vera died on Nov. 16, 2019, at age 78. of Umpire Doug Harvey (left) hands the ball to Clemente after the Pirates outfielder gets his 3,000th career Major League hit. Three months before his tragic death in 1972, Clemente became only the 11th player in Major League history to collect at least 3,000 regular season hits (he finished with exactly 3,000). He batted better than .300 in 13 seasons. He led the National League in hitting four times. Remarkably, between age 30 and his final season at 37, his batting average was .330. of Clemente's defensive skills as a right fielder, which included a powerful throwing arm, were exceptional. No player in Major League history threw out more baserunners from the outfield than he did (266). of Clemente enjoys a special moment with his wife, Vera, and three sons at New York's Shea Stadium, where he was honored on “Roberto Clemente Night,” on Sept. 24, 1971. From left, the children are Roberto Jr., Luis Roberto and Enrique Roberto. of Known for his empathy and compassion, Clemente loved children. Many times, he went out of his way to help them, particularly those who were disadvantaged. Clemente spearheaded the concept of a sports “city'’ in his hometown where families could enjoy physical activity and quality time. He hosted many free baseball clinics. On the road, he would visit hospitals and deliver autographs to sick children. of Clemente poses with son Roberto Jr., Vera and a trophy from a Puerto Rican baseball league recognizing his accomplishments in the sport. Clemente was extremely proud of his Puerto Rican heritage. He became the first Hispanic to speak Spanish on a live network television broadcast when he thanked his parents after the final game of the 1972 World Series. of Members of the military inspect the remains of the airplane Clemente was on when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year's Eve in 1972. Embarking on a humanitarian mission, Clemente and three others perished off Puerto Rico when their overloaded DC-7 cargo plane went down shortly after takeoff. Clemente was delivering aid to Nicaraguan earthquake survivors, including a prosthetic leg he planned to deliver to a young boy, Roberto Clemente Jr. says. The sudden death of the revered baseball superstar shocked the world. Jon Saraceno is a contributing writer who covers sports, culture and other issues. He wrote for 30 years for USA Today and worked for multiple media outlets.
Roberto Clemente A Life in Baseball and Beyond
The famed outfielder was passionate about his family helping others and his Puerto Rican heritage
While Roberto Clemente was an extraordinary baseball player, his passion for helping the underprivileged and marginalized and his love of his family and heritage are why he is so well remembered today. The first Hispanic superstar in Major League baseball, Clemente died on New Year's Eve in 1972 on his way to assist victims in earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua. Clemente, 38, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, was widely known for his compassion and charitable works. He was transporting supplies when the airplane carrying him and three others crashed into the ocean off his native Puerto Rico. "My father's compassion for others was innate. It was who he was as a human being,'’ says . “He was empathetic as a child. In the sixth grade, he started a collection to fix a fence at school.'' As a baseball player, the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder was idolized, especially in Puerto Rico, which remained his home with his wife and three sons. His 18-season Hall of Fame career produced dozens of records. He was the first Hispanic player to be awarded the National League MVP (1966) and World Series MVP (1971). Clemente was nicknamed “The Great One.'' Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. "The numbers speak for themselves,'’ says Clemente Jr. “How you impact the team doesn't always show up in the box score. His influence on Hispanic players extended to reaching out and connecting with those players. He made sure they understood that they had to reach out to younger players coming into the league. He would speak to them about the importance of pulling everyone up. The odds were against them, and he knew that.''Expanding economic opportunities for minorities and fighting for social justice and against prejudice were major focuses of Clemente's life. A meeting with further inspired him to pursue his humanitarian goals. “Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth,'’ Clemente said. of One of baseball's all-time complete players, Clemente had a career batting average of .317 and won 12 Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess. He was a 15-time All Star, a two-time World Series champion and the National League's most valuable player in 1966. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973. of Clemente celebrated his wedding day with bride, Vera, on Nov. 14, 1964. They were married at San Fernando Church in Carolina, Puerto Rico. They had met less than a year earlier when Clemente went out of his way to arrange “bumping” into her in a drugstore. The couple came from the same hometown of Carolina. Vera died on Nov. 16, 2019, at age 78. of Umpire Doug Harvey (left) hands the ball to Clemente after the Pirates outfielder gets his 3,000th career Major League hit. Three months before his tragic death in 1972, Clemente became only the 11th player in Major League history to collect at least 3,000 regular season hits (he finished with exactly 3,000). He batted better than .300 in 13 seasons. He led the National League in hitting four times. Remarkably, between age 30 and his final season at 37, his batting average was .330. of Clemente's defensive skills as a right fielder, which included a powerful throwing arm, were exceptional. No player in Major League history threw out more baserunners from the outfield than he did (266). of Clemente enjoys a special moment with his wife, Vera, and three sons at New York's Shea Stadium, where he was honored on “Roberto Clemente Night,” on Sept. 24, 1971. From left, the children are Roberto Jr., Luis Roberto and Enrique Roberto. of Known for his empathy and compassion, Clemente loved children. Many times, he went out of his way to help them, particularly those who were disadvantaged. Clemente spearheaded the concept of a sports “city'’ in his hometown where families could enjoy physical activity and quality time. He hosted many free baseball clinics. On the road, he would visit hospitals and deliver autographs to sick children. of Clemente poses with son Roberto Jr., Vera and a trophy from a Puerto Rican baseball league recognizing his accomplishments in the sport. Clemente was extremely proud of his Puerto Rican heritage. He became the first Hispanic to speak Spanish on a live network television broadcast when he thanked his parents after the final game of the 1972 World Series. of Members of the military inspect the remains of the airplane Clemente was on when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year's Eve in 1972. Embarking on a humanitarian mission, Clemente and three others perished off Puerto Rico when their overloaded DC-7 cargo plane went down shortly after takeoff. Clemente was delivering aid to Nicaraguan earthquake survivors, including a prosthetic leg he planned to deliver to a young boy, Roberto Clemente Jr. says. The sudden death of the revered baseball superstar shocked the world. Jon Saraceno is a contributing writer who covers sports, culture and other issues. He wrote for 30 years for USA Today and worked for multiple media outlets.