Roberto Clemente

2011-09-29T23:46:50Z

Addred85: /* Pittsburgh Pirates */

{{Infobox MLB player
|name=Roberto Clemente
|image=Roberto Clemente Pirates.jpg
|position=[[Right fielder]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|mf=yes|1934|8|18}}
|birth_place=[[Carolina, Puerto Rico]]
|death_date={{death date and age|mf=yes|1972|12|31|1934|8|18}}
|death_place=Off the coast of [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
|debutdate=April 17
|debutyear=1955
|debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
|finaldate=October 3
|finalyear=1972
|finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
|stat1value=.317
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=3,000
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=240
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,305
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki>
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{by|1955}}–{{by|1972}})
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
* 15× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1960 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1960]], [[1960 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)|1960²]], [[1961 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1961]], [[1961 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)|1961²]], [[1962 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1962]], [[1962 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)|1962²]], [[1963 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1963]], [[1964 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1964]], [[1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1965]], [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966]], [[1967 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1967]], [[1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1969]], [[1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1970]], [[1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1971]], [[1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1972]])
* 2× [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1960}}, {{wsy|1971}})
* 12× [[Gold Glove Award]] winner (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972)
* 1966 [[NL MVP]]
* 1971 [[World Series MVP]]
* 1971 [[Babe Ruth Award]]
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates#Retired numbers|Pittsburgh Pirates #21]] retired
|hofdate={{by|1973}}
|hofvote=92.7% (first ballot)
}}
'''Roberto Clemente Walker''' (August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] [[Major League Baseball]] [[right fielder]]. He was born in [[Carolina, Puerto Rico]], the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (1955–72). He was awarded the [[National League]]'s [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] in 1966. Clemente was selected to participate in the league's All Star Game on 12 occasions. He won 12 [[Gold Glove Awards]] and he led the league in batting average in four different seasons. He was also involved in humanitarian work in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries, often delivering baseball equipment and food to them. He died in an [[Aviation accidents and incidents|aviation accident]] on December 31, 1972, while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in [[Nicaragua]]. He was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]] posthumously in 1973, thus becoming the first Latin American to be selected and the only current Hall of Famer for whom the mandatory five-year waiting period has been waived since the wait was instituted in 1954. Clemente is also the first Hispanic player to win a World Series as a starter (1960), win a league MVP award (1966) and win a World Series MVP award (1971).

== Early life ==
Roberto was born in [[Carolina, Puerto Rico]], to Don Melchor Clemente and Luisa Walker. He was the youngest of seven siblings, having four brothers and two sisters. During his childhood, Don Melchor worked as foreman of the sugar crops located in the municipality.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Roberto's father, Don Melchor Clemente, worked as foreman in the sugar fields.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=3 |chapter=The way of the Jibaro}}</ref> The family's resources were limited and Roberto had to work to earn money; this work included delivering milk cans to the family's neighbors. Clemente demonstrated interest in baseball early in his life and would often play against neighboring [[barrio]]s. He studied in Vizcarondo High School, a public school located in Carolina. During his first year in high school, he was recruited by Roberto Marin to play [[softball]] with the Sello Rojo team; Marin had taken interest in Clemente when he saw him playing baseball in Barrio [[San Antón|San Anton]].<ref>{{cite book|quote=For the next two years, Roberto played for the Sello Rojo softball team.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=20 |chapter=Where Are You Going, Momen?}}</ref> He was with the team two years, playing shortstop. Clemente joined Puerto Rico's amateur league when he was sixteen years old; while there, he played for the Ferdinand Juncos team, which represented the municipality of [[Juncos, Puerto Rico|Juncos]].<ref>{{cite book|quote=When he was sixteen, he played for the Ferdinand Juncos team in the Puerto Rican amateur league.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=20 |chapter=Where Are You Going, Momen?}}</ref>

On November 14, 1964, he married Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church in Carolina. The couple had three children: Roberto Jr., Luis Roberto and Enrique Roberto.

== Baseball career ==
Clemente's professional career began when Pedrín Zorilla offered him a contract with the [[Santurce Crabbers (baseball)|Santurce Crabbers]] of the [[Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League|LBBPR]].<ref>{{cite book|quote="Well, Marin," said señor Zorilla, "we can give him $400 bonus and maybe $ 40.00 a week until he learns to wear a uniform." |author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=25 |chapter=Tell the Man I Will Sign}}</ref> He was a bench player during his first campaign, but was promoted to the team's starting lineup the following season. During this season he hit .288 as the team's leadoff hitter. While Clemente was playing in the LBBPR, the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] offered him a contract with the team's [[AAA (baseball)|Triple-A]] subsidiary.<ref>{{cite book|quote="Roberto," said Pedrin Zorilla, "I have spoken with Mr. Campanis. The Dodgers would like to sign you to a contract with their Triple-A team in Montreal. They will pay you a signing bonus of $10,000 and a salary of $5,000 for the year"|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=33 |chapter=Wearing the Uniform}}</ref> He then moved to Montreal to play with the [[Montreal Royals]]. The climate and language differences affected Clemente early on, but he received the assistance of his teammate [[Joe Black]], who was able to speak Spanish. In 1954, [[Clyde Sukeforth]], a scout for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], noticed that Clemente was being used as a bench player for the team and discussed the possibility of drafting Clemente to the Pirates with the team's manager, [[Max Macon]].<ref>{{cite book|quote="I noticed you haven’t been playing Clemente much." Sukeforth smiled across the dinner table at Max Macon. The two men had known each other for years. There was no sense in trying to fool each other. "Well, I don’t care if you never play him" continued the Pittsburgh scout. "We’re going to finish last, and we’re going to draft him number one."|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= 41|chapter=It's For Your Own Good}}</ref> The Pirates selected Clemente as the first selection of the rookie draft that took place on November 22, 1954.

=== Pittsburgh Pirates ===
Clemente debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 17, 1955 in the first game of a double header against the Brooklyn Dodgers.<ref>{{cite book|quote=It was Sunday, April 17, 1955, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were playing the first game of a double-header against the Brooklyn Dodgers.[...] For Roberto Clemente it was his first time at bat in the major leagues.|author=Paul Robert Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref> At the beginning of his time with the Pirates, he experienced frustration because of racial tension with the local media and some teammates.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Even on his own team, some of the players made fun of him and called him a "nigger." Roberto grew furious at their insults.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|quote=There were other insults as well. In the newspapers, the writers called him a "Puerto Rican hot dog." When they quoted the things he said they exaggerated his accent.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref> Clemente responded to this by stating, "I don’t believe in color".<ref name="valores"/> He noted that, during his upbringing, he was taught to never discriminate against someone based on ethnicity.<ref name="valores">{{cite book|quote="I don’t believe in color," Roberto said. "I believe in people. I always respect everyone and thanks to God my mother and my father taught me never to hate, never to dislike someone based of their color.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref>

During the middle of the season, Clemente was involved in a car accident; this caused him to miss several games with an injury in his lower back.<ref>{{cite book|quote=To make matters worse, Roberto had to sit out many games because of pain in his lower back. During the winter, a drunken driver had rammed into his car at sixty miles per hour.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref>
He finished his rookie season with an [[Batting average|average]] of .255, despite confronting trouble hitting certain types of pitches.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Roberto continued to struggle at the plate through-out his rookie season, finally finishing with a .255 average.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref> His defensive skills, however, were highlighted during this season.<ref>{{cite book|quote=In the outfield, however, he quickly established himself as an outstanding performer.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref>

During the off season, Clemente played with the Santurce Crabbers in the Puerto Rican baseball winter league, where he was already considered a star.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Once again he was playing for the Santurce Crabbers. In the winter league he was an established star.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |language= |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages= |chapter=I play like Roberto Clemente}}</ref>

=== The 1960s ===
The Pirates experienced several difficult seasons through the 1950s, although they did manage their first winning season since 1948 in 1959. During the winter season of 1958-59, Clemente didn't play winter baseball in Puerto Rico; instead, he served in the [[United States Marine Corps Reserves]]. He spent six months in his military commitment at [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island|Parris Island]], [[South Carolina]], and [[Camp LeJeune]] in [[North Carolina]]. At Parris Island, Clemente received his basic training with Platoon 346 of the 3rd Recruit Battalion.<ref>"Clemente, The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero"; By: David Maraniss; pag. 88; Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ISBN 978-0-7432-1781-1</ref> In Camp Lejeune, he served as an [[infantryman]]. The rigorous training program helped Clemente physically; he added strength by gaining ten pounds and said his back troubles had disappeared.
[[File:RobertoClementeStatueatPNCPark.jpg|thumb|left|Statue of Clemente in Pittsburgh.]]
He remained in the reserves until September 1964.<ref>{{cite book|title=Clemente to Start Six-Month Marine Corps Hitch, October 4,|publisher=The Sporting News|date=September 24, 1958|pages=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Buc Flyhawk Now Marine Rookie|publisher=The Sporting News|date=November 19, 1958|pages=13}}</ref><ref name="Marine">{{cite web|url=http://www.usmc-mccs.org/sports/hof/2003-clemente.cfm|title=Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame: Roberto Clemente|accessdate=2007-12-17}}</ref> Early in the 1960 season, Clemente led the league, batting an average of .353 and scoring [[Run batted in|Runs Batted In]] (RBIs) in twenty-five out of twenty-seven games.<ref>{{cite book|quote=In May, while the Pirates were fighting the San Francisco Giants for first place, Roberto drove in 25 runs in 27 games. By the end of the month he was leading the league with a batting average of .353 and the Pirates were ahead of the Giants by one and a half games.|author=Paul Rober Walker|title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente|year=1988|publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company|location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=63 |chapter=Beat 'Em, Bucs!}}</ref> Roberto's batting average stayed above the .300 mark throughout the course of the campaign. In August, he was inactive for five games as a result of an injury on his chin; he received this injury when his head impacted a concrete wall while he was trying to catch a hard line hit that reached the park's outer wall. Following this accident, he was transported to a local hospital, where the doctors stitched his chin; this prohibited him from playing until the injury was healed.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Roberto was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The doctors stitched up his jaw and he sat out the next five games waiting for it to heal|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=64 |chapter=Beat 'Em, Bucs!}}</ref> The Pirates compiled a 95-59 record during the regular season, winning the National League pennant, and defeated the [[New York Yankees]] in a seven-game [[1960 World Series|World Series]]. Clemente batted .310 in the series, hitting safely at least once in every game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ahora.com.do/Edicion1250/SECCIONES/deportes.html|title=Roberto Clemente Un verdadero símbolo latinoamericano|author=Juan Mercado|publisher=[A] hora.com|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> His .314 batting average, 16 home runs, and defense during the course of the season earned him his first participation in the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star game]], where he served as a reserve player.

During 1961 spring training, Clemente tried to modify his batting technique by using a heavier bat in order to slow the speed of his swing, following advice from Pirates' batting coach [[George Sisler]].<ref>{{cite book|quote=Now, in the spring of 1961, he made another improvement. He began using a heavier bat to slow down his swing and make better contact with the ball.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=74 |chapter=Beat 'Em, Bucs!}}</ref> During the 1961 season, Clemente was selected as the starting right fielder for the National League in the All-Star game. In this game, he batted a triple on his first at-bat and scored the team's first run. With the American League ahead 4-3 in the tenth inning, Clemente hit a double that gave the National League a decisive 5-4 win.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Then he brought his bat around and smashed a line drive to right field. As Roberto raced for first, Willie Mays rounded third and headed for home. The National League had won by a score of 5-4!|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=77 |chapter=Beat 'Em, Bucs!}}</ref>

Following the season, he traveled to Puerto Rico along with [[Orlando Cepeda]], who was a native of [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]]. When both players arrived, they were received by 18,000 people.<ref>{{cite book|quote=When the plane landed, Roberto and Cepeda received a hero's welcome. Eighteen thousand people stood cheering on the side of the road as they were driven from the airport to Sixto Escobar Stadium.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=78–79 |chapter=Beat 'Em, Bucs!}}</ref> On November 14, 1964, Clemente married Vera Zabala. The ceremony took place in the church of San Fernando in Carolina and was attended by thousands of fanatics.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Thousands of people filled the plaza in Carolina on November 14, 1964. It was a beautiful sunny day., but they were not there for the sunshine. Inside the church of San Fernando, Roberto Clemente was marrying Vera Zabala.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=84 |chapter=It Is My Life}}</ref> During this time, he was also involved in managing the ''Senadores de San Juan'' in the LBPPR, as well as playing with the team during the Major League offseason. During the course of the winter league, Clemente was injured and only participated as a pinch hitter in the league's All-Star game. He experienced a complication on his injury during the course of this game and underwent surgery shortly after being carried off of the playing field.<ref>{{cite book|quote=The injury had not affected his swing, and he smashed a hard line drive to right field. But as he limped to first base, his leg collapsed beneath him. He was rushed to the hospital, and a few days later, the doctors cut open his leg to drain a pool of blood in his thigh.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=85 |chapter=It Is My Life}}</ref>

This condition limited his role with the Pirates in the first half of the 1965 season, during which he batted an average of .257. He was inactive for several games during this stage of the campaign before being fully active; when he returned to the starting lineup, he hit in thirty-three out of thirty-four games and his average improved to .340.<ref>{{cite book|quote=Clemente was back and so were the Pirates. Roberto hit safely in 33 out of 34 games, raising his average all the way up to .340.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=88–89 |chapter=It Is My Life}}</ref> Roberto and Vera had their first son on August 17, 1965, when [[Roberto Clemente, Jr.]] was born; he was the first of three children, along with Luis Roberto and Enrique Roberto.<ref>{{cite book|quote=On August 17, 1965, while Roberto Sr. was chasing his third batting title, Vera gave birth to Roberto Jr.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=90 |chapter=MVP}}</ref> During the 1960s, he batted over .300 in every year except 1968, when he hit .291.<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|title=ESPN - Roberto Clemente MLB Career Stats - Major League Baseball|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/alltime/playercard?playerId=2482&type=0|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> He was selected to every All-Star game, and he was given a [[Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove]] every season from 1961 onwards.<ref name="ESPN"/> He led the National League in batting average four times (1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967), led the National League in hits twice (1964 and 1967), and won the Most Valuable Player award in the 1966 season, when he hit .317 while setting career highs in home runs (29) and RBI (119).<ref name="ESPN"/> In 1967, he registered a career high .357 average and hit twenty-three home runs and 110 runs batted in.<ref name="ESPN"/>

=== The 1970s ===
{{ external media
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| audio1 = You may watch Roberto Clemente's hit number 3,000 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsmqqPxb_xM '''here''']
}}
The 1970 season was the last one that the Pittsburgh Pirates played in [[Forbes Field]] before moving to [[Three Rivers Stadium]]; for Clemente, abandoning this stadium was an emotional situation. The Pirates' final game at Forbes Field took place on June 28, 1970. That day, Clemente noted that it was hard to play in a different field, saying, "I spent half my life there".<ref>{{cite book|quote=On June 28, 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates played their last game at Forbes Field. For Roberto it was an emotional moment. "I spent half my life there", he said.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=106 |chapter=I Don't Have The Words}}</ref> The night of July 4, 1970 was declared "Roberto Clemente Night"; on this day, several Puerto Rican fans traveled to Three Rivers Stadium and cheered Clemente while wearing traditional Puerto Rican indumentary. A ceremony to honor Clemente took place, during which he received a scroll with 300,000 signatures compiled in Puerto Rico, and several thousands of dollars were donated to charity work following Clemente's request.<ref>{{cite book|quote=A young Puerto Rican businessman named Juan Jiménez presented Roberto with a scroll containing 300,000 signatures from the people of Puerto Rico.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=107 |chapter=I Don't Have The Words}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|quote=At Roberto's request, thousands of dollars were donated to help the crippled children at Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=108 |chapter=I Don't Have The Words}}</ref>

During the 1970 campaign, Clemente compiled an average of .352; the Pirates won the [[National League East]] pennant but were subsequently eliminated by the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. In the offseason, Clemente experienced some tense situations while he was working as manager of the Senators and when his father, Melchor Clemente, experienced medical problems and was subjected to a surgery.<ref>{{cite book|quote=That winter, Roberto had other concerns as well. Don Melchor fell seriously ll and had to have surgery.|author=Paul Rober Walker |title=Pride of Puerto Rico: The life of Roberto Clemente |year=1988 |publisher=Harcourt Brace & Company |location=United States |isbn= 0-15-307557-0|pages=111–112|chapter=I Don't Have The Words}}</ref>

In the 1971 season, the Pirates won the National League pennant and faced the Baltimore Orioles in the [[1971 World Series|World Series]]. Baltimore had won 100 games and swept the [[American League Championship Series]], both for the third consecutive year, and were the defending World Series champions. The Orioles won the first two games in the series, but Pittsburgh won the championship in seven games. This marked the second occasion that Clemente had won a World Series with the Pirates. Over the course of the series, Clemente batted a .414 average (12 hits in 29 [[at bat|at-bats]]), performed well defensively, and hit a solo home run in the deciding 2-1 seventh game victory.<ref name="ESPN 2"/> Following the conclusion of the season, he received the World Series Most Valuable Player award. Struggling with injuries, Clemente only managed to appear in 102 games in 1972, but he still hit .312 for his final .300 season.<ref name="ESPN 2"/> On September 30, in a game at Three Rivers Stadium, he hit a [[double (baseball)|double]] off [[Jon Matlack]] of the [[New York Mets]] for his 3,000th hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/clemente.jsp|title=Roberto Clemente Award|publisher=Major League Baseball|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> It was the last at-bat of his career during a regular season, though he did play in the 1972 NLCS playoffs against the Cincinnati Reds.<ref name="ESPN 2">{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Clemente_Roberto.html|title=Clemente quietly grew in stature |author=Larry Schwartz |publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> In the playoffs, he batted .235 as he went 4 for 17. His last game ever was at Cincinnati's [[Riverfront Stadium]] in the fifth game of the playoff series.

== Death in airplane accident ==
Clemente spent much of his time during the off-season involved in charity work. When [[Managua]], the capital city of [[Nicaragua]], was affected by a [[1972 Nicaragua earthquake|massive earthquake]] on December 23, 1972, Clemente (who had been visiting Managua three weeks before the quake) immediately set to work arranging emergency relief flights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/dreamteam/robertoclemente.html|title=White House Dream Team: Roberto Walker Clemente|publisher=White House|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> He soon learned, however, that the aid packages on the first three flights had been diverted by corrupt officials of the [[Anastasio Somoza Debayle|Somoza]] government, never reaching victims of the quake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archivo.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2004/diciembre/11-diciembre-2004/nacional/nacional-20041211-15.html|title=El vuelo solidario y temerario de Clemente|publisher=El Nuevo Diario|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref>

Clemente decided to accompany the fourth relief flight, hoping that his presence would ensure that the aid would be delivered to the survivors.<ref name="Gale">{{cite web|url=http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/chh/bio/clemente_r.htm|title=Hispanic Heritage: Roberto Clemente|publisher=Gale Gengage Learning|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> The airplane he chartered for a New Year's Eve flight, a [[Douglas DC-7]], had a history of mechanical problems and sub-par flight personnel, and it was overloaded by 5,000 pounds.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.latinosportslegends.com/Clemente-search.htm| title=Searching for the great Roberto Clemente| publisher=Latinosportslegends.com| date=2002-12-31| accessdate=2010-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jan/04/sports/sp-9152|title=Clemente Remains Special to Ex-Mates|first=Hal|last=Bock|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 4, 1998|accessdate=June 29, 2010}}</ref> It crashed into the ocean off the coast of [[Isla Verde, Puerto Rico]] immediately after takeoff on December 31, 1972.<ref name="Latino Legends">{{cite web|url=http://www.latinosportslegends.com/clemente.htm|title=Roberto Clemente|publisher=Latino Legends in Sports|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> A few days after the crash, the body of the pilot and part of the fuselage of the plane were found. An empty flight case apparently belonging to Clemente was the only personal item recovered from the plane. Clemente's teammate and close friend [[Manny Sanguillen]] was the only member of the Pirates not to attend Roberto's memorial service. The catcher chose instead to dive into the waters where Clemente's plane had crashed in an effort to find his teammate. Clemente's body was never recovered.<ref name="Latino Legends"/>

At the time of his death, Clemente had established several records with the Pirates, including most triples in a game (three) and hits in two consecutive games (ten),.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/history/single_game_records.jsp|title=Pirates Single Game Records|publisher=Pittsburgh Pirates|accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref> These include tying the record for most [[Gold Glove Award]]s won among outfielders with twelve, which he shares with [[Willie Mays]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_ggnl.shtml|title=Gold Glove National League Outfielders|publisher=Baseball Almanac|accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref> He also became the only player to have ever hit a [[Walk-off home run|walk-off]] [[Home run#Inside-the-park home run|inside-the-park]] [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leftfield.homestead.com/roberto_clemente.html|title=Roberto Clemente Presente!|publisher=leftfield.com|accessdate=2007-12-16}}</ref> He accomplished this historic baseball-event on July 25, 1956 in a 9-8 Pittsburgh win against the [[Chicago Cubs]], at [[Forbes Field]]. In addition, he was one of four players to have ten or more Gold Gloves and a lifetime batting average of over .300.

== Posthumous honors ==
[[File:Roberto Clemente Coliseum.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Roberto Clemente Coliseum]]
{{MLBBioRet
|Image = Pirates Roberto Clemente.png
|Name = Roberto Clemente
|Number = 21
|Team = Pittsburgh Pirates
|Year = 1973
|}}
On March 20, [[1973 in baseball|1973]], the [[Baseball Writers Association of America]] held a special election for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]]. They voted to waive the waiting period for Clemente, due to the circumstances of his death, and posthumously elected him for induction into the Hall of Fame, giving him 393 of the 420 available votes, or 92% of the vote. Clemente's Hall of Fame plaque had originally read "Roberto Walker Clemente". In 2000, the plaque was recast to express his name in the proper Hispanic format, "Roberto Clemente Walker".<ref>{{cite web| title=Roberto Clemente Plaque is Recast to Correct Cultural Inaccuracy; New One Travels to Puerto Rico (November, 2000)| url= http://209.23.71.87/whats_new/press_releases/2000/pr2000_09_19.htm| publisher=National Hall of Fame and Museum| date=2000-09-18| accessdate=2008-02-03|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20030428013259/http://209.23.71.87/whats_new/press_releases/2000/pr2000_09_19.htm |archivedate = April 28, 2003}}</ref>

MLB presents the [[Roberto Clemente Award]] every year to the player who best follows Clemente's example with humanitarian work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070906&content_id=4991&vkey=hof_news|title=Baseball honors Roberto Clemente|author=Marc Zarefsku|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame|date=2007-09-06|accessdate=2007-12-10|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080207084045/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070906&content_id=4991&vkey=hof_news |archivedate = February 7, 2008}}</ref> In 1973, Clemente was awarded the [[Congressional Gold Medal]] and the first [[Presidential Citizens Medal]]. In 2002, he was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]. In 2003, he was inducted into the [[United States Marine Corps]] Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name="Marine"/> On October 26, 2005, Clemente was named a member of Major League Baseball's [[Latino Legends Team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051026&content_id=1260107&vkey=printer_friendly&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Latino Legends team announced|author=Jesses Sanchez|publisher=Major League Baseball|date=2005-10-26|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> At the [[Major League Baseball]] [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star game]] in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] on July 11, 2006, many of the players on both teams wore yellow wristbands with the initials "RCW" in honor of Clemente. At the end of the fourth inning, Clemente was awarded the Commissioner's Historical Achievement Award by the Commissioner of Baseball; the award was accepted by his widow.<ref name="AS 2006">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060711&content_id=1553135&vkey=allstar2006&fext=.jsp|title=Baseball honors Clemente|author=Barry M. Bloom|publisher=Major League Baseball|date=2006-07-12|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> During the award presentation, the [[Commissioner of Baseball]] [[Bud Selig]] stated that "Roberto was a hero in every sense of the word".<ref name="AS 2006"/>

[[PNC Park]], the home ballpark of the Pirates which opened in 2001, includes a right field wall {{convert|21|ft|m}} high, in reference to Clemente's uniform number and his normal fielding position during his years with the Pirates.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/ballpark/index.jsp| title=PNC Park Overview| publisher=Major League Baseball| accessdate=2008-04-16}}</ref> The Pirates originally erected a statue in memory of Clemente at [[Three Rivers Stadium]], an honor previously awarded to [[Honus Wagner]]. The statue was moved to [[PNC Park]] when it opened, and stands at the corner near the [[Roberto Clemente Bridge]]. There was talk of the team even naming PNC Park after Clemente, but despite popular sentiment, the team chose instead to sell the [[naming rights]] to locally-based [[PNC Financial Services]], with the bridge being renamed after him considered a compromise.<ref>http://www.pittsburghsportsreport.com/1998-Issues/psr9809/98090106.html</ref>

[[File:PresMedalFreedom.jpg|thumb|80px|left|Presidential Medal of Freedom]]
Puerto Rico has honored Clemente's memory by naming the coliseum in San Juan the [[Roberto Clemente Coliseum]]; two baseball parks are in Carolina, the professional one, [[Roberto Clemente Stadium]], and the Double-A. There is also the Escuela de los Deportes (School of Sports) that has the Double-A baseball park. Today, this sports complex is called ''Ciudad Deportiva Roberto Clemente''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rcsc21.com/index.php?page=homepage|title=Bienvenidos|publisher=Ciudad Deportiva Roberto Clemente (official website)|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> In Pittsburgh, the [[Roberto Clemente Bridge|6th Street Bridge]] was renamed in his memory, and the Pirates [[Squad number#Retired numbers|retired]] his number 21 at the start of the 1973 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19990408clemente3.asp|title=Clemente's family helps to christen renamed bridge|author=Johnna A.|publisher=post-gazette.com|date=1999-04-08|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> The City of Pittsburgh maintains [[Roberto Clemente Memorial Park]] along North Shore Drive in the city's North Side which includes a bronze relief by sculptor [[Eleanor Milleville]]. In 2007, the [[Roberto Clemente Museum]] opened in the [[Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh)|Lawrenceville]] section of Pittsburgh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07204/803776-63.stm|title=Clemente Museum brightens Lower Lawrenceville outlook|author=Diana Nelson Jones|publisher=The Pittsburgh Gazette|date=2007-07-23|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> Near the old [[Forbes Field]] where he began his pro career the city of Pittsburgh has renamed a street in his honor. In 1973, the state of New York opened [[Roberto Clemente State Park]] in [[The Bronx]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/140/details.aspx| title=State Parks : Roberto Clemente State Park| publisher=New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation| accessdate=2009-10-10}}</ref> Some schools, such as [[Roberto Clemente High School]] in [[Chicago, Illinois]] the [[Roberto Clemente Charter School]] in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]] and Roberto Clemente Academy in [[Detroit, Michigan]], were named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clementehs.org/|title=About Us|publisher=Roberto Clemente Community Academy|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> Clemente was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. There's also a [[Roberto Clemente Stadium (Nicaragua)|Roberto Clemente Stadium]] in [[Masaya]], [[Nicaragua]]. There's also a middle school in [[Gaithersburg]],[[Maryland]] called [[Roberto W. Clemente Middle School]]

On August 17, 1984, the day before what would have been his 50th birthday, the [[United States Postal Service]] issued a [[postage stamp]] honoring Clemente.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/2001/April13/04.htm|title=National Postal Museum to feature Roberto Clemente Walker|publisher=Hispania News|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> Designed by Juan Lopez-Bonilla, the spare clean design shows Clemente wearing his Pirates cap, with the Puerto Rican flag in the background. In 1999, he ranked Number 20 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, the highest-ranking Latino player on the list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/baseball/100/index-1.html|title=The Sporting News Baseball 100 Greatest Players|publisher=The Sporting News|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> Later that year, Clemente was nominated as a finalist for the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/news/1999/1023/129008.html|title=All-Century Team final voting|publisher=ESPN|date=1999-10-23|accessdate=2009-03-05}}</ref> As part of the Golden Anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Clemente was selected to the [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award#All-time Gold Glove Team|All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team]].<ref>[http://www.rawlingsgoldglove.com/about/all_time_winners Roberto Clemente at the Rawlings All Time Gold Glove Award winners]</ref>

Clemente's #21 remains active in Major League Baseball, and is worn by multiple players. Sammy Sosa wore #21 throughout his career as a tribute to his childhood hero.<ref>{{cite news | last = Cunniff | first = Bill | title = Sosa plays host at party at his island mansion | page = 3 | work = Chicago Sun-Times | date = 1999-11-26 | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB424463A5BF794&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | accessdate = 2008-10-04 }}</ref> The number is unofficially retired in the [[Puerto Rico Baseball League]]. While the topic of retiring #21 throughout Major League Baseball like Jackie Robinson's #42 has been broached, and supported by groups such as Hispanics Across America, Jackie Robinson's daughter disagrees, believing that Major League Baseball should honor him another way.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sharon Robinson: honor Clemente some other way|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2304057&type=story|publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=January 24, 2006 |accessdate=2009-08-17 |agency=[[Associated Press]]|quote=The daughter of Jackie Robinson thinks Major League Baseball should not retire Roberto Clemente's No. 21, the [[New York Daily News]] reported Tuesday. The Hispanics Across America advocacy group wants Clemente's number set aside the way the late Robinson's No. 42 was nine years ago. But Sharon Robinson said that honor should remain for her father only.
}}</ref>

=== Biographies and documentaries ===
Clemente's life has been the subject of numerous books, articles and documentaries. [[David Maraniss]] wrote a book titled ''Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero'', which was published in 2006. Clemente is also the subject of a one-hour biography as part of the [[Public Broadcasting Service]] history series, [[American Experience]] which premiered on April 21, 2008.<ref name="PBS">{{cite web| url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/clemente/| title=American Experience: Roberto Clemente| publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service]]| accessdate=2008-07-29}}</ref> The film is directed by Bernardo Ruiz, narrated by [[Jimmy Smits]] and features interviews with Vera Clemente, [[Orlando Cepeda]] and [[George F. Will]].<ref name="PBS"/> The production received an [[ALMA Award]]. In 2011 ''[http://www.21comix.com/ 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente]'' was released, a graphic novel by Wilfred Santiago detailing Clemente's life in a comic-book format.

There is also a movie, called [[Chasing 3000]] based on a true story of two kids named Mickey (played by [[Ray Liotta]], [[Trevor Morgan]] and [[Blake Woodyard]]) and Roger (played by [[Jay Karnes]], [[Rory Culkin]] and [[Nicholas Brady]]) as they go on an adventure to travel across America to see Roberto Clemente's 3000th hit.

== Career statistics ==
''Offensive''
{|cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=1 width=400
|- align=center
|[[Games played|G]]
|[[At bat|AB]]
|[[Run (baseball)|R]]
|[[Hit (baseball)|H]]
|[[Double (baseball)|2B]]
|[[Triple (baseball)|3B]]
|[[Home run|HR]]
|[[Run batted in|RBI]]
|[[Stolen base|SB]]
|[[Base on balls|BB]]
|[[Strikeout|SO]]
|[[Batting average|BA]]
|[[On-base percentage|OBP]]
|[[Slugging percentage|SLG]]
|[[On-base plus slugging|OPS]]
|- align=center
|2433
|9454
|1416
|3000
|440
|166
|240
|1305
|83
|621
|1230
|.317
|.359
|.475
|.834
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal box|Puerto Rico|Pittsburgh|Baseball|United States Marine Corps|Biography}}
* [[Roberto Clemente Museum]]
* [[List of players from Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball|Players from Puerto Rico in MLB]]
* [[List of Puerto Ricans]]
* [[Black history in Puerto Rico|Afro-Puerto Ricans]]
* [[List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI]]
* [[3000 hit club]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball triples champions]]
*[[Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{baseballstats |br=c/clemero01 |fangraphs=1002340 |cube=roberto-clemente}}
*{{bbhof|clemente-roberto}}
* [http://www.latinosportslegends.com/clemente.htm Latino Sports Legends]
* [http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1255&pid=2553 Society of American Baseball Research BioProject biography of Clemente]
* [http://baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=clemero01 Baseball-almanac]
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=3844 The American Presidency Project - ''Remarks at a Ceremony Honoring Roberto Clemente. May 14, 1973'']

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach}}}}
{{succession box |title=[[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|National League Batting Champion]] |before= [[Dick Groat]] [[Tommy Davis]] [[Matty Alou]] |years=1961 1964–1965 1967 |after= [[Tommy Davis]] [[Matty Alou]] [[Pete Rose]]}}
{{succession box |before = [[Willie Mays]] |title = [[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|National League Most Valuable Player]]|years = 1966 |after = [[Orlando Cepeda]]}}
{{succession box |before = [[Eddie Mathews]] [[Pete Rose]] [[Ron Santo]] |title = [[MLB Player of the Month|Major League Player of the Month]]|years = May 1960 May 1967 July 1969 |after = [[Lindy McDaniel]] [[Hank Aaron]] [[Willie Davis (baseball player)|Willie Davis]]}}
{{succession box |before = [[Brooks Robinson]] |title = [[World Series MVP Award|World Series MVP]]|years = [[1971 World Series|1971]] |after = [[Gene Tenace]]}}
{{succession box |before = [[Brooks Robinson]] |title = [[Babe Ruth Award]] |years = [[1971 in baseball|1971]] |after = [[Gene Tenace]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates}}
{{1960 Pittsburgh Pirates}}
{{1971 Pittsburgh Pirates}}
{{MLBLLT}}
{{World Series MVPs}}
{{NL OF Gold Glove Award}}
{{NL MVPs}}
{{Babe Ruth Award}}
{{3000 hit club}}
{{Pirates Retired Numbers}}
{{1973 Baseball HOF}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame outfielders}}

{{good article}}

{{Persondata
|NAME = Roberto Clemente Walker
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Roberto Walker Clemente (common misspelling used in the original Hall of Fame plaque)
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Puerto Rican professional baseball player, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer
|DATE OF BIRTH = August 18, 1934
|PLACE OF BIRTH = Carolina, Puerto Rico
|DATE OF DEATH = December 31, 1972
|PLACE OF DEATH = Atlantic ocean, off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemente, Roberto}}
[[Category:People from Carolina, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Gold Glove Award winners]]
[[Category:National League batting champions]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]]
[[Category:Presidential Citizens Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Marines]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican military personnel]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican people of African descent]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:Missing air passengers]]

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[[pt:Roberto Clemente]]
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Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Roberto Clemente