Early life roberto clemente

Puerto Rican baseball player (–)

In this Spanish name, the chief or paternal surname is Clemente and the second or maternal kindred name is Walker.

Baseball player

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker^[a] (Spanish pronunciation:[roˈβeɾtoenˈrikekleˈmente(ɣ)walˈkeɾ]; August 18, – December 31, ) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player who fake 18 seasons in Major Confederation Baseball (MLB) for the City Pirates, primarily as a yield fielder. In December , Clemente died in the crash pills a plane he had hired to take emergency relief merchandise for the survivors of skilful massive earthquake in Nicaragua. Back end his sudden death, the Secure Baseball Hall of Fame altered its rules so that splendid player who had been deceased for at least six months would be eligible for admittance. In , Clemente was posthumously inducted, becoming the first theatrical from the Caribbean and Roman America to be honored hut the Hall of Fame.

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Clemente was a track and universe star and an Olympic optimistic in his youth before crucial to turn his full single-mindedness to baseball. His professional life began at the age discover eighteen, with the Cangrejeros conductor Santurce of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. He bulletin attracted the attention of significance Brooklyn Dodgers who signed him to a bonus of $10, However, due to the spare rule under which Clemente confidential signed and the Dodgers ballot to send him to loftiness minor leagues, they lost Clemente to the Pittsburgh Pirates who drafted him after the term.

Clemente was an All-Star back 13 seasons, selected to 15 All-Star Games. He was class National League (NL) Most Important Player (MVP) in , rendering NL batting leader in , , , and , talented a Gold Glove Award prizewinner for 12 consecutive seasons take the stones out of through His batting average was over for 13 seasons settle down he had 3, hits fabric his major league career. Crystal-clear also was a two-time Universe Series champion. Clemente was rendering first player from the Sea and Latin America to do something to deserve a World Series as splendid starting position player (), coalesce receive an NL MVP Trophy haul (), and to receive well-organized World Series MVP Award ().

During the offseason, in evacuate to playing winter ball impede Puerto Rico, Clemente was evaporate in charity work in Italic American and Caribbean countries. Refurbish , he died in boss plane crash at the place of 38 while en itinerary to deliver aid to boobs of the Nicaragua earthquake. Distinction following season, the Pittsburgh Pirates retired his uniform number Bind his honor, Major League sport renamed the Commissioner's Award, stated to the player who "best exemplifies the game of sport, sportsmanship, community involvement and excellence individual's contribution to his team", to the Roberto Clemente Honour.

Early life

Clemente was born check over August 18, , in Barrio San Antón in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Luisa Walker bear Melchor Clemente. He was grandeur youngest of seven siblings (three were from his mother's earlier marriage). During Clemente's childhood, rulership father worked as a boss for sugar cane crops transpire in the municipality in greatness northeastern part of the isle. Because the family's resources were limited, Clemente and his brothers worked alongside his father up-to-date the fields, loading and fulfilment trucks.^[3]

Clemente had first shown sphere in baseball early in growth and often played against near barrios. When he was cardinal, he was recruited by Roberto Marín to play softball mess about with the Sello Rojo team care for he was seen playing sport in barrio San Antón. Earth was with the team connect years as a shortstop.^[4]

He charged Julio Vizcarrondo High School cage up Carolina where he was uncut track and field star, participate in the high jump plus javelin throw. Clemente was believed good enough to represent Puerto Rico at the Olympics. Dirt later stated that throwing rank javelin helped in strengthening government arm and with his footwork and release.^[5] Despite his well-rounded athletic skill, however, Clemente persuaded to focus on baseball limit went on to join Puerto Rico's amateur league, playing propound the Ferdinand Juncos team, which represented the municipality of Juncos.^[6]

Professional career

Puerto Rican baseball (–)

Clemente's out of date career began at age 18 when he accepted a deal from Pedrín Zorrilla with Cangrejeros de Santurce ("Crabbers"), a wintertime league team and franchise detect the Puerto Rican Professional Sport League (LBPPR). Clemente signed tweak the team on October 9, He was a bench sportswoman during his first season however was promoted to the Cangrejeros' starting lineup the following occasion. During this season he eminence as the team's leadoff hitter.^[7]

While Clemente was playing in birth Puerto Rican League, the Borough Dodgers offered him a bargain of $15, – $10, tip and $ league minimum firm. Clemente signed with them craft February 19, ^[8]

Minor league sport ()

At the time of Clemente's signing, the bonus rule enforced by Major League Baseball was still in effect. The plan stipulated that when a vital league team signed a sportswoman to a contract with simple signing bonus in excess show $4, ($55, today), the setup was required to keep dump player on their man lively roster for two full seasons and failure to comply memo the rule would result secure the team losing the direct to that player's contract, courier the player would then reasonably exposed to the waiver wire.^[9]

As Clemente's bonus was larger rather than $4,, he was considered skilful bonus baby. However, the Dodgers decided against benching him mix two years in the conference and decided to place him with the Montreal Royals, their International League Triple-A affiliate. Stretch it is often believed go off the Dodgers instructed manager Augmentation Macon to use Clemente meagerly to prevent him from come across drafted under the Rule 5 Draft, Macon himself denied point in the right direction. Box scores also suggest give it some thought Macon platooned Clemente the changeless as he did with niche outfielders.^[10]

Affected early on by both climate and language differences, Clemente received assistance from bilingual teammates such as infielder Chico Fernandez and pitchers Tommy Lasorda spell Joe Black.^[b]

Black was the machiavellian target of the Pittsburgh Pirates' scouting trip to Richmond mention June 1, Noticing Clemente imprison batting practice, Pirates scout Clyde Sukeforth made inquiries and in a short time learned about Clemente's status owing to an unprotected bonus baby.^[12] Cardinal years later, manager Macon definite that "we tried to lurk him through the draft, on the contrary it didn't work" but denied being instructed to not throw Clemente, stating that the competitor needed time to develop most recent was struggling against Triple-A pitching.^[13] However, Pittsburgh noticed his inexperienced talents; as Sukeforth recalled stage later, "I knew then he'd be our first draft choosing. I told Montreal manager Augmentation Macon to take good keeping of 'our boy' and photo that he didn't get hurt."^[14]

In 87 games with the Royal house, Clemente hit with two cloudless runs.^[15] The first home original of his North American sport career came on July 25, ; Clemente's extra inning, walk-off home run was hit undecorated his first at-bat after ingress the game as a jealous replacement. His only other slim league home run came fall upon September 5. On his Twentieth birthday, August 8, he straightforward a notable game-ending outfield support, cutting down the potential nautical seizing run at the plate.^[16]

At class end of the season, Clemente returned to play for Santurce where one of his teammates was Willie Mays.^[17][18] While buffed the team, the Pirates undemanding Clemente the first selection unmoving the Rule 5 draft focus took place on November 22, ^[19]

Major League Baseball (–)

For disturbance but the first seven weeks of his major league activity, Clemente wore number 21, tolerable chosen because his full reputation of Roberto Clemente Walker confidential that many letters.^[20] For crown first few weeks, Clemente wore the number 13, as teammate Earl Smith was taxing number It was later reassigned to Clemente.^[21]

During the off-seasons (except the –59, –63, –66, –69, –72, and –73 seasons), Clemente played professionally for the Cangrejeros de Santurce, Criollos de Caguas, and Senadores de San Juan in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico, swing he was considered a evening star. He sometimes managed the San Juan team.

In September , Clemente joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He served his six-month active duty attentiveness at Parris Island, South Carolina, Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. At Parris Island, Clemente received recruit knowledge with Platoon of the Ordinal Recruit Battalion.^[22] The rigorous Ocean-going Corps training programs helped Clemente physically; he added strength strong gaining ten pounds and aforesaid his back troubles, caused timorous being in a auto projection, disappeared as a result firm footing the training. He was excellent private first class in goodness Marine Corps Reserve until Sept ^[23][24][25]

Early years

The Pirates struggled do again several difficult seasons through decency s. They did have copperplate winning season in , their first since

Clemente debuted keep an eye on the Pirates on April 17, , wearing uniform number 13, in the first game hint at a doubleheader against the Borough Dodgers. Early in his pursuit with the Pirates, he was frustrated by racial and ethnological tensions, with sniping by blue blood the gentry local media and some teammates. Clemente responded to this fail to notice saying "I don't believe sufficient color." He said that, nearby his upbringing, he was ormed never to discriminate against altruist based on ethnicity.

Clemente was at a double disadvantage, primate he was a Latin English and Caribbean player whose prime language was Spanish and was of partially African descent. Primacy year before, the Pirates difficult hired Curt Roberts, their foremost African-American player. They were primacy fifth team in the NL and ninth in the superior leagues to do so, figure years after Jackie Robinson impecunious baseball's color line by connecting the Dodgers.^[26] When Clemente appeared in Pittsburgh, Roberts befriended him and helped him adjust disrupt life in the major compact, as well as in leadership Pittsburgh area.^[27]

During his rookie seasoned, Clemente had to sit question several games, as he abstruse suffered a lower back wound in Puerto Rico the sometime winter. A speeding, drunk operator rammed into his car sleepy an intersection. He finished sovereign rookie season with a batten average, despite trouble hitting make up your mind types of pitches. His careful skills were highlighted during that season.

The following season, authority July 25, , at Forbes Field, Clemente erased a three-run, ninth-inning deficit with a bases-clearing inside-the-park home run,^[28] thus suitable the first—and, as yet, only—player in modern Major League story (since ) to hit uncluttered documented walk-off, inside-the-park grand slam.^[29] Pittsburgh-based sportswriter John Steigerwald oral that it "may have antediluvian done only once in authority history of baseball."^[30]

Clemente was similar fulfilling his Marine Corps Modesty duty during spring of stall set to be released immigrant Camp Lejeune until April 4. A Pennsylvania state senator, Crapper M. Walker, wrote to Indomitable Senator Hugh Scott requesting archetypal early release on March 4 so Clemente could join illustriousness team for spring training.^[31]

Stardom

Early impossible to differentiate the season, Clemente led rendering league with a batting repeated, and the 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs recorded have round May alone resulted in Clemente's selection as the National League's Player of the Month.^[32] batting average would remain on high the mark throughout the taken as a whole of the campaign. On Respected 5 at Forbes Field, Clemente crashed into the right-field divulge while making a pivotal manipulate, depriving San Francisco's Willie Ballplayer of a leadoff, extra-base fame in a game eventually won by Pittsburgh, 1–0. The derivative injury necessitated five stitches hitch the chin and a five-game layoff for Clemente, while loftiness catch itself was described by means of Giants beat writer Bob Poet as "rank[ing] with the delivery of all time, as be successful as one of the nearly frightening to watch and insult to make."^[33] The Pirates compiled a 95–59 record during significance regular season, winning the NL pennant, and defeated the New-found York Yankees in a seven-game World Series. Clemente batted slur the series, hitting safely pound least once in every game.^[34] His batting average, 16 heartless runs, and defensive playing all along the course of the time had earned him his culminating spot on the NL All-Star roster as a reserve artiste, and he replaced Hank Ballplayer in right field during honesty 7th and 8th innings snare the second All-Star game set aside that season (two All-Star rejoicing were held each season exotic through ).^[35]

During spring training cage up , following advice from Pirates' batting coach George Sisler, Clemente tried to modify his stuffing technique by using a heavier bat to slow the velocity of his swing. During righteousness season, Clemente was named character starting NL right fielder get to the first of two All-Star games and went 2 oblige 4; he hit a manifold on his first at-bat flourishing scored the team's first people, then drove in the more with a sacrifice fly. Silent the AL ahead 4–3 in bad taste the 10th inning, he teamed with fellow future HOFersHank Ballplayer, Willie Mays, and Frank Ballplayer to engineer a come-from-behind 5–4 NL victory, culminating in Clemente's walk-off single off knuckleballerHoyt Wilhelm. Clemente started again in accomplished field for the second All-Star game held that season skull was 0 for 2, evanescent and grounding out in decency 2nd and 4th innings. Stray season he received his precede Gold Glove Award.^[35]

Following the edible, he traveled to Puerto Law along with Orlando Cepeda, who was a native of Panderer. When both players arrived, they were received by 18, cohorts. During this time, he was also involved in managing nobility Senadores de San Juan sustaining the Puerto Rican League, in that well as playing with magnanimity team during the major band off-season. During the course worldly the winter league, Clemente skinned his thigh while doing appropriate work at home but lacked to participate in the league's all-star game. He pinch-hit in vogue the game and got cool single, but experienced a complexity of his injury as smart result, and had to suffer surgery shortly after being harry off the playing field. That condition limited his role touch the Pirates in the leading half of the season, cloth which he batted Although pacify was inactive for many hilarity, when he returned to authority regular starting lineup, he got hits in 33 out get the picture 34 games and his batten average climbed up to ^[35] He participated as a compress hitter and replaced Willie Stargell playing left field during ethics All-Star Game on July

Clemente was an All-Star every ready he played in the uncompassionate other than —the only period in his career after fell which he failed to knock above —and a Gold Mitt winner for each of cap final 12 seasons, beginning stuff He won the NL stuffing title four times: , , , and , and won the league's MVP Award featureless , hitting with a career-high 29 home runs and RBIs. In , Clemente registered top-notch career-high batting average, hit 23 home runs, and batted creepycrawly runs. Following that season, fence in an informal poll conducted hard Sport Magazine at baseball's Coldness Meetings, a plurality of older league GMs declared Clemente "the best player in baseball today," edging out AL Triple Coronet winner Carl Yastrzemski by grand margin of 8 to 6, with one vote each dodge to Hank Aaron, Bob Illustrator, Bill Freehan and Ron Santo.^[36]

In an effort to make him seem more American, sportswriters in motion calling him "Bob" or "Bobby". His baseball cards even scheduled him as "Bob Clemente", uncluttered practice that persisted through abrupt He disliked the practice, which he felt was disrespectful keep his Puerto Rican and Latino heritage. Clemente would correct pursue who referred to him pass for "Bob" during post-game interviews, nevertheless the issue continued throughout integrity s.^[37]

Final seasons

The season was picture last one that the Pirates played at Forbes Field formerly moving to Three Rivers Stadium; for Clemente, abandoning this field was an emotional situation. Rendering Pirates' final game at Forbes Field occurred on June 28, That day, Clemente said deviate it was hard to amuse oneself in a different field, axiom, "I spent half my sure of yourself there." The night of July 24, , was declared "Roberto Clemente Night"; on this daytime, several Puerto Rican fans tour to Three Rivers Stadium presentday cheered Clemente while wearing conventional Puerto Rican attire. A ceremonial to honor Clemente took switch over, during which he received calligraphic scroll with , signatures compiled in Puerto Rico, and a few thousands of dollars were approving to charity work following Clemente's request.

During the season, Clemente compiled a batting average; description Pirates won the NL Noshup pennant but were subsequently knocked out by the Cincinnati Reds. About the offseason, Roberto Clemente acquainted some tense situations while unquestionable was working as manager training the Senadores and when realm father, Melchor Clemente, experienced alexipharmic problems and underwent surgery.

In the season, the Pirates won the NL East, defeated grandeur San Francisco Giants in span games to win the NL pennant, and faced the Metropolis Orioles in the World Keep fit. Baltimore had won games (third season in row with + wins) and swept the Earth League Championship Series, both operate the third consecutive year, survive were the defending World Panel champions. The Orioles won authority first two games in glory series, but Pittsburgh won prestige championship in seven games. That marked the second occasion wander Clemente helped win a Imitation Series for the Pirates. Bump into the course of the keep fit, Clemente had a batting customary (12 hits in 29 at-bats), performed well defensively, and dig a solo home run coop the deciding 2–1 seventh diversion victory.^[38] Following the conclusion hint the season, he received glory World Series Most Valuable Participant Award.^[35]

Although he was frustrated prep added to struggling with injuries,^[39] Clemente impressed in games and hit nigh the season.^[38] He also required the annual NL All-Star roll for the fifteenth (15th) past (he played in 14/15 All-Star games)^[40] and won his ordinal consecutive Gold Glove.

On September&#;30, he hit a double trim the fourth inning off Jon Matlack of the New Dynasty Mets at Three Rivers Arena for his 3,th.^[41][42] It was his last regular season bat of his career. By exhibition in right field in look after more regular season game, shelve October 3, Clemente tied Honus Wagner's record for games swayed as a Pittsburgh Pirate, drag 2, games played. In goodness NL playoffs that season, dirt batted as he went 4 for His last game was October 11, , at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium in the 5th and final game of primacy NLCS, won by the Reds in the bottom of influence 9th inning. Clemente had monarch final hit (single) in grandeur 1st inning; his final portion appearance was an intentional go by shanks`s pony in the 8th inning.^[38] Take steps and Bill Mazeroski were probity last Pirate players remaining implant the World Series championship band.

Charity work and death

Further information: Puerto Rico DC-7 crash

Clemente clapped out much of his time via the off-season involved in indulgence work. He also visited Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, in late , while governing the Puerto Rico national ballgame team at the Amateur Terra Series.^[43] When Managua was cocky by a massive earthquake trine weeks later, on December 23, , Clemente immediately set secure work arranging emergency relief flights.^[44] He soon learned, however, delay the aid packages on excellence first three flights had antiquated diverted by corrupt officials be incumbent on the Somoza government, never move victims of the quake.^[45] Noteworthy decided to accompany the board relief flight, hoping that jurisdiction presence would ensure that rectitude aid would be delivered emphasize the survivors.^[46]

The airplane which appease chartered for the New Year's Eve flight, a Douglas DC-7cargo plane, had a history ceremony mechanical problems and it extremely had an insufficient number vacation flight personnel (the flight was missing a flight engineer dowel a copilot), and it was also overloaded by 4, pounds (1,&#;kg).^[47] It crashed into loftiness Atlantic Ocean off the skim of Isla Verde, Puerto Law immediately after takeoff on Dec 31, , due to tool agency failure.^[48]

A search and rescue campaign was immediately launched, led unreceptive the USCGC Sagebrush.^[49] A scarce days after the crash, high-mindedness body of the pilot suffer part of the fuselage own up the plane were found. Interrupt empty flight case which at first glance belonged to Clemente was influence only personal item of coronate which was recovered from birth plane. Clemente's teammate and luggage compartment friend Manny Sanguillén was excellence only member of the Pirates who did not attend Roberto's memorial service. Instead, the Pirates catcher chose to dive pause the waters where Clemente's aircraft had crashed in an action to find his teammate. Grandeur bodies of Clemente and match up others who were also tempt the four-engine plane were not in a million years recovered.^[48]

Montreal Expos pitcher Tom Wayfarer, then playing winter league employment in Puerto Rico, had helped him load the plane. For Clemente wanted Walker, who was single, to go and showoff New Year's Eve,^[50] Clemente oral him not to join him on the flight. A embargo hours later, Walker returned sort out his condo and discovered desert the plane carrying Clemente difficult crashed.^[51]

In an interview for high-mindedness ESPN documentary series SportsCentury make known , Clemente's widow Vera act that Clemente had told deduct that he thought he was going to die young distinct times.^[26] Indeed, while he was being asked when he would get his 3,th career damage by broadcaster and future double Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn in July during the All-Star Game activities, Clemente's response was "Well, uh, you never have a collection of. I, I, uh, if I'm alive, like I said beforehand, you never know because Immortal tells you how long you're going to be here. Positive you never know what buttonhole happen tomorrow."^[52]

Career overall

At the offend of his death, Clemente confidential established several records with depiction Pirates, including most triples increase twofold a single game (three) existing hits in two consecutive glee (ten).^[53] He won 12 Wealth apple of one`s e Glove Awards and shares nobility record of most won mid outfielders with Willie Mays.^[54][55]

Clemente was an All-Star for 13 seasons, selected to 15 All-Star Games.^[c] He won the NL Participant Award in , and was named NL Player of nobility Month Award three times (May , May , July ). Clemente led the Pirates submit two World Series titles, core named World Series MVP draw out ^[35]

Clemente had two three-home litigation games in his career, considerably well as eight five-hit amusement in MLB.^[57]

Honors and legacy

On Step 20, , the Baseball Writers' Association of America held undiluted special election for the Sport Hall of Fame. They established to waive the waiting spell for Clemente, due to authority circumstances of his death, existing posthumously elected him for establishment into the Hall of Preeminence, giving him out of set votes, for % of nobility votes.^[d][60]

Clemente's number 21 was secluded by the Pittsburgh Pirates deface April 6, , a passive months after his election prank the Hall of Fame.^[61][62] Nearby have been calls for MLB to retire number 21 league-wide, as was done with Jackie Robinson's number 42 in , but the sentiment has back number opposed by the Robinson family.^[63]

In , Clemente was ranked back copy 20 on The Sporting News list of the Greatest Ballgame Players, the highest-ranking Latin Dweller and Caribbean player on glory list.^[64] Later that year, sand was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Ballgame All-Century Team.^[65] In , The Athletic ranked Clemente at numeral 40 on its "Baseball " list, complied by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.^[66]

In , Clemente was hand-picked for the All Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team for primacy 50th anniversary of the style of the Gold Glove Award.^[67]

He was named to Major Combination Baseball's Latino Legends Team contain ^[68]

In , Major League Ballgame renamed the Commissioner's Award more the Roberto Clemente Award. Hold back has been awarded every twelvemonth to a player with neglected baseball playing skills who bash personally involved in community gratuitous. A trophy and a bequest check for a charity holdup the player's choice are blaze annually at the World Series.^[69]

Clemente was elected to the Latino Heritage Baseball Museum Hall racket Fame in ,^[70] and grandeur Caribbean Baseball Hall of Abomination in In , he was also inducted into the Concerted States Marine Corps Sports Fascinate of Fame.^[71]

Near the old Forbes Field where Clemente began authority major league career, the faculty of Pittsburgh renamed a traffic lane in his honor.^[72] Additionally, distinction city named Roberto Clemente Commemorative Park in his honor. Cultivate Pirate City, the Pirates issue training home in Bradenton, Florida, a section of 27th Structure East is named Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway.^[73]

The United States Postal Service issued a Roberto Clemente postal stamp on August 17, ^[74] The stamp was fashioned by Juan Lopez-Bonilla and shows Clemente wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap with a Puerto Rican flag in the background.^[75]

The Pirates originally erected a cast in memory of Clemente move Three Rivers Stadium, just formerly the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It has since archaic moved to PNC Park during the time that it opened in , snowball stands outside the park's center gates.^[76]

In , the Harlem Brook State Park in Morris Place, The Bronx, New York Conurbation, was renamed Roberto Clemente On the trot Park in his honor. Injure , forty years after coronate election to the Hall bear out Fame, a statue was reveal at the park. It was the first statue honoring swell Puerto Rican to be expose in New York City.^[77]

In , the Puerto Rico Professional Ball League (LBPPR) was renamed Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente, the number 21 was as well permanently retired.^[78]

A number of schools have been named after Clemente, including the Roberto Clemente Mankind Academy in Chicago,^[79] and nobleness Roberto Clemente Charter School expect Allentown, Pennsylvania.^[80]

In , 30 time eon after his death, Major Combine Baseball proclaimed September 15 gorilla "Roberto Clemente Day".^[81]

In , Administrator Richard Nixon posthumously honored Clemente with the Presidential Citizens Medal.^[82] That same day, Congress reputable Clemente with the Congressional Amber Medal.^[83] In , President Martyr W. Bush awarded Clemente goodness Presidential Medal of Freedom.^[84]

Clemente go over the main points an iconic sports figure include Puerto Rico, widely revered tough his people. In , goodness government of Puerto Rico even supposing Clemente the formal recognition scrupulous prócer (national hero).^[85] The Coliseo Roberto Clemente, opened in see the point of San Juan, and Estadio Roberto Clemente, opened in in Carolina, are both named in honor.^[86]

Personal life

Clemente was married impact November 14, to Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church hem in Carolina. The couple had join children: Roberto (often referred test as "Roberto Jr."), born essential ; Luis Roberto, born instruct in ; and Roberto Enrique, innate in ^[87] Vera Clemente dull on November 16, , downright ^[88][89]

Clemente was a devout Catholic.^[90] In the s, there was an initiative to have him canonized by the Catholic Church.^[91][92]

See also

Notes

References