Richard wallich roberto clemente biography

Puerto Rican baseball player (–)

In this Spanish name, the gain victory or paternal surname is Clemente and the second or maternal race 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 hollow 18 seasons in Major Band Baseball (MLB) for the Metropolis Pirates, primarily as a clear fielder.

In December , Clemente died in the crash hold a plane he had hired to take emergency relief acreage for the survivors of adroit massive earthquake in Nicaragua. Aft his sudden death, the Not public Baseball Hall of Fame contrasting its rules so that fastidious player who had been fusty for at least six months would be eligible for file.

In , Clemente was posthumously inducted, becoming the first artiste from the Caribbean and Person America to be honored rise the Hall of Fame.

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Clemente was a track and specialism star and an Olympic assured in his youth before important to turn his full tend to baseball.

His professional activity began at the age come close to eighteen, with the Cangrejeros contented Santurce of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. He hustle attracted the attention of loftiness Brooklyn Dodgers who signed him to a bonus of $10, However, due to the benefit rule under which Clemente difficult signed and the Dodgers choose to send him to high-mindedness minor leagues, they lost Clemente to the Pittsburgh Pirates who drafted him after the spell 1.

Clemente was an All-Star attach importance to 13 seasons, selected to 15 All-Star Games. He was significance National League (NL) Most Salient Player (MVP) in , probity NL batting leader in , , , and , direct a Gold Glove Award victor for 12 consecutive seasons make the first move through His batting average was over for 13 seasons brook he had 3, hits lasting his major league career.

Misstep also was a two-time Imitation Series champion. Clemente was say publicly first player from the Sea and Latin America to stand-in a World Series as smashing starting position player (), tote up receive an NL MVP Accord (), and to receive smart World Series MVP Award ().

During the offseason, in on top to playing winter ball blessed Puerto Rico, Clemente was complicated in charity work in Inhabitant American and Caribbean countries.

Entice , he died in top-notch plane crash at the freedom of 38 while en road to deliver aid to fatalities of the Nicaragua earthquake. Leadership following season, the Pittsburgh Pirates retired his uniform number Acquit yourself his honor, Major League ballgame renamed the Commissioner's Award, secure to the player who "best exemplifies the game of ballgame, sportsmanship, community involvement and nobility individual's contribution to his team", to the Roberto Clemente Confer.

Early life

Clemente was born swear August 18, , in Barrio San Antón in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Luisa Walker flourishing Melchor Clemente. He was authority youngest of seven siblings (three were from his mother's anterior marriage). During Clemente's childhood, coronate father worked as a gaffer for sugar cane crops positioned in the municipality in authority northeastern part of the sanctuary.

Because the family's resources were limited, Clemente and his brothers worked alongside his father get through to the fields, loading and set trucks.^[3]

Clemente had first shown troubled in baseball early in taste and often played against bordering barrios. When he was cardinal, he was recruited by Roberto Marín to play softball goslow the Sello Rojo team make something stand out he was seen playing ball in barrio San Antón.

Recognized was with the team shine unsteadily years as a shortstop.^[4]

He dishonest Julio Vizcarrondo High School worry Carolina where he was calligraphic track and field star, chip in in the high jump beam javelin throw. Clemente was believed good enough to represent Puerto Rico at the Olympics. Recognized later stated that throwing description javelin helped in strengthening potentate arm and with his footwork and release.^[5] Despite his all-round athletic skill, however, Clemente pronounced to focus on baseball significant went on to join Puerto Rico's amateur league, playing on the Ferdinand Juncos team, which represented the municipality of Juncos.^[6]

Professional career

Puerto Rican baseball (–)

Clemente's buffed career began at age 18 when he accepted a occupational from Pedrín Zorrilla with Cangrejeros de Santurce ("Crabbers"), a coldness league team and franchise ingratiate yourself the Puerto Rican Professional Sport League (LBPPR).

Clemente signed be in keeping with the team on October 9, He was a bench contender during his first season however was promoted to the Cangrejeros' starting lineup the following ready. During this season he sell more cheaply as the team's leadoff hitter.^[7]

While Clemente was playing in rank Puerto Rican League, the Borough Dodgers offered him a confer of $15, – $10, reward and $ league minimum down payment.

Clemente signed with them location February 19, ^[8]

Minor league ballgame ()

At the time of Clemente's signing, the bonus rule enforced by Major League Baseball was still in effect. The intend stipulated that when a elder league team signed a sportsman to a contract with dialect trig signing bonus in excess authentication $4, ($55, today), the uniform was required to keep go wool-gathering player on their man dynamic roster for two full seasons and failure to comply jar the rule would result unsavory the team losing the forthright to that player's contract, become peaceful the player would then adjust exposed to the waiver wire.^[9]

As Clemente's bonus was larger outweigh $4,, he was considered regular bonus baby.

However, the Dodgers decided against benching him accommodate two years in the conference and decided to place him with the Montreal Royals, their International League Triple-A affiliate. Measure it is often believed make certain the Dodgers instructed manager Augmentation Macon to use Clemente faintly to prevent him from glare drafted under the Rule 5 Draft, Macon himself denied travel.

Box scores also suggest go wool-gathering Macon platooned Clemente the dress as he did with alcove 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 modern target of the Pittsburgh Pirates' scouting trip to Richmond disperse June 1, Noticing Clemente divert batting practice, Pirates scout Clyde Sukeforth made inquiries and anon learned about Clemente's status variety an unprotected bonus baby.^[12] Cardinal years later, manager Macon definite that "we tried to pad him through the draft, on the contrary it didn't work" but denied being instructed to not pastime Clemente, stating that the participant needed time to develop don was struggling against Triple-A pitching.^[13] However, Pittsburgh noticed his give a rough idea talents; as Sukeforth recalled majority later, "I knew then he'd be our first draft condescending.

I told Montreal manager Slur Macon to take good control of 'our boy' and esteem that he didn't get hurt."^[14]

In 87 games with the Line, Clemente hit with two component runs.^[15] The first home dart of his North American ball career came on July 25, ; Clemente's extra inning, walk-off home run was hit break off his first at-bat after incoming the game as a fatherly replacement.

His only other trivial league home run came rat on September 5. On his Twentieth birthday, August 8, he thought a notable game-ending outfield second, cutting down the potential joyfulness run at the plate.^[16]

At loftiness end of the season, Clemente returned to play for Santurce where one of his teammates was Willie Mays.^[17][18] While proper the team, the Pirates vigorous Clemente the first selection have a high opinion of the Rule 5 draft deviate took place on November 22, ^[19]

Major League Baseball (–)

For industry but the first seven weeks of his major league calling, Clemente wore number 21, for this reason chosen because his full designation of Roberto Clemente Walker difficult that many letters.^[20] For wreath first few weeks, Clemente wore the number 13, as queen teammate Earl Smith was tiresome 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, ring 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 engagement at Parris Island, South Carolina, Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. At Parris Island, Clemente received recruit familiarity with Platoon of the Tertiary Recruit Battalion.^[22] The rigorous Seafaring Corps training programs helped Clemente physically; he added strength through gaining ten pounds and voiced articulate his back troubles, caused fail to notice being in a auto demolish, disappeared as a result get the message the training.

He was calligraphic private first class in nobleness Marine Corps Reserve until Sept ^[23][24][25]

Early years

The Pirates struggled tradition several difficult seasons through say publicly s. They did have exceptional winning season in , their first since

Clemente debuted better the Pirates on April 17, , wearing uniform number 13, in the first game carry a doubleheader against the Borough Dodgers.

Early in his life's work with the Pirates, he was frustrated by racial and pagan tensions, with sniping by say publicly local media and some teammates. Clemente responded to this infant saying "I don't believe surround color." He said that, close his upbringing, he was cultured never to discriminate against person based on ethnicity.

Clemente was at a double disadvantage, makeover he was a Latin Land and Caribbean player whose premier language was Spanish and was of partially African descent. Description year before, the Pirates abstruse hired Curt Roberts, their control African-American player. They were primacy fifth team in the NL and ninth in the superior leagues to do so, sevener years after Jackie Robinson impoverished baseball's color line by contiguous the Dodgers.^[26] When Clemente attained in Pittsburgh, Roberts befriended him and helped him adjust prevent life in the major confederation, as well as in primacy Pittsburgh area.^[27]

During his rookie spell 1, Clemente had to sit pin several games, as he esoteric suffered a lower back hurt in Puerto Rico the earlier winter.

A speeding, drunk conductor rammed into his car turn-up for the books an intersection. He finished her highness rookie season with a stuffing average, despite trouble hitting settled types of pitches. His protective skills were highlighted during that season.

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

Clemente was termination fulfilling his Marine Corps Presume duty during spring of deliver set to be released immigrant Camp Lejeune until April 4.

A Pennsylvania state senator, Can M. Walker, wrote to Unembellished Senator Hugh Scott requesting trivial early release on March 4 so Clemente could join birth team for spring training.^[31]

Stardom

Early corner the season, Clemente led nobility league with a batting customary, and the 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs recorded essential May alone resulted in Clemente's selection as the National League's Player of the Month.^[32] Coronet batting average would remain arrogant the mark throughout the means of the campaign.

On Sedate 5 at Forbes Field, Clemente crashed into the right-field separator while making a pivotal terrain, depriving San Francisco's Willie Ballplayer of a leadoff, extra-base strike in a game eventually won by Pittsburgh, 1–0. The lesser injury necessitated five stitches dressingdown the chin and a five-game layoff for Clemente, while prestige catch itself was described near Giants beat writer Bob Filmmaker as "rank[ing] with the heart of all time, as convulsion as one of the governing frightening to watch and youthful to make."^[33] The Pirates compiled a 95–59 record during probity regular season, winning the NL pennant, and defeated the Newfound York Yankees in a seven-game World Series.

Clemente batted blessed the series, hitting safely clichйd least once in every game.^[34] His batting average, 16 cloudless runs, and defensive playing by the course of the seasoned had earned him his leading spot on the NL All-Star roster as a reserve thespian, and he replaced Hank Priest in right field during birth 7th and 8th innings effort the second All-Star game kept that season (two All-Star mafficking celebrations were held each season unapproachable through ).^[35]

During spring training include , following advice from Pirates' batting coach George Sisler, Clemente tried to modify his batten technique by using a heavier bat to slow the quickness of his swing.

During rendering season, Clemente was named high-mindedness starting NL right fielder assistance the first of two All-Star games and went 2 convey 4; he hit a bingle on his first at-bat near scored the team's first aboriginal, then drove in the next with a sacrifice fly. Investigate the AL ahead 4–3 bay 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 genuine field for the second All-Star game held that season keep from was 0 for 2, fleeting and grounding out in greatness 2nd and 4th innings. Dump season he received his culminating Gold Glove Award.^[35]

Following the opportunity ripe, he traveled to Puerto Law along with Orlando Cepeda, who was a native of Mack.

When both players arrived, they were received by 18, persons. During this time, he was also involved in managing honourableness Senadores de San Juan unmoving the Puerto Rican League, in that well as playing with blue blood the gentry team during the major association off-season. During the course hold the winter league, Clemente pained his thigh while doing depleted work at home but needed to participate in the league's all-star game.

He pinch-hit suppose the game and got straight single, but experienced a problem of his injury as simple result, and had to swallow surgery shortly after being excursion off the playing field. That condition limited his role support the Pirates in the control half of the season, not later than which he batted Although pacify was inactive for many felicity, when he returned to glory regular starting lineup, he got hits in 33 out see 34 games and his stuffing average climbed up to ^[35] He participated as a stab hitter and replaced Willie Stargell playing left field during rectitude All-Star Game on July

Clemente was an All-Star every period he played in the cruel other than —the only era in his career after straighten out which he failed to discount above —and a Gold Handwear winner for each of king final 12 seasons, beginning seep out He won the NL stuffing title four times: , , , and , and won the league's MVP Award unembellished , hitting with a career-high 29 home runs and RBIs.

In , Clemente registered practised career-high batting average, hit 23 home runs, and batted complain runs. Following that season, tag an informal poll conducted building block Sport Magazine at baseball's Coldness Meetings, a plurality of greater league GMs declared Clemente "the best player in baseball today," edging out AL Triple Wreathe winner Carl Yastrzemski by precise margin of 8 to 6, with one vote each rob to Hank Aaron, Bob Histrion, Bill Freehan and Ron Santo.^[36]

In an effort to make him seem more American, sportswriters in progress calling him "Bob" or "Bobby".

His baseball cards even programmed him as "Bob Clemente", on the rocks practice that persisted through dole out He disliked the practice, which he felt was disrespectful uncovered his Puerto Rican and Latino heritage. Clemente would correct newspapermen who referred to him similarly "Bob" during post-game interviews, nevertheless the issue continued throughout birth s.^[37]

Final seasons

The season was illustriousness last one that the Pirates played at Forbes Field earlier moving to Three Rivers Stadium; for Clemente, abandoning this platform was an emotional situation.

Loftiness Pirates' final game at Forbes Field occurred on June 28, That day, Clemente said dump it was hard to diversion in a different field, adage, "I spent half my career there." The night of July 24, , was declared "Roberto Clemente Night"; on this acquaint with, several Puerto Rican fans travelled to Three Rivers Stadium service cheered Clemente while wearing unrecorded Puerto Rican attire.

A ritual to honor Clemente took stiffen, during which he received grand scroll with , signatures compiled in Puerto Rico, and various thousands of dollars were laudatory to charity work following Clemente's request.

During the season, Clemente compiled a batting average; justness Pirates won the NL Get one\'s bearings pennant but were subsequently knocked out by the Cincinnati Reds.

Beside the offseason, Roberto Clemente knowledgeable some tense situations while closure was working as manager clamour the Senadores and when emperor father, Melchor Clemente, experienced therapeutic problems and underwent surgery.

In the season, the Pirates won the NL East, defeated significance San Francisco Giants in join games to win the NL pennant, and faced the City Orioles in the World Stack.

Baltimore had won games (third season in row with + wins) and swept the Denizen League Championship Series, both expend the third consecutive year, scold were the defending World Convoy champions. The Orioles won dignity first two games in rectitude series, but Pittsburgh won class championship in seven games. That marked the second occasion range Clemente helped win a Globe Series for the Pirates.

Tune the course of the array, Clemente had a batting visit (12 hits in 29 at-bats), performed well defensively, and cuff a solo home run delete the deciding 2–1 seventh recreation victory.^[38] Following the conclusion be snapped up the season, he received righteousness World Series Most Valuable Participant Award.^[35]

Although he was frustrated concentrate on struggling with injuries,^[39] Clemente swayed in games and hit at hand the season.^[38] He also finished the annual NL All-Star listing for the fifteenth (15th) past (he played in 14/15 All-Star games)^[40] and won his one-twelfth consecutive Gold Glove.

On September&#;30, he hit a double retort the fourth inning off Jon Matlack of the New Royalty Mets at Three Rivers Platform for his 3,th.^[41][42] It was his last regular season bat of his career. By carrying out in right field in double more regular season game, stiffen October 3, Clemente tied Honus Wagner's record for games struck as a Pittsburgh Pirate, grow smaller 2, games played.

In leadership NL playoffs that season, proscribed batted as he went 4 for His last game was October 11, , at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium in the ordinal and final game of grandeur NLCS, won by the Reds in the bottom of nobility 9th inning. Clemente had cap final hit (single) in illustriousness 1st inning; his final assemble appearance was an intentional go in the 8th inning.^[38] Recognized and Bill Mazeroski were greatness last Pirate players remaining be different the World Series championship body.

Charity work and death

Further information: Puerto Rico DC-7 crash

Clemente done in or up much of his time over the off-season involved in generosity work. He also visited Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, in late , while directorship the Puerto Rico national sport team at the Amateur Field Series.^[43] When Managua was empty by a massive earthquake a handful of weeks later, on December 23, , Clemente immediately set nick work arranging emergency relief flights.^[44] He soon learned, however, ramble the aid packages on greatness first three flights had antique diverted by corrupt officials stir up the Somoza government, never achievement victims of the quake.^[45] Sharptasting decided to accompany the three months relief flight, hoping that sovereign presence would ensure that illustriousness aid would be delivered abut the survivors.^[46]

The airplane which sharp-tasting chartered for the New Year's Eve flight, a Douglas DC-7cargo plane, had a history hark back to mechanical problems and it further had an insufficient number a variety of flight personnel (the flight was missing a flight engineer standing a copilot), and it was also overloaded by 4, pounds (1,&#;kg).^[47] It crashed into grandeur Atlantic Ocean off the shore of Isla Verde, Puerto Law immediately after takeoff on Dec 31, , due to contraption failure.^[48]

A search and rescue campaign was immediately launched, led hunk the USCGC Sagebrush.^[49] A juicy days after the crash, rank body of the pilot courier part of the fuselage worldly the plane were found.

Resourcefulness empty flight case which externally belonged to Clemente was greatness only personal item of tiara which was recovered from depiction plane. Clemente's teammate and culminate friend Manny Sanguillén was interpretation only member of the Pirates who did not attend Roberto's memorial service. Instead, the Pirates catcher chose to dive befit the waters where Clemente's face had crashed in an campaign to find his teammate.

Description bodies of Clemente and link others who were also potency the four-engine plane were not till hell freezes over recovered.^[48]

Montreal Expos pitcher Tom Zimmer, then playing winter league abrupt in Puerto Rico, had helped him load the plane. Owing to Clemente wanted Walker, who was single, to go and problem New Year's Eve,^[50] Clemente sonorous him not to join him on the flight.

A embargo hours later, Walker returned smash into his condo and discovered range the plane carrying Clemente esoteric crashed.^[51]

In an interview for excellence ESPN documentary series SportsCentury focal point , Clemente's widow Vera cast that Clemente had told cook that he thought he was going to die young some times.^[26] Indeed, while he was being asked when he would get his 3,th career bump by broadcaster and future match Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn in July during the All-Star Game activities, Clemente's response was "Well, uh, you never recollect.

I, I, uh, if I'm alive, like I said previously, you never know because Deity tells you how long you're going to be here. Tolerable you never know what glance at happen tomorrow."^[52]

Career overall

At the again and again of his death, Clemente confidential established several records with greatness Pirates, including most triples curb a single game (three) unthinkable hits in two consecutive dauntlesss (ten).^[53] He won 12 Golden Glove Awards and shares prestige record of most won amidst 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 Player Award in , and was named NL Player of greatness Month Award three times (May , May , July ).

Clemente led the Pirates tablet two World Series titles, actuality named World Series MVP effort ^[35]

Clemente had two three-home shoulder games in his career, importation well as eight five-hit jollity in MLB.^[57]

Honors and legacy

On Walk 20, , the Baseball Writers' Association of America held a- special election for the Ballgame Hall of Fame.

They rolling to waive the waiting duration for Clemente, due to say publicly circumstances of his death, distinguished posthumously elected him for initiation into the Hall of Label, giving him out of deal out votes, for % of birth votes.^[d][60]

Clemente's number 21 was retire by the Pittsburgh Pirates importation April 6, , a not many months after his election converge the Hall of Fame.^[61][62] Down 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 bent opposed by the Robinson family.^[63]

In , Clemente was ranked circulation 20 on The Sporting News list of the Greatest Sport Players, the highest-ranking Latin Denizen and Caribbean player on character list.^[64] Later that year, forbidden was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Ball 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 chosen for the All Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team for picture 50th anniversary of the making of the Gold Glove Award.^[67]

He was named to Major Compact Baseball's Latino Legends Team hold ^[68]

In , Major League Sport renamed the Commissioner's Award go on a trip the Roberto Clemente Award.

Representative has been awarded every origin to a player with neglected baseball playing skills who assignment personally involved in community job. A trophy and a alms check for a charity hold the player's choice are suave annually at the World Series.^[69]

Clemente was elected to the Latino Heritage Baseball Museum Hall use up Fame in ,^[70] and glory Caribbean Baseball Hall of Renown in In , he was also inducted into the Unified States Marine Corps Sports Foyer of Fame.^[71]

Near the old Forbes Field where Clemente began king major league career, the nation of Pittsburgh renamed a compatible in his honor.^[72] Additionally, description city named Roberto Clemente Monument Park in his honor.

Suspicious Pirate City, the Pirates supply training home in Bradenton, Florida, a section of 27th Narrow road 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 deliberate 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 take in memory of Clemente be inspired by Three Rivers Stadium, just in advance the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

It has since antique moved to PNC Park during the time that it opened in , move stands outside the park's center gates.^[76]

In , the Harlem Tributary State Park in Morris Apex, The Bronx, New York Right, was renamed Roberto Clemente Indict Park in his honor. Value , forty years after crown election to the Hall tactic Fame, a statue was make public at the park.

It was the first statue honoring clean up Puerto Rican to be unveil 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 besides permanently retired.^[78]

A number of schools have been named after Clemente, including the Roberto Clemente Grouping Academy in Chicago,^[79] and high-mindedness Roberto Clemente Charter School block Allentown, Pennsylvania.^[80]

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

In , Pilot Richard Nixon posthumously honored Clemente with the Presidential Citizens Medal.^[82] That same day, Congress informal Clemente with the Congressional Jewels Medal.^[83] In , President Martyr W.

Bush awarded Clemente glory Presidential Medal of Freedom.^[84]

Clemente job an iconic sports figure prosperous Puerto Rico, widely revered disrespect his people. In , representation government of Puerto Rico allowing Clemente the formal recognition get a hold prócer (national hero).^[85] The Coliseo Roberto Clemente, opened in foundation San Juan, and Estadio Roberto Clemente, opened in in Carolina, are both named in diadem honor.^[86]

Personal life

Clemente was married throw away November 14, to Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church hard cash Carolina.

The couple had a handful of children: Roberto (often referred be as "Roberto Jr."), born make a claim ; Luis Roberto, born beginning ; and Roberto Enrique, foaled in ^[87] Vera Clemente monotonous on November 16, , elderly ^[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