Roberto Clemente - wikipedia Roberto Clemente This name uses Spanish naming customs : the first or paternal family name is Clemente and the second or maternal family name is Walker. Roberto Clemente Clemente in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1958 Right fielder Born : ( 1934 - 08 - 18 ) August 18, 1934 Barrio San Antón, Carolina, Puerto Rico Died : December 31, 1972 ( 1972 - 12 - 31 ) ( aged 38 ) San Juan, Puerto Rico Batted : Right Threw : Right MLB debut April 17, 1955, for the Pittsburgh Pirates Last MLB appearance October 3, 1972, for the Pittsburgh Pirates MLB statistics Batting average. 317 Hits 3,000 Home runs 240 Runs batted in 1,305 Teams Pittsburgh Pirates ( 1955 -- 1972 ) Career highlights and awards 15 × All - Star ( 1960 -- 1967, 1969 -- 1972 ) 2 × World Series champion ( 1960, 1971 ) NL MVP ( 1966 ) World Series MVP ( 1971 ) 12 × Gold Glove Award ( 1961 -- 1972 ) 4 × NL batting champion ( 1961, 1964, 1965, 1967 ) Pittsburgh Pirates # 21 retired Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction 1973 Vote 92.7 % ( first ballot ) Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker ( Spanish pronunciation : ( roˈβeɾto enˈrike kleˈmente ( g ) walˈkeɾ ) ; August 18, 1934 -- December 31, 1972 ) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, becoming the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be enshrined. His untimely death established the precedent that, as an alternative to the five - year retirement period, a player who has been deceased for at least six months is eligible for entry into the Hall of Fame. Clemente was an All - Star for twelve seasons, playing in fifteen All - Star Games. He was the NL Most Valuable Player in 1966, the NL batting leader in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967, and a Gold Glove Award winner for twelve consecutive seasons from 1961 through 1972. His batting average was over. 300 for thirteen seasons and he had 3,000 hits during his major league career. He also played in two World Series championships. Clemente is the first Latin American and Caribbean player to help win a World Series as a starter ( 1960 ), to receive an NL MVP Award ( 1966 ), and to receive a World Series MVP Award ( 1971 ). Clemente was married in 1964 ; he and his wife had three children. He was involved in charity work in Latin American and Caribbean countries during the off - seasons, often delivering baseball equipment and food to those in need. On December 31, 1972, he died in a plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was 38 years old. Contents 1 Early years 2 Puerto Rican baseball ( 1952 -- 54 ) 3 Minor league baseball ( 1954 ) 4 Major League Baseball ( 1955 -- 72 ) 4.1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1950s 4.2 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1960s 4.3 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1970s 4.3. 1 3000th hit 5 Personal life and death 6 Hall of Fame 7 MLB awards and achievements 7.1 Awards 7.2 Achievements 8 Roberto Clemente Award 9 National awards 10 Other honors and awards 10.1 Awards 10.2 Honors 11 Biographies and documentaries 12 Potential canonization 13 See also 14 Notes 15 References 16 External links Early years Clemente was born in Barrio San Antón, Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Melchor Clemente and Luisa Walker. He was the youngest of seven siblings ; Clemente had four brothers and two sisters. During his childhood, his father worked as foreman of sugar crops located in the municipality. Because the family 's resources were limited, Clemente worked alongside his father in the fields, loading and unloading trucks. Clemente showed interest in baseball early in life and often played against neighboring barrios. He attended Julio Vizcarrondo Coronado High School in Carolina. During his first year in high school, he was recruited by Roberto Marín to play softball with the Sello Rojo team after Marín saw Clemente playing baseball in barrio San Antón. He was with the team two years as shortstop. Clemente joined Puerto Rico 's amateur league when he was 16 years old, playing for the Ferdinand Juncos team, which represented the municipality of Juncos. Puerto Rican Baseball ( 1952 -- 54 ) Clemente 's professional baseball career began when Pedrín Zorilla offered Clemente, 18, a contract which he signed on October 9, 1952, with the Cangrejeros de Santurce, a winter league team and franchise of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League ( LBBPR ). He was a bench player during his first season but was promoted to the Santurce Cangrejeros ( `` Crabbers '' ) starting lineup the following season. During this season he hit. 288 as the Crabbers leadoff hitter. While Clemente was playing in the LBBPR, the Brooklyn Dodgers offered him a contract with one of the team 's Triple - A affiliates. Minor League Baseball ( 1954 ) After signing with the Dodgers on February 19, 1954, Clemente moved to Montreal to play with the Royals. Affected early on by both climate and language differences, Clemente received assistance from bilingual teammates such as infielder Chico Fernandez and pitchers Tommy Lasorda and Joe Black. In fact, it was Black who was the original target of the Pittsburgh Pirates ' June 1, 1954 scouting trip to Richmond. Conducted by pitching coach Clyde Sukeforth, the mission 's focus quickly shifted when he witnessed Clemente 's throwing and batting prowess in pre-game drills. Nonetheless, Clemente barely played during Sukeforth 's three - day visit. With his suspicions further aroused by manager Max Macon 's dismissive remarks ( `` You mean you want him ? ! '' ) and the fact that Clemente took batting practice with the pitchers rather than his fellow position players, Sukeforth made inquiries and soon ascertained Clemente 's status as an unprotected bonus baby. Before leaving Richmond, he informed Macon that such subterfuge was pointless since the Pirates, well on their way to a fourth consecutive last - place finish, would thereby secure first pick in the winter draft. Evidently, Macon took Sukeforth at his word ; scarcely had the Pirate scout departed when, on June 4, Clemente started his first game in over a month. In the course of two days and three games ( two of which he started ), Clemente amassed ten at - bats, two more than in the previous thirty games combined. Yet just as abruptly, the moment was over and he was back to riding the bench, this time for almost two months. Clemente 's extra inning, walk - off home run of July 25, 1954, the first home run of his North American baseball career, was hit in his first at - bat after entering the game as a defensive replacement, ending a nearly two - month - long drought starting on June 6 ( 17 appearances, 6 starts, and 24 at - bats in 60 games ). From this point forward, Clemente 's playing time increased significantly ; he started every subsequent game against a left - handed starting pitcher, finishing the season with a batting average of. 257 in 87 games. Clemente would complement his July 25 walk - off homer with another on September 5, as well as a walk - off outfield assist ( cutting down the potential tying run at the plate ) on August 18, his 20th birthday. As promised, the Pirates made Clemente the first selection of the rookie draft that took place on November 22, 1954. Major League Baseball ( 1955 -- 72 ) During much of his MLB career, Clemente was commonly referred to as `` Bob Clemente '' by sportswriters and announcers, and on baseball merchandise such as his annual Topps baseball trading cards ( except the early 1950s and 1970s cards ) ; this despite the fact he clearly preferred being called by his given first name. Also, most of his English - speaking teammates, uncomfortable with the foreign - sounding `` Roberto '', likewise resorted to Bob or Bobby. By the late 1960s, this practice had become the exception, not the rule ; still, it was never entirely eradicated, as evidenced on September 30, 1972, the occasion of Clemente 's 3,000 th and final regular season hit, when Pirates announcer Bob Prince referred to him as `` Bobby '' while calling the game for KDKA. Clemente wore number 21, later retired by the Pirates, representing the number of letters in his full name, Roberto Clemente Walker. During the off - seasons ( except the 1958 -- 59, 1962 -- 63, 1965 -- 66, 1968 -- 69, 1971 -- 72, and 1972 -- 73 seasons ), Clemente played professionally ( and sometimes managed the San Juan team ) for the Santurce Crabbers, Criollos de Caguas, and San Juan Senadores in the Puerto Rican baseball winter league, where he was considered a star. Letter from State Senator John M. Walker to U.S. Senator Hugh Scott requesting an early release for Roberto Clemente from the Marine Corps for the 1959 season In September 1958, Clemente joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He went on to serve his six - month active duty commitment at Parris Island, South Carolina, Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. At Parris Island, Clemente received his recruit training with Platoon 346 of the 3rd Recruit Battalion. The rigorous Marine Corps training programs helped Clemente physically ; he added strength by gaining ten pounds and said his back troubles ( caused by being in a 1954 auto accident, see below ) had disappeared. He was a private first class in the Marine Corps Reserve until September 1964. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1950s The Pirates experienced several difficult seasons through the 1950s, although they did manage a winning season in 1958, their first since 1948. Clemente debuted with the Pirates on April 17, 1955 wearing uniform number 13, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Dodgers. At the beginning of his time with the Pirates, he experienced frustration because of racial tension with the local media and some teammates. Clemente responded to this by stating, `` I do n't believe in color. '' He noted that, during his upbringing, he was taught to never discriminate against someone based on ethnicity. Clemente was at a double disadvantage, as he was a Latin American and Caribbean player who knew very little English, and was Black, being of African descent. The year before, the Pirates had become the fifth team in the NL and ninth in the major leagues to break the baseball color line when they hired Curt Roberts who debuted with the team. This was seven years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball 's color line with the Dodgers. Upon arriving in Pittsburgh, Roberts befriended Clemente and helped him adjust to life in the major league, as well as to get used to life in the Pittsburgh area. Clemente had to sit out several games during his rookie season, due to a back injury suffered the previous winter in Puerto Rico, when a drunk driver rammed into his car at an intersection. He finished his rookie season with a. 255 batting average, despite confronting trouble hitting certain types of pitches. His defensive skills were highlighted during this season. The following season, on July 25, 1956 in Forbes Field, Clemente hit the only documented walk - off, inside - the - park grand slam in modern MLB play. Clemente was still fulfilling his Marine Corps Reserve duty during spring of 1959 and set to be released from Camp Lejeune until April 4. A Pennsylvania State Senator, John M. Walker, wrote to US Senator Hugh Scott requesting an early release on March 4 so Clemente could join the team for spring training. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1960s A statue of Clemente outside of PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Early in the 1960 season, Clemente led the league with a. 353 batting average, and he registered runs batted in ( RBIs ) in 25 out of 27 games. Clemente 's batting average stayed above the. 300 mark throughout the course of the campaign. In August, he missed five games as a result of an injury to his chin that he suffered when he crashed into the outfield wall. The Pirates compiled a 95 -- 59 record during the regular season, winning the NL pennant, and defeated the New York Yankees in a seven - game World Series. Clemente batted. 310 in the series, hitting safely at least once in every game. His. 314 batting average, 16 home runs, and defensive playing during the course of the season had earned him his first spot on the NL All - Star roster as a reserve player, and he replaced Hank Aaron in right field during the 7th and 8th innings in the second All - Star game held that season ( two All - Star games were held each season from 1959 through 1962 ). During spring training in 1961, following advice from Pirates ' batting coach George Sisler, Clemente tried to modify his batting technique by using a heavier bat to slow the speed of his swing. During the 1961 season, Clemente was named the starting NL right fielder for the first of two All - Star games and went 2 for 4 ; he hit a triple on his first at - bat and scored the team 's first run, then drove in the second with a sacrifice fly. With the AL ahead 4 -- 3 in the 10th inning, he teamed with fellow future HOFers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson to engineer a come - from - behind 5 -- 4 NL victory, culminating in Clemente 's walk - off single off knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. Clemente started again in right field for the second All - Star game held that season and was 0 for 2, flying and grounding out in the 2nd and 4th innings. That season he received his first Gold Glove Award. Following the 1961 season, he traveled to Puerto Rico along with Orlando Cepeda, who was a native of Ponce. When both players arrived, they were received by 18,000 people. During this time, he was also involved in managing the Senadores de San Juan of the Puerto Rican League, as well as playing with the team during the major league off - season. During the course of the winter league, Clemente injured his thigh while doing some work at home but wanted to participate in the league 's all - star game. He pinch - hit in the game and got a single, but experienced a complication of his injury as a result, and had to undergo surgery shortly after being carried off the playing field ; This condition limited his role with the Pirates in the first half of the 1965 season, during which he batted. 257. Although he was inactive for many games, when he returned to the regular starting lineup, he got hits in thirty - three out of thirty - four games and his batting average climbed up to. 340. He participated as a pinch hitter and replaced Willie Stargell playing left field during the All - Star Game on July 15. In the 1960s, he batted over. 300 every year except 1968, when he hit. 291. He was an All - Star every season he played in the 1960s except for the 1968 season ( it was the only year in his career after 1959 in which he failed to hit above. 300 ), and he was a Gold Glove winner every season in the 1960s beginning in 1961. He won the NL batting title four times : 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967, and won the league 's MVP Award in 1966, hitting. 317 with 29 home runs and 119 RBIs. In 1967, he registered a career high. 357 batting average, hit 23 home runs, and batted in 110 runs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1970s The 1970 season was the last one that the Pirates played at Forbes Field before moving to Three Rivers Stadium ; for Clemente, abandoning this stadium was an emotional situation. The Pirates ' final game at Forbes Field occurred 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. '' The night of July 24, 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 attire. 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. During the 1970 season, Clemente compiled a. 352 batting average ; the Pirates won the NL East pennant but were subsequently eliminated by the Cincinnati Reds. During the offseason, Roberto Clemente experienced some tense situations while he was working as manager of the Senadores and when his father, Melchor Clemente, experienced medical problems and underwent surgery. In the 1971 season, the Pirates won the NL East, defeated the San Francisco Giants in four games to win the NL pennant, and faced the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Baltimore had won 101 games ( third season in row with 100 + wins ) 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 helped win a World Series for the Pirates. Over the course of the series, Clemente had a. 414 batting average ( 12 hits in 29 at - bats ), performed well defensively, and hit a solo home run in the deciding 2 -- 1 seventh game victory. Following the conclusion of the season, he received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. 3000th hit Roberto Clemente 's number 21 was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1973. Though he was frustrated and struggling with injuries, Clemente played in 102 games and hit. 312 during the 1972 season. He also made the annual NL All - Star roster for the 12th time ( he played in 14 / 15 All - Star games ) and won his 12th consecutive Gold Glove. On September 30, he hit a double in the 4th inning off Jon Matlack of the New York Mets at Three Rivers Stadium for his 3,000 th hit. It was his last regular season at - bat of his career ; he played in right field in one more regular season game on October 3 and in the 1972 NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds. In the NL playoffs that season, he batted. 235 as he went 4 for 17. His last game was October 11, 1972 at Cincinnati 's Riverfront Stadium in the fifth and final game of the series. He and Bill Mazeroski were the last Pirate players remaining from the 1960 World Series championship team. Personal life and death Clemente was married on November 14, 1964 to Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church in Carolina. The couple had three children : Roberto, Jr., born in 1965, Luis Roberto, born in 1966, and Roberto Enrique, born in 1969. 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 massive earthquake on December 23, 1972, Clemente ( who visited Managua three weeks before the quake ) immediately set to work arranging emergency relief flights. He soon learned, however, that the aid packages on the first three flights had been diverted by corrupt officials of the Somoza government, never reaching victims of the quake. He decided to accompany the fourth relief flight, hoping that his presence would ensure that the aid would be delivered to the survivors. The airplane he chartered for a New Year 's Eve flight, a Douglas DC - 7 cargo plane, had a history of mechanical problems and subpar flight personnel, and was overloaded by 4,200 pounds. It crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico immediately after takeoff on December 31, 1972 due to engine failure. 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 Sanguillén was the only member of the Pirates not to attend Roberto 's memorial service. The Pirates catcher chose instead to dive into the waters where Clemente 's plane had crashed in an effort to find his teammate. The bodies of Clemente and three others who were also on the four - engine plane, were never recovered. Montreal Expos pitcher Tom Walker, then playing winter league ball in Puerto Rico ( in a league later named after Clemente ), helped Clemente load the plane, but either because of the plane 's weight load or because he wanted Walker, who was single, to go enjoy New Year 's, Clemente told him not to join him on the flight. Walker 's son is current Milwaukee Brewers second baseman and former Met and Pirate Neil Walker. In an interview for the ESPN documentary series SportsCentury in 2002, Clemente 's widow Vera mentioned that Clemente had told her several times that he thought he was going to die young. Indeed, while being asked by broadcaster and future fellow Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn in July 1971 during the All - Star Game activities about when he would get his 3,000 career hit, Clemente 's response was `` Well, uh, you never know. I, I, uh, if I 'm alive, like I said before, you never know because God tells you how long you 're going to be here. So you never know what can happen tomorrow. '' Clemente 's older stepbrother, Luis, died on December 31, 1954 and his stepsister a few years later. 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 ). He won 12 Gold Glove Awards and shares the record of most won among outfielders with Willie Mays. On July 25, 1956, in a 9 -- 8 Pittsburgh win against the Chicago Cubs, Clemente hit the only walk - off inside - the - park grand slam in professional baseball history. Hall of Fame On March 20, 1973, the Baseball Writers ' Association of America held a special election for the 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 out of 420 available votes, for 92.7 % of the vote. Clemente 's Hall of Fame plaque originally had his name as `` Roberto Walker Clemente '' instead of the proper Spanish format `` Roberto Clemente Walker '' ; the plaque was recast in 2000 to correct the error. MLB awards and achievements Awards NL MVP Award ( 1966 ) NL Player of the Month Award ( May 1960, May 1967, July 1969 ) World Series MVP Award ( 1971 ) NL Gold Glove Award ( 1961 -- 1972 ) Commissioner 's Historic Achievement Award ( 2006 ) Achievements NL All - Star ( 1960 -- 1967, 1969 -- 1972 ) NL leader in batting average ( 1961, 1964, 1965, 1967 ) NL leader in hits ( 1964, 1967 ) NL leader in triples ( 1969 ) NL leader in putouts as right fielder ( 1958, 1961, 1966 ) NL leader in fielding average as right fielder and outfielder ( 1972 ) Roberto Clemente Award Since 1971, MLB has presented the Roberto Clemente Award ( named the Commissioner 's Award in 1971 and 1972 ) every year to a player with outstanding baseball playing skills who is personally involved in community work. A trophy and a donation check for a charity of the player 's choice is presented annually at the World Series. A panel of three makes the final determination of the award recipient from an annual list of selected players. National Awards Clemente was posthumously presented three civilian awards of the United States government from the President of the United States including the first Presidential Citizens Medal : President Richard Nixon, May 14, 1973 : Roberto Clemente Walker Congressional Gold Medal President Richard Nixon, May 14, 1973 : Presidential Citizens Medal President George W. Bush, July 23, 2003 : Presidential Medal of Freedom The Roberto Clemente Walker Congressional Gold Medal Presidential Medal of Freedom Presidential Citizens Medal Citizens Medal Citation `` All who saw Roberto Clemente in action, whether on the diamond or on the front lines of charitable endeavor, are richer for the experience. He stands with the handful of men whose brilliance has transformed the game of baseball into a showcase of skill and spirit, giving universal delight and inspiration. More than that, his selfless dedication to helping those with two strikes against them in life has blessed thousands and set an example for millions. As long as athletes and humanitarians are honored, Roberto Clemente 's memory will live ; as long as Citizens Medals are presented, each will mean a little more because the first one went to him. '' Other honors and Awards Roberto Clemente Coliseum ( since 1973 ) Roberto Clemente 's number 21 was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1973. Awards Havey Boyle Award ( 1961 ) from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers ' Association of America. Sportsman of the Year Award ( 1961, 1966 and 1971 ) from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Club. Man of the Year Award ( 1966 ) from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Jaycees. David L. Lawrence Memorial Award ( 1966 ) from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Jaycees. Tris Speaker Memorial Award ( 1970 ) from the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers ' Association of America. Babe Ruth Award ( 1971 ) from the Baseball Writers ' Association of America ( BBWWA ). Al Abrams Memorial Award ( 1986 ) from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Club. Eduardo Green Award ( 1989 ) from the government of Nicaragua. Honors 1973 : Clemente 's uniform number 21 was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 6. 1984 : The United States Postal Service issued a Roberto Clemente postal stamp on August 17, 1984. The stamp was designed by Juan Lopez - Bonilla and shows Clemente wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap with a Puerto Rican flag in the background. 2003 : Clemente was inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame. A US Post Office in Clemente 's hometown Carolina, Puerto Rico was named after him. 2005 : Clemente was named a member of MLB 's Latino Legends Team. 2007 : Clemente was selected for the All Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team ( 50th anniversary of the Gold Glove award ; 1957 ). 2010 : Clemente was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. 2015 : Clemente was enshrined in the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. PNC Park, the home ballpark of the Pirates which opened in 2001, includes a right field wall 21 feet ( 6.4 m ) high, in reference to Clemente 's uniform number and his normal fielding position during his years with the Pirates. 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. An identical smaller statue was unveiled in Newark, New Jersey 's Branch Brook Park in 2012. The team considered 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. The coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico was named the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in 1973 ; 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. The Pittsburgh Pirates is one of the most popular baseball teams in Puerto Rico due to Clemente. In Pittsburgh, the 6th Street Bridge was renamed in his memory. 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 section of Pittsburgh. Near the old Forbes Field where he began his pro career the city of Pittsburgh has renamed a street in his honor. Champion thoroughbred horse Roberto, bred in 1968 and owned by then - Pirates owner John W. Galbreath, was named for Clemente. The horse would go on to become a champion in Britain and Ireland, and in June 1973, following Clemente 's passing, won the Group I Coronation Stakes at Epsom. The U.S. state of New York opened Roberto Clemente State Park in The Bronx in 1973. Some schools, such as Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago the Roberto Clemente Charter School in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Roberto Clemente Academy in Detroit, Roberto Clemente Elementary School and New Roberto Clemente Middle School in Paterson, New Jersey were named in his honor. There is also a Roberto Clemente Stadium in Masaya, Nicaragua, as well as a middle school in Germantown, Maryland, called Roberto W. Clemente Middle School. In addition, he is the namesake for the Roberto Clemente Little League in Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey, the Roberto Clemente Independent School of the Arts ( IS 195 ) in New York City, and Clemente Leadership Academy in The Hill neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut. In 1999, Clemente ranked number 20 on The Sporting News ' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, the highest - ranking Latin American and Caribbean player on the list. Later that year, Clemente was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All - Century Team. During the 2003 and 2004 MLB seasons, the Montreal Expos ( who at the time were owned by MLB due to an aborted contraction attempt ) played 22 home games each season at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Although the Pirates played their annual road series against the Expos in Montreal for 2003, the two teams did meet in San Juan for a four - game series in 2004, the last series the Expos hosted in San Juan before moving to Washington, D.C. and becoming the Washington Nationals the following season. During one of those games, in a tribute to Clemente, both teams wore throwback uniforms from the 1969 season, the Expos first season and, at the time, Clemente 's 15th with the Pirates. The Pirates throwbacks, replicas of what Clemente wore from 1957 -- early 1970, were similar to their then - current uniforms, except that the road jerseys they wore for the game read `` Pirates '' instead of `` Pittsburgh '', and last names were absent from the backs of the jerseys. The Expos won the four - game series three games to one. Clemente 's # 21 remains active in MLB and is worn by multiple players. Sammy Sosa wore # 21 throughout his career as a tribute to his childhood hero. 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 MLB should honor him another way. In June 2013, at aforementioned Clemente Park in The Bronx, a statue of the Hall of Fame icon, sculpted by Cuban - American Maritza Hernandez, was installed. It depicts Clemente doffing his cap after notching his 3,000 th hit on September 30, 1972. At Pirate City, the Pirates spring training home in Bradenton, Florida, a section of 27th Street East is named Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway. Biographies and documentaries Clemente 's life has been the subject of numerous books, articles and documentaries : 1993 : `` Roberto Clemente : A Video Tribute to One of Baseball 's Greatest Players and a True Humanitarian '', documentary directed by Rich Domich and Michael Kostel, narrated by Raúl Juliá and Héctor Elizondo. 2006 : Clemente : The Passion and grace of Baseball 's Last Hero by David Maraniss. 2008 : `` Roberto Clemente '' : One - hour biography as part of the Public Broadcasting Service history series, American Experience which premiered on April 21, 2008. The film is directed by Bernardo Ruiz, narrated by Jimmy Smits and features interviews with Vera Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and George F. Will. The production received an ALMA Award. 2010 : Chasing 3000 a movie 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 the United States to see Clemente 's 3,000 th hit. 2011 : 21 : The Story of Roberto Clemente was released, a graphic novel by Wilfred Santiago ( published by Fantagraphics ) detailing Clemente 's life in a comic - book format. In their USA Today Magazine article titled `` Saluting Pittsburgh 's Finest '' Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg said Clemente was `` arguably the best in the history of the game '' and stated that `` understanding the magnitude of Roberto Clemente requires an appreciation of the gestalt of his presence, which was greater than the sum of his statistics ''. 2011 : DC - 7 : The Roberto Clemente Story, a bilingual musical about Clemente 's life, had its world premiere in November 2011 with a full house at the Teatro SEA in Manhattan before moving to New York 's Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre for a successful seven - week run. The show ran from December 6 through December 16, 2012 at Puerto Rico 's Teatro Francisco Arrivi. 2013 : Baseball 's Last Hero : 21 Clemente Stories, the first feature dramatic film on Clemente 's life was finished by California filmmaker and Pittsburgh native Richard Rossi. Rossi returned to Pittsburgh to premiere his film on Roberto Clemente 's birthday, August 18, 2013 before exhibiting the film in New York, other cities, and DVD. Potential canonization Richard Rossi ( center ) at screening of his Clemente film at Vogue Theater in San Francisco. Pictured with him are two fans of the film from Nicaragua whose families were saved by Clemente 's relief efforts. The feature film Baseball 's Last Hero : 21 Clemente Stories was filmed by Richard Rossi. One of the scenes in the movie features a conversation Clemente has with a nun. The scene spurred several people to pitch the Pope for Clemente 's canonization as a saint. Rossi, a former evangelical minister, received several messages of support, including a letter showing papal support from Pope Francis in starting the process from the Vatican through the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. and from Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. `` I 've never thought of him in terms of being a saint '', said former Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, a devout Roman Catholic whose father was a teammate of Clemente. `` But he 's somebody who lived his life serving others, really. So if it would happen, I would n't be terribly surprised by it. '' Some claim the canonization requirement of a miracle was met on July 22, 2017, when Jaime Nieto, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a backflip accident three years after the Clemente film was released, walked 130 steps at his own wedding to fellow Olympian Shevon Stoddart. The miracle was predicted by Rossi as a demonstration of the power of God. See also Puerto Rico portal Pittsburgh portal Baseball portal United States Marine Corps portal Biography portal Baseball 's Last Hero : 21 Clemente Stories Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps List of baseball players who died during their careers Players from Puerto Rico in MLB List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders List of Major League Baseball batting champions List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise List of Puerto Rican Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients List of Puerto Rican Presidential Citizens Medal recipients Notes Jump up ^ Both a 1955 interview with Clemente and a 1994 interview with his wife Vera confirm that Clemente 's full name includes the middle name Enrique. The discrepancy in spelling -- 1994 's ' Enrique ' vs. 1955 's E-n-r-i - c - q-u-e ( as allegedly spelled out for the interviewer by Clemente ) -- is presumably due to a misunderstanding on the part of the Post-Gazette's non-Spanish - speaking interviewer, likely mistaking the word `` Si '' for the letter c. Jump up ^ MLB held two All - Star Games each season from 1959 through 1962. Jump up ^ Not to be confused with the better known barrio San Antón in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Jump up ^ To what extent Lasorda actually assisted Clemente is open to debate. Fellow Royals hurler Joe Black categorically denies Lasorda 's characterization of Clemente as unable to `` speak one word of English '' : `` I saw him on the field and I said, ' Tommy, why did you tell that story ? ' He said, ' What do you mean ? ' I said, ' One : Clemente did n't hang out with you. Second : Clemente speaks English. ' (... ) Puerto Rico, you know, is part of the United States. So, over there, youngsters do have the privilege of taking English in classrooms. He would n't give a speech like Shakespeare, but he knew how to order breakfast and eggs. He knew how to say, ' It 's a good day, ' ' Let 's play, ' or ' Why I do n't play ? ' He could say, ' Let 's go to the movies. ' '' Jump up ^ Oddly enough, the second home run of Clemente 's North American career, and the only other he hit that season, was hit under almost identical conditions : an extra-inning, walk - off home run, hit in his first at - bat after entering the game as a defensive replacement, against a right - handed pitcher. Jump up ^ The source for this frequently cited factoid is Madison McEntire 's 2006 book, Big League Trivia ; Facts, Figures, Oddities, and Coincidences from our National Pastime. ( Indeed, as late as July 23 of that year, two days prior to the home run 's 50th anniversary, an eyewitness account written by Pittsburgh - based sportswriter John Steigerwald stated merely that it `` may have been done only once in the history of baseball. '' ( Emphasis added. ) ) However, the claim, as it appears on page 53, and has since been repeated extensively, in print and online ( i.e. `` Clemente is the only player to end a game with an inside - the - park grand slam. '' ), is actually qualified ( along with most of the book 's items ) by McEntire in the book 's introduction. `` Unless stated otherwise, I used the year 1900 -- the beginning of the modern baseball era -- as the starting point for the items in this book. '' Jump up ^ MLB held two All - Star Games each season from 1959 through 1962. Jump up ^ MLB held two Major League Baseball All - Star Games each season from 1959 through 1962. Jump up ^ Presented annually to Pittsburgh 's outstanding sports figure. Jump up ^ It was Clemente 's acceptance speech for this award that produced his oft - cited quote, `` If you have an opportunity to accomplish something that will make things better for someone coming behind you, and you do n't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth. '' References Jump up ^ Abrams, Al. `` Sidelight on Sports : A Baseball Star is Born ''. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 7, 1955. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 19. Jump up ^ O'Brien, Jim ( 1994 ). `` Vera Clemente ''. Remember Roberto : Clemente Recalled by Teammates, Family, Friends and Fans. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania : James P. O'Brien Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 0 - 916114 - 14 - 7. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 19. Jump up ^ Baseball Hall of Famers : Roberto Clemente. Robert Kingsbury. Page 7. 2003. Retrieved 27 September 2013. Jump up ^ Paul Roberto Walker ( 1988 ). `` The way of the Jibaro ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 3. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. Roberto 's father, Don Melchor Clemente, worked as a foreman in the sugar fields. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Where Are You Going, Momen ? ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 20. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. For the next two years, Clemente played for the Sello Rojo softball team. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Where Are You Going, Momen ? ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 20. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. When he was sixteen, he played for the Ferdinand Juncos team in the Puerto Rican amateur league. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Tell the Man I Will Sign ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 25. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. Well, Marin ``, said señor Zorilla, `` we can give him $400 bonus and maybe $ 40.00 a week until he learns to wear a uniform. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Wearing the Uniform ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 33. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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 ^ Jump up to : Markusen, Bruce ( 1998 ). `` Hidden in Montreal ''. Champaign, Il : Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 19 -- 20. ISBN 1 - 58261 - 312 - 5. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 14. ^ Jump up to : McGowan, Lloyd. `` Macon 's Royals Register : Top Richmond A la Grant -- Amoros Hits ''. The Montreal Star. June 2, 1954. `` Clyde Sukeforth, once a Royal General, said the Amoros homer came off a high fastball. (... ) Joe Black had n't reported from the Dodgers up to last night... '' See also : McGowan, Lloyd. `` Black, Roebuck Shelled by Richmond Artillery ''. The Montreal Star. June 3, 1954. `` Clyde Sukeforth, in the stands again, thought Black looked real good, figures him to win for the Royals -- but Sukey ca n't get over Roebuck 's wildness. '' McGowan, Lloyd. `` Lehmann Lacks Usual Control As Royals Bow to Richmond ''. The Montreal Star. June 4, 1954. `` It was midnight when Max Macon and Clyde Sukeforth came into the lobby of the hotel. They were n't quite in complete accord as to why the Royals dropped another game to the Virginians 7 -- 2. '' McGowan, Lloyd. `` Bits From The Batter 's Box ''. The Montreal Star. June 5, 1954. `` Clyde Sukeforth 's attendance at the series between the Royals and Virginians was the cause of much conjecturing... Sukey managed the Royals when Max Macon played on the club a dozen years ago. '' ^ Jump up to : Biederman, Les. `` Clemente, Early Buc Ace, Says He 's Better in Summer : Sukey First to Glimpse Clemente ''. The Sporting News. June 29, 1955. p. 26. `` Sukeforth, a Bucco coach, was sent to Richmond, Va., last June to get a look at pitcher Joe Black of Montreal. (... ) But Sukey practically forgot all about Black when he caught his first glimpse of Clemente. ' I arrived at the Richmond ball park where Montreal was playing just in time to see the pre-game workout, ' Sukey relates. ' I saw Clemente throwing from the outfield and I could n't take my eyes off him. Later in the game he was used as a pinch - hitter and I liked his swing. He impressed me a great deal. I started asking questions and learned he was a bonus player and would be eligible for the draft. I knew then he 'd be our first draft choice. In fact, I told Montreal manager Max Macon to take good care of ' our boy ' and see that he did n't get hurt. ' '' ^ Jump up to : Thornley, Stew. `` Appendix : Statistical Summary of Roberto Clemente 's 1954 Season With the Montreal Royals ''. The National Pastime : A Review of Baseball History. Volume 26 ; 2006. pp. 68 -- 69. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 14. Jump up ^ Honig, Donald ( 1988 ). The Donald Honig Reader. New York : Simon & Schuster. p. 146. ISBN 9780671663391. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 14. Jump up ^ Markusen, Bruce ( 1998 ). `` Hidden in Montreal ''. Champaign, Il : Sports Publishing LLC. p. 23. ISBN 1 - 58261 - 312 - 5. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 14. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` It 's For Your Own Good ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 41. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. I noticed you have n'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 do n'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. ^ Jump up to : Thornley, Stew ( 2012 ). `` A Season in Montreal ''. Roberto Clemente ( Revised Edition ). Minneapolis : Twenty - First Century Books. p. 20. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4677 - 0405 - 2. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 14. Jump up ^ Thornley, Stew ( 2012 ). `` A Season in Montreal ''. Roberto Clemente ( Revised Edition ). Minneapolis : Twenty - First Century Books. pp. 21 -- 22. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4677 - 0405 - 2. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 14. Jump up ^ Associated Press. `` Clemente 's Toss Helps Royals Defeat Toronto ''. The Montreal Gazette. August 19, 1954. ( This links to the Gazette 's front page. To access the article, type the number 16 in the navigation box in the upper right - hand corner, press `` Enter, '' then drag the image up and towards the left. ) Retrieved 2016 - 08 - 18. Jump up ^ Search results for `` Bob Clemente ''. Google News Archive. Retrieved 15 March 2015. Jump up ^ 1957 Topps : Bob Clemente. Baseball-Cards.com. Retrieved 15 March 2015. See also : 1960 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1961 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1962 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1963 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1964 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1965 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1966 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1967 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1968 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. 1969 Topps : Bob Clemente. PSA CardFacts. Jump up ^ Markusen, Bruce ( 1996 ). `` Chapter 10 : Fallback ''. Roberto Clemente : The Greatest. Champaign, Illinois : Sports Publishing LLC, 1998. p. 116. ISBN 1571672443. Retrieved 15 March 2015. Jump up ^ Rice, Dona. Rice, William ( 2012 ). Roberto Clemente. Huntington Beach, California : Teacher Created Materials. p. 14. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4333 - 3683 - 6. Retrieved 15 March 2015. Jump up ^ Cohn, Bob. `` 40 years ago Sunday, Clemente notched 3,000 th and final hit ''. TribLive. September 29, 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015. Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente 's 3,000 th Hit ''. YouTube. Retrieved 15 March 2015. Jump up ^ `` Pirates Retired Numbers ''. Pittsburgh Pirates. Retrieved October 2, 2015. Jump up ^ Martinez, Hiram ( December 31, 2012 ). `` ESPN Internet Ventures ''. ESPN. Retrieved October 2, 2015. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. Once again he was playing for the Santurce Crabbers. In the winter league he was an established star. Jump up ^ `` Clemente, The Passion and Grace of Baseball 's Last Hero '' ; By : David Maraniss ; p. 88 ; Simon & Schuster ; ISBN 978 - 0 - 7432 - 1781 - 1 Jump up ^ Clemente to Start Six - Month Marine Corps Hitch, October 4,. The Sporting News. September 24, 1958. p. 7. Jump up ^ Buc Flyhawk Now Marine Rookie. The Sporting News. November 19, 1958. p. 13. ^ Jump up to : `` Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame - Roberto Clemente ''. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Jump up ^ Paul Robert Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. Even on his own team, some of the players made fun of him and called him a `` nigger. '' Roberto grew furious at their insults. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. ^ Jump up to : Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. `` I do n'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 on their color. ^ Jump up to : SportsCentury : Roberto Clemente Jump up ^ Bouchette, Ed ( May 15, 1987 ). `` Roberts Bucs ' forgotten pioneer ''. Pittsburgh Post -- Gazette. pp. 19, 22. Retrieved March 10, 2012. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The Life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. Roberto continued to struggle at the plate throughout his rookie season, finally finishing with a. 255 average. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I play like Roberto Clemente ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. In the outfield, however, he quickly established himself as an outstanding performer. Jump up ^ Steigerwald, John. `` This Was Clemente 's Grandest Slam ''. The Indiana Gazette. July 23, 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2015. `` On July 25, 1956, Roberto Clemente did something that may have been done only once in the history of baseball. And I was there to see it. '' Jump up ^ McEntire, Madison. Big League Trivia ; Facts, Figures, Oddities, and Coincidences from our National Pastime. Bloomington, Indiana : AuthorHouse. p. IX and 53. ISBN 1 - 4259 - 1292 - 3. Retrieved 4 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente, A Legacy Beyond Baseball ''. Pieces of History. 2014 - 07 - 17. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 11. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Beat ' Em, Bucs ! ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 63. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Beat ' Em, Bucs ! ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 64. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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 Jump up ^ Associated Press. `` Clemente : Baseball 's Biggest Bargain ''. The Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1973. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Beat ' Em, Bucs ! ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 74. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Beat ' Em, Bucs ! ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 77. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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 ! Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` Beat ' Em, Bucs ! ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. pp. 78 -- 79. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` It Is My Life ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 85. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` It Is My Life ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. pp. 88 -- 89. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. ^ Jump up to : `` ESPN -- Roberto Clemente MLB Career statistics -- Major League Baseball ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I Do n't Have The Words ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 106. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. 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. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I Do n't Have The Words ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 107. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. A young Puerto Rican businessman named Juan Jiménez presented Roberto with a scroll containing 300,000 signatures from the people of Puerto Rico. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I Do n't Have The Words ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 108. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. At Roberto 's request, thousands of dollars were donated to help the crippled children at Pittsburgh 's Children 's Hospital. Jump up ^ Paul Rober Walker ( 1988 ). `` I Do n't Have The Words ''. Pride of Puerto Rico : The life of Roberto Clemente. United States : Harcourt Brace & Company. pp. 111 -- 112. ISBN 0 - 15 - 307557 - 0. That winter, Roberto had other concerns as well. Don Melchor fell seriously ll and had to have surgery. ^ Jump up to : Larry Schwartz. `` Clemente quietly grew in stature ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Official Pittsburgh Pirates Site, Roberto Clemente -- # 21, `` 12 - time All - Star '' ( 1 ) Retrieved September 20, 2015 Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente Award ''. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ Roberts, Jerry ( 2006 ). `` Timeline ''. Roberto Clemente : Baseball Player. New York : Ferguson. p. 90. ISBN 9780816060726. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ Richman, Milton. `` Sports Parade : No Camp, No Disneyland ''. The Reading Eagle. February 2, 1973. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 28. `` ' If Roberto was here, he would be planning to go to Florida for spring training now, ' says his attractive, dark - haired widow, Vera Clemente, who has been caring for her three small sons, Roberto Jr., 7, Luis Roberto, 6, and Roberto Enrique, 3, since the tragedy. '' Jump up ^ Miller, Ira. `` Enrique Just Does n't Understand : Clemente 's Four - Year - Old Son Still Waits ''. The Beaver County Times. March 21, 1973. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ `` White House Dream Team : Roberto Walker Clemente ''. White House. Archived from the original on 2007 - 12 - 16. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` El vuelo solidario y temerario de Clemente ''. El Nuevo Diario. Archived from the original on 2009 - 02 - 04. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Hispanic Heritage : Roberto Clemente ''. Gale Gengage Learning. Archived from the original on 2007 - 12 - 23. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente plane ruled unfit ''. News.google.com. 1973 - 07 - 13. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. ^ Jump up to : `` Roberto Clemente ''. Latino Legends in Sports. Archived from the original on 2007 - 10 - 26. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ Kepner, Tyler ( 1 September 2013 ). `` Pittsburgh 's Stirring Leap From the Abyss ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2 September 2013. Jump up ^ National Catholic Register, June 10, 2013. `` Pittsburgh Pirates ' Second Baseman on the Gift of Life '' ( 2 ) Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente Prophecy ''. YouTube. 1973 - 11 - 08. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Pirates Single Game Records ''. Pittsburgh Pirates. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Gold Glove National League Outfielders ''. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Most Gold Gloves ( by position ) ''. Sandbox Networks, Inc. / Infoplease. Retrieved September 26, 2016. Jump up ^ Hernon, Jack ( July 26, 1956 ). `` Bucs Bounce Back After Losing Lead ''. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 26, 2016. Jump up ^ Corcoran, Cliff ( May 26, 2013 ). `` Watch : Angel Pagan hits first inside - the - park walk - off since 2004 ''. www.si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 26, 2016. Jump up ^ `` The New York Times : This Day In Sports ''. www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente Plaque is Recast to Correct Cultural Inaccuracy ; New One Travels to Puerto Rico ( November 2000 ) ''. National Hall of Fame and Museum. 2000 - 09 - 18. Archived from the original on April 28, 2003. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente Award. Retrieved July 9, 2013 ''. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Marc Zarefsku ( 2007 - 09 - 06 ). `` Baseball honors Roberto Clemente ''. National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ History, Arts & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives. Historical Highlights, `` The Roberto Clemente Walker Congressional Gold Medal ''. Retrieved July 10, 2013 ( 3 ) Jump up ^ The American Presidency Project, Richard Nixon, `` 152 -- Remarks at a Ceremony Honoring Roberto Clemente, May 14, 1973. Retrieved July 10, 2013 ( 4 ) Jump up ^ The American Presidency Project, George W. Bush, `` Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom '', July 23, 2003. Retrieved July 10, 2913. ( 5 ) Jump up ^ Biederman, Les `` Clemente Crosses Up Phillies, Slams Home Run to Left ''. The Pittsburgh Press. April 11, 1962. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Duquesne Cagers Given Welcome in Pittsburgh ''. The Greenville Record - Argus. March 15, 1954. p. 8. `` Coach Dudley Moore received the Harvey Boyle award, presented annually to Pittsburgh 's outstanding sports figure. Tho award is made by the Pittsburgh Chapter, Baseball Writers ' Association of America. '' ^ Jump up to : Johnson, Robert. `` Tech, Pirates Share Man of Year Honors ; Jaycees Cite Carnegie Chief Dr. Stever, Give Clemente Sports, Lawrence Awards '' The Pittsburgh Press. January 24, 1967. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 21. Jump up ^ The Teenie Harris Archive at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 21. Jump up ^ Associated Press. `` Clemente To Get Award in Houston ''. The Oxnard Press - Courier. January 18, 1971. Retrieved 2015 - 05 - 24. Jump up ^ Bruce Markusen ( 1998 ). `` Integration 's Team ''. Roberto Clemente : The Great One. Champaign, Il : Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 207 -- 208. ISBN 1 - 58261 - 312 - 5. Retrieved 2015 - 05 - 24. Jump up ^ Wilson, John. `` Standing Cheer for Roberto ''. The Sporting News. February 20, 1971. p. 44. `` He began talking simply, stating a few of his views on life, baseball and duty. The crowd was moved by his sincerity. ' We must all live together and work together, no matter what race or nationality, ' he said. He stressed that every individual must do his part. ' If you have an opportunity to accomplish something that will make things better for someone coming behind you, and you do n't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth, ' Clemente said. '' Jump up ^ Feeney, Charlie. `` Clemente named 1986 recipient of Al Abrams Award ''. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 6, 1986. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 31. Jump up ^ Ruck, Rob. `` A Sentimental Journey Back to Nicaragua for Vera Clemente ''. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 4, 1989. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 09. `` On her fifth day in country, Vera accepts for Roberto the highest honor Nicaragua bestows upon a sporting figure, the Eduardo Green award. Named for Nicaragua 's best - ever ballplayer, the award has never before been given to a foreigner. Lang pays thoughtful tribute to Clemente at the ceremony before President Daniel Ortega Saavedra pins the award to Vera 's dress and embraces her. '' Jump up ^ `` National Postal Museum to feature Roberto Clemente Walker ''. Hispania News. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ Jesses Sanchez ( 2005 - 10 - 26 ). `` Latino Legends team announced ''. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ Baseball Almanac, `` All Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team ''. Retrieved July 14, 2013 ( 6 ) Jump up ^ `` PNC Park Overview ''. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2008 - 04 - 16. Jump up ^ Simpri, Arlene ; Strunsky, Sterve ( June 3, 2012 ). `` Roberto Clemente bronze statue unveiled in Newark 's Branch Brook Park ''. The Star - Ledger. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Clemente Bridge : Too Much or Too Little ? Ariba 's Popularity Extends From Fans to Collectors by Stephen Flinn ''. Pittsburgh Sports Report. 1973 - 08 - 06. Retrieved 2012 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Bienvenidos ''. Ciudad Deportiva Roberto Clemente ( official website ). Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 10. ^ Jump up to : `` Pirates wo n't replace Expos in Puerto Rico ''. ESPN.com. 2004 - 07 - 20. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Johnna A. ( 1999 - 04 - 08 ). `` Clemente 's family helps to christen renamed bridge ''. post-gazette.com. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ Diana Nelson Jones ( 2007 - 07 - 23 ). `` Clemente Museum brightens Lower Lawrenceville outlook ''. The Pittsburgh Gazette. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ `` State Parks : Roberto Clemente State Park ''. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2009 - 10 - 10. Jump up ^ `` About Us ''. Roberto Clemente Community Academy. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ http://www.nhps.net/clementeschool Jump up ^ `` The Sporting News Baseball 100 Greatest Players ''. The Sporting News. Archived from the original on 2007 - 11 - 27. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` All - Century Team final voting ''. ESPN. 1999 - 10 - 23. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 05. Jump up ^ Schoenfield, David ( 2002 - 02 - 05 ). `` Still 30 teams : Contraction timeline ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2009 - 02 - 19. Jump up ^ `` 2004 Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule by Baseball Almanac ''. Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Holecko, Rob ( 2004 - 07 - 11 ). `` The Throwback Report : Pittsburgh Pirates vs Montreal Expos at San Juan, PR ''. Throwback-uniforms.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Cunniff, Bill ( 1999 - 11 - 26 ). `` Sosa plays host at party at his island mansion ''. Chicago Sun - Times. p. 3. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Sharon Robinson : honor Clemente some other way ''. ESPN. Associated Press. January 24, 2006. Retrieved 2009 - 08 - 17. 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. Jump up ^ Gonzalez, David ( 28 June 2013 ). `` A New Home for Clemente : On a Pedestal in the Bronx ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` American Experience : Roberto Clemente ''. Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 2008 - 07 - 29. Jump up ^ Richard E. Vatz and Lee S. Weinberg, `` Saluting Pittsburgh 's Finest ''. USA Today Magazine. July 2008. Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente 's story hitting the stage in Off - Broadway production ''. New York Daily News. 2011 - 11 - 19. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ `` DC - 7 set for Off - Broadway limited season ''. Offbroadway.broadwayworld.com. February 9, 2012. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ `` How an Olympic high jumper became Clemente in indie film ''. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2012 - 08 - 04. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Filmmaker 's Clemente movie a testament to grace, power ''. TribLIVE. August 14, 2013. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Tady, Scott ( 2013 - 07 - 29 ). `` Clemente film to premiere in Zelienople ''. Times. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Film Notes : Strand to screen movie about Roberto Clement ''. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2013 - 08 - 08. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Clemente movie available for short time on DVD TribLIVE Jump up ^ `` Roberto Clemente film making NY premiere at Fingerlakes Mall ''. Auburnpub.com. 2013 - 08 - 24. Retrieved 2013 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Chantler, Carrie ( August 29, 2013 ). `` Capturing Clemente : Film about Pittsburgh Pirates legend makes NY premiere in Auburn ''. Auburn Pub. The Citizen. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Burnett, Jon ( August 16, 2013 ). `` New Film Shares Roberto Clemente 's Story ''. Pittsburgh Today Live. CBS -- KDKA. Retrieved January 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Snyder, Matt ( January 12, 2015 ). `` Saint Roberto ? There 's a canonization movement for Clemente ''. CBS. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Effort To Make Roberto Clemente A Saint Gets Papal Show Of Support ''. KDKA. CBS. January 9, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Saint Roberto Clemente ? ''. Puerto Rico Report. January 17, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Canonization bid for star baseballer Roberto Clemente tragically killed in 1972 plane crash ''. Christian Today. January 13, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Saint Roberto Clemente ? Pope Blesses Movement for Canonizing Baseball Star ''. Church Pop. January 13, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Effort To Make Roberto Clemente A Saint Gets Papal Show Of Support ''. Pittsburgh Sun Times. January 9, 2015. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Biertempfel, Rob ( July 19, 2014 ). `` One man 's cause to canonize Roberto Clemente ''. Pittsburgh Tribune Review. TribLive. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Adams, Heather ( June 17, 2014 ). `` Roberto Clemente, the next saint ? ''. Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher ( June 4, 2014 ). `` Next up for sainthood : baseball icon Roberto Clemente ? ''. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ McGough, Michael ( June 13, 2014 ). `` Roberto Clemente a saint ? He 's in the ballpark ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Somers, Meredith ( June 18, 2014 ). `` Off base ? Effort underway to make Roberto Clemente a saint ''. Washington Times. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Pattison, Mark ( December 31, 2013 ). `` Catholic filmmaker gets to make movie about Clemente, his boyhood idol ''. Catholic News Service. Roman Catholic Diocese of Memphis. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Jones, Diana Nelson ( January 11, 2015 ). `` Saint Roberto Clemente ''. Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved December 25, 2015. Jump up ^ McCleary, Mary ( April 1, 2016 ). `` Remembering selfless baseball great Roberto Clemente ''. New Boston Post. Retrieved April 1, 2016. Jump up ^ Payne, Marissa ( August 17, 2017 ). `` After July ' miracle, ' Pope Francis reportedly moves Roberto Clemente closer to sainthood ''. Washington Post. Retrieved 17 August 2017. Jump up ^ Graham, Pat ( July 22, 2017 ). `` Injured Olympian Walks at Wedding Despite Odds of Never Walking Again ''. NBC. Retrieved 22 July 2017. Jump up ^ Chavez, Chris ( July 22, 2017 ). `` Paralyzed Olympian Jamie Nieto Walks at Wedding ''. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 22 July 2017. Jump up ^ Garske, Monica ( July 22, 2017 ). `` Injured Olympian Makes Good on Vow to Walk at Wedding ''. NECN. Retrieved 22 July 2017. Jump up ^ Wilson, Bernie ( July 22, 2017 ). `` Step by halting step, Nieto walks down aisle with his wife ''. News 12 Westchester. Retrieved 22 July 2017. Jump up ^ Graham, Pat ( July 5, 2017 ). `` Injured US Olympian defies doctors to walk for his wedding ''. New Haven Register. Associated Press. Retrieved 23 July 2017. Jump up ^ Wright, Matthew ( July 22, 2017 ). `` US Olympian who was paralyzed in a backflip accident defies doctor 's predictions he would never walk again by standing at the alter and marrying his Jamaican sprinter sweetheart ''. Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 July 2017. Jump up ^ Ramos, Father Jose ( July 25, 2017 ). `` Pope Approves Clemente Canonization Cause, Miracle Mandate Met ''. Standard Newswire. Catholic Newswire, ROME. Retrieved 24 July 2017. Jump up ^ Dixon, Michael ( August 16, 2017 ). `` Could MLB great Roberto Clemente be given Sainthood ? ''. Sports Illustrated. Sports Naut. Retrieved 16 August 2017. Jump up ^ Hille, Bob ( August 17, 2017 ). `` Roberto Clemente is one miracle from sainthood ''. MLB. Washington Post. Retrieved 17 August 2017. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roberto Clemente. Wikiquote has quotations related to : Roberto Clemente Career statistics and player information from Baseball - Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball - Reference ( Minors ) Roberto Clemente at the Baseball Hall of Fame 1952 scouting report at the Baseball Hall of Fame Roberto Clemente on IMDb Latino Sports Legends Society of American Baseball Research BioProject biography of Clemente Baseball - almanac The American Presidency Project -- Remarks at a Ceremony Honoring Roberto Clemente. May 14, 1973 Federal Bureau Investigation Records : The Vault - Roberto Clamente at fbi.gov Preceded by Eddie Mathews Pete Rose Ron Santo Major League Player of the Month May 1960 May 1967 July 1969 Succeeded by Lindy McDaniel Hank Aaron Willie Davis Pittsburgh Pirates Formerly the Pittsburgh Alleghenys Founded in 1882 Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Franchise History Seasons Records No - hitters Awards Players Managers Owners and executives Broadcasters Opening Day starting pitchers First - round draft picks All articles Ballparks Exposition Park Recreation Park Exposition Park Forbes Field Three Rivers Stadium PNC Park Spring training Whittington Park Riverside Park Fogel Field Barrs Field Rickwood Field Whittington Park Perris Hill Park Tech Field Perris Hill Park McCulloch Park Perris Hill Park Flamingo Field Gilmore Field Gran Stadium Jaycee Park Terry Park Pirate City / LECOM Park Culture Pirate Parrot Great Pierogi Race Green Weenie `` Black and Yellow '' Zoltan Bob Prince Bob Gessner Vince Lascheid In the Name of the Law Angels in the Outfield The Odd Couple `` We Are Family '' The Natural The Winning Season Chasing 3000 Dude, Where 's My Car ? 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Bristol Pirates Rookie GCL Pirates DSL Pirates All - time Minor league affiliate history World Series Championships ( 5 ) 1909 1925 1960 1971 1979 League pennants ( 9 ) American Association none National League 1901 1902 1903 1909 1925 1927 1960 1971 1979 Division titles ( 9 ) East 1970 1971 1972 1979 1990 1991 1992 Central none Wild Card berths ( 3 ) 2013 2014 2015 Media AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh KDKA - FM Pirates Radio Network Steve Blass Joe Block Greg Brown Bob Walk John Wehner Seasons ( 137 ) 1880s 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890s 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1990s 1990 1991 1992 2000s 2010s 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Pittsburgh Pirates 1960 World Series champions 2 Bob Oldis 4 Bob Skinner 5 Hal Smith 6 Smoky Burgess 7 Dick Stuart 9 Bill Mazeroski 11 Dick Schofield 12 Don Hoak 14 Rocky Nelson 16 Gene Baker 18 Bill Virdon 19 Bob Friend 20 Gino Cimoli 21 Roberto Clemente 22 Joe Gibbon 23 Joe Christopher 24 Dick Groat ( NL MVP ) 26 Roy Face 29 Clem Labine 30 Wilmer Mizell 31 Harvey Haddix 32 Vern Law ( CYA ) 35 Fred Green 39 George Witt 48 Tom Cheney Manager 40 Danny Murtaugh Coaches 41 Bill Burwell 42 Mickey Vernon 43 Sam Narron 44 Frank Oceak 45 Lenny Levy Virgil Trucks Regular season Pittsburgh Pirates 1971 World Series champions 2 Jackie Hernández 4 Charlie Sands 7 Bob Robertson 8 Willie Stargell 9 Bill Mazeroski 11 José Pagán 14 Gene Alley 15 Gene Clines 16 Al Oliver 17 Dock Ellis 18 Vic Davalillo 20 Richie Hebner 21 Roberto Clemente ( World Series MVP ) 23 Luke Walker 25 Bruce Kison 27 Bob Johnson 28 Steve Blass 29 Milt May 30 Dave Cash 31 Dave Giusti 32 Bob Miller 34 Nelson Briles 35 Manny Sanguillén 38 Bob Moose 39 Bob Veale Manager 40 Danny Murtaugh Coaches 5 Dave Ricketts 41 Bill Virdon 42 Don Osborn 43 Don Leppert 44 Frank Oceak Regular season National League Championship Series Major League Baseball Latino Legends Team Catcher Iván Rodríguez Infielders Rod Carew Edgar Martínez Albert Pujols Alex Rodriguez Outfielders Roberto Clemente Vladimir Guerrero Manny Ramirez Starting pitchers Juan Marichal Pedro Martínez Fernando Valenzuela Relief pitcher Mariano Rivera World Series MVP Award 1955 : Podres 1956 : Larsen 1957 : Burdette 1958 : Turley 1959 : Sherry 1960 : Richardson 1961 : Ford 1962 : Terry 1963 : Koufax 1964 : Gibson 1965 : Koufax 1966 : F. Robinson 1967 : Gibson 1968 : Lolich 1969 : Clendenon 1970 : B. Robinson 1971 : Clemente 1972 : Tenace 1973 : Jackson 1974 : Fingers 1975 : Rose 1976 : Bench 1977 : Jackson 1978 : Dent 1979 : Stargell 1980 : Schmidt 1981 : Cey, Guerrero & Yeager 1982 : Porter 1983 : Dempsey 1984 : Trammell 1985 : Saberhagen 1986 : Knight 1987 : Viola 1988 : Hershiser 1989 : Stewart 1990 : Rijo 1991 : Morris 1992 : Borders 1993 : Molitor 1994 : No series 1995 : Glavine 1996 : Wetteland 1997 : Hernandez 1998 : Brosius 1999 : Rivera 2000 : Jeter 2001 : Johnson & Schilling 2002 : Glaus 2003 : Beckett 2004 : Ramirez 2005 : Dye 2006 : Eckstein 2007 : Lowell 2008 : Hamels 2009 : Matsui 2010 : Rentería 2011 : Freese 2012 : Sandoval 2013 : Ortiz 2014 : Bumgarner 2015 : Pérez 2016 : Zobrist 2017 : Springer National League Outfielder Gold Glove Award 1958 : Aaron, Mays, Robinson 1959 : Aaron, Brandt, Mays 1960 : Aaron, Mays, Moon 1961 : Clemente, Mays, Pinson 1962 : Clemente, Mays, Virdon 1963 : Clemente, Flood, Mays 1964 : Clemente, Flood, Mays 1965 : Clemente, Flood, Mays 1966 : Clemente, Flood, Mays 1967 : Clemente, Flood, Mays 1968 : Clemente, Flood, Mays 1969 : Clemente, Flood, Rose 1970 : Agee, Clemente, Rose 1971 : Bo. Bonds, Clemente, W. Davis 1972 : Cedeño, Clemente, W. Davis 1973 : Bo. Bonds, Cedeño, W. Davis 1974 : Bo. Bonds, Cedeño, Gerónimo 1975 : Cedeño, Gerónimo, Maddox 1976 : Cedeño, Gerónimo, Maddox 1977 : Gerónimo, Maddox, Parker 1978 : Maddox, Parker, Valentine 1979 : Maddox, Parker, Winfield 1980 : Dawson, Maddox, Winfield 1981 : Baker, Dawson, Maddox 1982 : Dawson, Maddox, Murphy 1983 : Dawson, McGee, Murphy 1984 : Dawson, Dernier, Murphy 1985 : Dawson, McGee, Murphy 1986 : Gwynn, McGee, Murphy 1987 : E. Davis, Dawson, Gwynn 1988 : E. Davis, Dawson, Van Slyke 1989 : E. Davis, Gwynn, Van Slyke 1990 : Ba. Bonds, Gwynn, Van Slyke 1991 : Ba. Bonds, Gwynn, Van Slyke 1992 : Ba. Bonds, Van Slyke, Walker 1993 : Ba. Bonds, Grissom, Walker 1994 : Ba. Bonds, Grissom, Lewis 1995 : Finley, Grissom, Mondesí 1996 : Ba. Bonds, Finley, Grissom 1997 : Ba. Bonds, Mondesí, Walker 1998 : Ba. Bonds, Jones, Walker 1999 : Finley, Jones, Walker 2000 : Edmonds, Finley, Jones 2001 : Edmonds, Jones, Walker 2002 : Edmonds, Jones, Walker 2003 : Cruz, Edmonds, Jones 2004 : Edmonds, Finley, Jones 2005 : Abreu, Edmonds, Jones 2006 : Beltrán, Cameron, Jones 2007 : Beltrán, Jones, Francoeur, Rowand 2008 : Beltrán, McLouth, Victorino 2009 : Bourn, Kemp, Victorino 2010 : Bourn, González, Victorino 2011 : Ethier, Kemp, Parra 2012 : González, Heyward, McCutchen 2013 : Gómez, González, Parra 2014 : Heyward, Lagares, Yelich 2015 : Heyward, Marte, Pollock 2016 : Heyward, Inciarte, Marte 2017 : Heyward, Inciarte, Ozuna National League MVP Award 1931 : Frisch 1932 : Klein 1933 : Hubbell 1934 : Dean 1935 : Hartnett 1936 : Hubbell 1937 : Medwick 1938 : Lombardi 1939 : Walters 1940 : McCormick 1941 : Camilli 1942 : Cooper 1943 : Musial 1944 : Marion 1945 : Cavarretta 1946 : Musial 1947 : Elliott 1948 : Musial 1949 : J. Robinson 1950 : Konstanty 1951 : Campanella 1952 : Sauer 1953 : Campanella 1954 : Mays 1955 : Campanella 1956 : Newcombe 1957 : Aaron 1958 : Banks 1959 : Banks 1960 : Groat 1961 : F. Robinson 1962 : Wills 1963 : Koufax 1964 : Boyer 1965 : Mays 1966 : Clemente 1967 : Cepeda 1968 : B. Gibson 1969 : McCovey 1970 : Bench 1971 : Torre 1972 : Bench 1973 : Rose 1974 : Garvey 1975 : Morgan 1976 : Morgan 1977 : Foster 1978 : Parker 1979 : Hernandez & Stargell 1980 : Schmidt 1981 : Schmidt 1982 : Murphy 1983 : Murphy 1984 : Sandberg 1985 : McGee 1986 : Schmidt 1987 : Dawson 1988 : K. Gibson 1989 : Mitchell 1990 : Bonds 1991 : Pendleton 1992 : Bonds 1993 : Bonds 1994 : Bagwell 1995 : Larkin 1996 : Caminiti 1997 : Walker 1998 : Sosa 1999 : Jones 2000 : Kent 2001 : Bonds 2002 : Bonds 2003 : Bonds 2004 : Bonds 2005 : Pujols 2006 : Howard 2007 : Rollins 2008 : Pujols 2009 : Pujols 2010 : Votto 2011 : Braun 2012 : Posey 2013 : McCutchen 2014 : Kershaw 2015 : Harper 2016 : Bryant 2017 : Stanton Babe Ruth Award 1949 : Page 1950 : Coleman 1951 : Rizzuto 1952 : Mize 1953 : Martin 1954 : Rhodes 1955 : Podres 1956 : Larsen 1957 : Burdette 1958 : Howard 1959 : Sherry 1960 : Mazeroski 1961 : Ford 1962 : Terry 1963 : Koufax 1964 : Gibson 1965 : Koufax 1966 : F. Robinson 1967 : Brock 1968 : Lolich 1969 : Weis 1970 : B. Robinson 1971 : Clemente 1972 : Tenace 1973 : Campaneris 1974 : Green 1975 : Tiant 1976 : Bench 1977 : Jackson 1978 : Dent 1979 : Stargell 1980 : McGraw 1981 : Cey 1982 : Sutter 1983 : Dempsey 1984 : Morris 1985 : Saberhagen 1986 : Knight 1987 : Viola 1988 : Hershiser 1989 : Stewart 1990 : Hatcher 1991 : Morris 1992 : Winfield 1993 : Molitor 1994 : None 1995 : Glavine 1996 : Fielder 1997 : Alou 1998 : Brosius 1999 : Rivera 2000 : Jeter 2001 : Johnson & Schilling 2002 : Glaus 2003 : Beckett 2004 : Foulke 2005 : Dye 2006 : Eckstein 2007 : Papelbon 2008 : Hamels 2009 : Rodriguez 2010 : Lincecum 2011 : Freese 2012 : Sandoval 2013 : Ortiz 2014 : Bumgarner 2015 : Davis 2016 : Lester 2017 : Altuve & Verlander National League batting champions 1876 : Barnes 1877 : White 1878 : Hines 1879 : Hines 1880 : Gore 1881 : Anson 1882 : Brouthers 1883 : Brouthers 1884 : Kelly 1885 : Connor 1886 : Kelly 1887 : Thompson 1888 : Anson 1889 : Brouthers 1890 : Glasscock 1891 : Hamilton 1892 : Brouthers 1893 : Hamilton 1894 : Duffy 1895 : Burkett 1896 : Burkett 1897 : Keeler 1898 : Keeler 1899 : Delahanty 1900 : Wagner 1901 : Burkett 1902 : Beaumont 1903 : Wagner 1904 : Wagner 1905 : Seymour 1906 : Wagner 1907 : Wagner 1908 : Wagner 1909 : Wagner 1910 : Magee 1911 : Wagner 1912 : Zimmerman 1913 : Daubert 1914 : Daubert 1915 : Doyle 1916 : Chase 1917 : Roush 1918 : Wheat 1919 : Roush 1920 : Hornsby 1921 : Hornsby 1922 : Hornsby 1923 : Hornsby 1924 : Hornsby 1925 : Hornsby 1926 : Hargrave 1927 : Waner 1928 : Hornsby 1929 : O'Doul 1930 : Terry 1931 : Hafey 1932 : O'Doul 1933 : Klein 1934 : Waner 1935 : Vaughan 1936 : Waner 1937 : Medwick 1938 : Lombardi 1939 : Mize 1940 : Garms 1941 : Reiser 1942 : Lombardi 1943 : Musial 1944 : D. Walker 1945 : Cavarretta 1946 : Musial 1947 : H. Walker 1948 : Musial 1949 : Robinson 1950 : Musial 1951 : Musial 1952 : Musial 1953 : Furillo 1954 : Mays 1955 : Ashburn 1956 : Aaron 1957 : Musial 1958 : Ashburn 1959 : Aaron 1960 : Groat 1961 : Clemente 1962 : Davis 1963 : Davis 1964 : Clemente 1965 : Clemente 1966 : Alou 1967 : Clemente 1968 : Rose 1969 : Rose 1970 : Carty 1971 : Torre 1972 : Williams 1973 : Rose 1974 : Garr 1975 : Madlock 1976 : Madlock 1977 : Parker 1978 : Parker 1979 : Hernandez 1980 : Buckner 1981 : Madlock 1982 : Oliver 1983 : Madlock 1984 : Gwynn 1985 : McGee 1986 : Raines 1987 : Gwynn 1988 : Gwynn 1989 : Gwynn 1990 : McGee 1991 : Pendleton 1992 : Sheffield 1993 : Galarraga 1994 : Gwynn 1995 : Gwynn 1996 : Gwynn 1997 : Gwynn 1998 : L. Walker 1999 : L. Walker 2000 : Helton 2001 : L. Walker 2002 : Bonds 2003 : Pujols 2004 : Bonds 2005 : Lee 2006 : Sanchez 2007 : Holliday 2008 : Jones 2009 : Ramírez 2010 : González 2011 : Reyes 2012 : Posey 2013 : Cuddyer 2014 : Morneau 2015 : Gordon 2016 : LeMahieu 2017 : Blackmon 3,000 hit club Pete Rose Ty Cobb Hank Aaron Stan Musial Tris Speaker Derek Jeter Honus Wagner Carl Yastrzemski Paul Molitor Eddie Collins Willie Mays Eddie Murray Nap Lajoie Cal Ripken Jr. George Brett Paul Waner Robin Yount Tony Gwynn Alex Rodriguez Dave Winfield Cap Anson Ichiro Suzuki Craig Biggio Rickey Henderson Rod Carew Adrián Beltré Lou Brock Rafael Palmeiro Wade Boggs Al Kaline Roberto Clemente Italics denotes active player Book : 3,000 hit club Pittsburgh Pirates retired numbers 1 Billy Meyer 4 Ralph Kiner 8 Willie Stargell 9 Bill Mazeroski 11 Paul Waner 20 Pie Traynor 21 Roberto Clemente 33 Honus Wagner 40 Danny Murtaugh Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1973 BBWAA Vote Roberto Clemente ( 92.7 % ) Warren Spahn ( 82.9 % ) Veterans Committee Billy Evans George Kelly Mickey Welch Negro League Committee Monte Irvin J.G. Taylor Spink Award Dan Daniel Fred Lieb J. Roy Stockton Members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Pitchers Alexander Bender Blyleven M. Brown R. Brown Bunning Carlton Chesbro Clarkson Cooper Coveleski Cummings Day Dean Dihigo Drysdale Eckersley Faber Feller Fingers Ford B. Foster Galvin B. Gibson Glavine Gomez Gossage Grimes Grove Haines Hoffman Hoyt Hubbell Hunter Jenkins R. Johnson W. Johnson Joss Keefe Koufax Lemon Lyons Maddux Marichal Marquard Martínez Mathewson McGinnity Méndez Morris Newhouser Nichols Niekro Paige Palmer Pennock Perry Plank Radbourn Rixey Roberts Rogan Ruffing Rusie Ryan Seaver H. Smith Smoltz Spahn Sutter Sutton Vance Waddell Walsh Welch Wilhelm J. Williams Willis Wynn Young Catchers Bench Berra Bresnahan Campanella Carter Cochrane Dickey Ewing Ferrell Fisk J. Gibson Hartnett Lombardi Mackey Piazza Rodríguez Santop Schalk First basemen Anson Bagwell Beckley Bottomley Brouthers Cepeda Chance Connor Foxx Gehrig Greenberg G. Kelly Killebrew Leonard McCovey Mize Murray Pérez Sisler Suttles Taylor Terry Thomas Thome Second basemen Alomar Biggio Carew E. Collins Doerr Evers Fox Frisch Gehringer Gordon Grant Herman Hornsby Lajoie Lazzeri Mazeroski McPhee Morgan J. Robinson Sandberg Schoendienst Third basemen Baker Boggs Brett J. Collins Dandridge J. Johnson Jones Kell Lindstrom Mathews Molitor B. Robinson Santo Schmidt Traynor J. Wilson D. White Shortstops Aparicio Appling Bancroft Banks Boudreau Cronin Davis T. Jackson Jennings Larkin Lloyd Maranville Reese Ripken Jr. Rizzuto Sewell O. Smith Tinker Trammell Vaughan Wagner Wallace Ward Wells Yount Outfielders Aaron Ashburn Averill Bell Brock W. Brown Burkett Carey Charleston Clarke Clemente Cobb Combs Crawford Cuyler Dawson Delahanty DiMaggio Doby Duffy Flick Goslin Griffey Jr. Guerrero Gwynn Hafey Hamilton Heilmann Henderson Hill Hooper Irvin R. Jackson Kaline Keeler Kelley K. Kelly Kiner Klein Mantle Manush Mays T. McCarthy Medwick Musial O'Rourke Ott Puckett Raines J. Rice S. Rice F. Robinson Roush Ruth Simmons Slaughter Snider Speaker Stargell Stearnes Thompson Torriente L. Waner P. Waner Wheat B. Williams T. Williams H. Wilson Winfield Yastrzemski Youngs Managers Alston Anderson Cox Durocher Hanlon Harris Herzog Huggins La Russa Lasorda López Mack J. McCarthy McGraw McKechnie W. Robinson Selee Southworth Stengel Torre Weaver D. Williams Executives / pioneers Barrow Bulkeley Cartwright Chadwick Chandler Comiskey Dreyfuss R. Foster Frick Giles Gillick Griffith Harridge Hulbert B. Johnson Kuhn Landis La. MacPhail Le. MacPhail Manley O'Malley Pompez Posey Rickey Ruppert Schuerholz Selig Spalding Veeck Weiss S. White Wilkinson G. Wright H. Wright Yawkey Umpires Barlick Chylak Conlan Connolly Evans Harvey Hubbard Klem McGowan O'Day VIAF : 8631732 LCCN : n50040986 ISNI : 0000 0000 7249 6763 GND : 1056068248 BNF : cb161561912 ( data ) NDL : 00862692 SNAC : w6dj5r6r Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roberto_Clemente&oldid=826928963 '' Categories : 1934 births 1972 deaths 20th - century Baptists Baptists from the United States Cangrejeros de Santurce ( baseball ) players Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Caribbean Series players Congressional Gold Medal recipients Gold Glove Award winners Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico Major League Baseball players with retired numbers Major League Baseball right fielders World Series Most Valuable Player Award winners Missing air passengers Montreal Royals players National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees National League All - Stars National League batting champions National League Most Valuable Player Award winners People from Carolina, Puerto Rico Pittsburgh Pirates players Presidential Citizens Medal recipients Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Puerto Rican United States Marines Puerto Rican military personnel Puerto Rican people of African descent United States Marine Corps reservists United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame inductees United States Marines Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Puerto Rico Hidden categories : Pages using div col without cols and colwidth parameters Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Asturianu Deutsch Español Esperanto فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano Malagasy 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi Winaray 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 21 February 2018, at 19 : 54. 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Question: what year did roberto clemente play for the pirates
Answer: 1955–1972