Roberto Clemente was more than just a baseball player.
He was a Pittsburgh Pirates legend in the 50s, 60s and the early 70s, and became a Latin hero and an MLB ambassador during his illustrious playing career.
He was a model citizen and a caring person.
He cared enough to go on a trip to Nicaragua on December 31, 1972.
That day, he lost his life in a plane crash while delivering groceries and aid to the victims of an earthquake.
He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame a year later, in 1973, becoming the first Latino player to enter Cooperstown.
Lining up with the start of Hispanic Heritage month, the league has decided to honor Clemente every September 15 since 2002 with Roberto Clemente Day.
“Every September 15 we celebrate Roberto Clemente to honor a Latin American hero revered by all and one of the greatest all-around baseball players of all time,” MLB tweeted.
Every September 15 we celebrate Roberto Clemente to honor a Latin American hero revered by all and one of the greatest all-around baseball players of all time. #ClementeDay pic.twitter.com/VdpPFbJYCG
— MLB (@MLB) September 15, 2023
Clemente’s on-field achievements were impressive.
He retired with exactly 3,000 hits, won the MVP award in the National League in 1966 and the World Series MVP in 1971, won two Fall Classics (1960, 1971), went to the All-Star Game a whopping 15 times, and was a four-time batting champion.
On Friday, players around the league will wear “21” patches on their chest as a way to honor the late Clemente.
It’s a nice day to remember everything he did on the field, but also his charisma, his willingness to help others, and his strong aura.
Clemente lives forever in the minds of those who watched him play, and his legacy was passed along to the next generations.
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