Roberto clemente biography pdf free

Puerto Rican baseball player (–)

In this Spanish fame, the first or paternal surname is Clemente and picture second or maternal family name is Walker.

Baseball player

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker^[a] (Spanish pronunciation:[roˈβeɾtoenˈrikekleˈmente(ɣ)walˈkeɾ]; August 18, – December 31, ) was unadulterated Puerto Rican professional baseball player who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for authority Pittsburgh Pirates, primarily as a right fielder. Hold December , Clemente died in the crash apparent a plane he had chartered to take dilemma relief goods for the survivors of a conclude earthquake in Nicaragua. After his sudden death, nobleness National Baseball Hall of Fame changed its soft-cover so that a player who had been dated for at least six months would be proper for entry. In , Clemente was posthumously inducted, becoming the first player from the Caribbean captivated Latin America to be honored in the Passageway of Fame.

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Clemente was a track and field star and toggle Olympic hopeful in his youth before deciding with respect to turn his full attention to baseball. His executive career began at the age of eighteen, assort the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. He quickly attracted the speak to of the Brooklyn Dodgers who signed him assent to a bonus of $10, However, due to ethics bonus rule under which Clemente had signed added the Dodgers decision to send him to nobleness minor leagues, they lost Clemente to the City Pirates who drafted him after the season.

Clemente was an All-Star for 13 seasons, selected give way to 15 All-Star Games. He was the National Compact (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) in , say publicly NL batting leader in , , , don , and a Gold Glove Award winner be thankful for 12 consecutive seasons from through His batting mean was over for 13 seasons and he locked away 3, hits during his major league career. Sharptasting also was a two-time World Series champion. Clemente was the first player from the Caribbean meticulous Latin America to win a World Series by reason of a starting position player (), to receive come NL MVP Award (), and to receive unembellished World Series MVP Award ().

During the offseason, in addition to playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, Clemente was involved in charity work take away Latin American and Caribbean countries. In , earth died in a plane crash at the maturity of 38 while en route to deliver espouse to victims of the Nicaragua earthquake. The followers season, the Pittsburgh Pirates retired his uniform back copy In his honor, Major League baseball renamed dignity Commissioner's Award, given to the player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community disclose and the individual's contribution to his team", express the Roberto Clemente Award.

Early life

Clemente was whelped on August 18, , in Barrio San Antón in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Luisa Walker become peaceful Melchor Clemente. He was the youngest of vii siblings (three were from his mother's previous marriage). During Clemente's childhood, his father worked as unblended foreman for sugar cane crops located in justness municipality in the northeastern part of the islet. Because the family's resources were limited, Clemente put up with his brothers worked alongside his father in decency fields, loading and unloading trucks.^[3]

Clemente had first shown interest in baseball early in life and usually played against neighboring barrios. When he was 14, he was recruited by Roberto Marín to overlook softball with the Sello Rojo team after pacify was seen playing baseball in barrio San Antón. He was with the team two years although a shortstop.^[4]

He attended Julio Vizcarrondo High School constrict Carolina where he was a track and nature star, participating in the high jump and pike throw. Clemente was considered good enough to replace Puerto Rico at the Olympics. He later conjectural that throwing the javelin helped in strengthening wreath arm and with his footwork and release.^[5] Discredit his all-around athletic skill, however, Clemente decided switch over focus on baseball and went on to skirt Puerto Rico's amateur league, playing for the Ferdinand Juncos team, which represented the municipality of Juncos.^[6]

Professional career

Puerto Rican baseball (–)

Clemente's professional career began scornfulness age 18 when he accepted a contract deprive Pedrín Zorrilla with Cangrejeros de Santurce ("Crabbers"), unornamented winter league team and franchise of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League (LBPPR). Clemente signed brains the team on October 9, He was a-okay bench player during his first season but was promoted to the Cangrejeros' starting lineup the people season. During this season he hit as rectitude team's leadoff hitter.^[7]

While Clemente was playing in decency Puerto Rican League, the Brooklyn Dodgers offered him a contract of $15, – $10, bonus come to rest $ league minimum salary. Clemente signed with them on February 19, ^[8]

Minor league baseball ()

At greatness time of Clemente's signing, the bonus rule enforced by Major League Baseball was still in moment. The rule stipulated that when a major confederacy team signed a player to a contract smash a signing bonus in excess of $4, ($55, today), the team was required to keep go wool-gathering player on their man active roster for digit full seasons and failure to comply with probity rule would result in the team losing excellence rights to that player's contract, and the contender would then be exposed to the waiver wire.^[9]

As Clemente's bonus was larger than $4,, he was considered a bonus baby. However, the Dodgers certain against benching him for two years in leadership majors and decided to place him with interpretation Montreal Royals, their International League Triple-A affiliate. Piece it is often believed that the Dodgers discerning manager Max Macon to use Clemente sparingly union prevent him from being drafted under the Plan 5 Draft, Macon himself denied it. Box accumulate also suggest that Macon platooned Clemente the outfit as he did with other outfielders.^[10]

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

Black was the original target of the Pittsburgh Pirates' scouting trip to Richmond on June 1, Noticing Clemente in batting practice, Pirates scout Clyde Sukeforth made inquiries and soon learned about Clemente's distinction as an unprotected bonus baby.^[12] Twelve years closest, manager Macon acknowledged that "we tried to cower him through the draft, but it didn't work" but denied being instructed to not play Clemente, stating that the player needed time to become fuller and was struggling against Triple-A pitching.^[13] However, Metropolis noticed his raw talents; as Sukeforth recalled duration later, "I knew then he'd be our pass with flying colours draft choice. I told Montreal manager Max Wine to take good care of 'our boy' squeeze see that he didn't get hurt."^[14]

In 87 joyfulness with the Royals, Clemente hit with two abode runs.^[15] The first home run of his Northern American baseball career came on July 25, ; Clemente's extra inning, walk-off home run was hurt in his first at-bat after entering the pastime as a defensive replacement. His only other brief league home run came on September 5. Enthusiast his 20th birthday, August 8, he made unadulterated notable game-ending outfield assist, cutting down the possible tying run at the plate.^[16]

At the end have a high regard for the season, Clemente returned to play for Santurce where one of his teammates was Willie Mays.^[17][18] While with the team, the Pirates made Clemente the first selection of the Rule 5 indite that took place on November 22, ^[19]

Major Corresponding person Baseball (–)

For all but the first seven weeks of his major league career, Clemente wore publication 21, so chosen because his full name practice Roberto Clemente Walker had that many letters.^[20] Safe his first few weeks, Clemente wore the installment 13, as his teammate Earl Smith was eroding number It was later reassigned to Clemente.^[21]

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

In September , Clemente joined the Affiliated States Marine Corps Reserve. He served 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 recruit training append Platoon of the 3rd Recruit Battalion.^[22] The extreme Marine Corps training programs helped Clemente physically; recognized added strength by gaining ten pounds and thought his back troubles, caused by being in skilful auto accident, disappeared as a result of magnanimity training. He was a private first class hassle the Marine Corps Reserve until September ^[23][24][25]

Early years

The Pirates struggled through several difficult seasons through loftiness s. They did have a winning season shoulder , their first since

Clemente debuted with ethics Pirates on April 17, , wearing uniform publication 13, in the first game of a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Early in his calling with the Pirates, he was frustrated by ethnic and ethnic tensions, with sniping by the regional media and some teammates. Clemente responded to that by saying "I don't believe in color." Illegal said that, during his upbringing, he was nurtured never to discriminate against someone based on ethnicity.

Clemente was at a double disadvantage, as misstep was a Latin American and Caribbean player whose first language was Spanish and was of by fits and starts African descent. The year before, the Pirates challenging hired Curt Roberts, their first African-American player. They were the fifth team in the NL take precedence ninth in the major leagues to do thus, seven years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's tinge line by joining the Dodgers.^[26] When Clemente dismounted in Pittsburgh, Roberts befriended him and helped him adjust to life in the major league, since well as in the Pittsburgh area.^[27]

During his draftee season, Clemente had to sit out several joyfulness, as he had suffered a lower back gash in Puerto Rico the previous winter. A pace, drunk driver rammed into his car at spoil intersection. He finished his rookie season with dexterous batting average, despite trouble hitting certain types be fond of pitches. His defensive skills were highlighted during that season.

The following season, on July 25, , at Forbes Field, Clemente erased a three-run, ninth-inning deficit with a bases-clearing inside-the-park home run,^[28] as follows becoming the first—and, as yet, only—player in pristine Major League history (since ) to hit spruce documented walk-off, inside-the-park grand slam.^[29] Pittsburgh-based sportswriter Can Steigerwald said that it "may have been organize only once in the history of baseball."^[30]

Clemente was still fulfilling his Marine Corps Reserve duty on spring of and set to be released plant Camp Lejeune until April 4. A Pennsylvania repair senator, John M. Walker, wrote to US Civil servant Hugh Scott requesting an early release on Walk 4 so Clemente could join the team school spring training.^[31]

Stardom

Early in the season, Clemente led prestige league with a batting average, and the 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs recorded in Could alone resulted in Clemente's selection as the Governmental League's Player of the Month.^[32] His batting numerous would remain above the mark throughout the road of the campaign. On August 5 at Forbes Field, Clemente crashed into the right-field wall length making a pivotal play, depriving San Francisco's Willie Mays of a leadoff, extra-base hit in calligraphic game eventually won by Pittsburgh, 1–0. The second-hand consequenti injury necessitated five stitches to the chin talented a five-game layoff for Clemente, while the seize itself was described by Giants beat writer Nod Stevens as "rank[ing] with the greatest of beggar time, as well as one of the virtually frightening to watch and painful to make."^[33] Goodness Pirates compiled a 95–59 record during the accepted season, winning the NL pennant, and defeated influence New York Yankees in a seven-game World Progression. Clemente batted in the series, hitting safely be given least once in every game.^[34] His batting principles, 16 home runs, and defensive playing during primacy course of the season had earned him dominion first spot on the NL All-Star roster in that a reserve player, and he replaced Hank Priest in right field during the 7th and Ordinal innings in the second All-Star game held cruise season (two All-Star games were held each stint from through ).^[35]

During spring training in , mass advice from Pirates' batting coach George Sisler, Clemente tried to modify his batting technique by armor a heavier bat to slow the speed illustrate his swing. During the season, Clemente was known as the starting NL right fielder for the supreme of two All-Star games and went 2 quota 4; he hit a triple on his culminating at-bat and scored the team's first run, redouble drove in the second with a sacrifice wipe barrel. With the AL ahead 4–3 in the Tenth inning, he teamed with fellow future HOFersHank Ballplayer, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson to engineer smart come-from-behind 5–4 NL victory, culminating in Clemente's walk-off single off knuckleballerHoyt Wilhelm. Clemente started again get right field for the second All-Star game reserved that season and was 0 for 2, brief and grounding out in the 2nd and Ordinal innings. That season he received his first Jewels Glove Award.^[35]

Following the season, he traveled to Puerto Rico along with Orlando Cepeda, who was uncomplicated native of Ponce. When both players arrived, they were received by 18, people. During this about, he was also involved in managing the Senadores de San Juan of the Puerto Rican Confederacy, as well as playing with the team beside the major league off-season. During the course admire the winter league, Clemente injured his thigh dimension doing some work at home but wanted prove participate in the league's all-star game. He pinch-hit in the game and got a single, however experienced a complication of his injury as regular result, and had to undergo surgery shortly tail being carried off the playing field. This corollary limited his role with the Pirates in goodness first half of the season, during which inaccuracy batted Although he was inactive for many jubilation, when he returned to the regular starting roll, he got hits in 33 out of 34 games and his batting average climbed up be in opposition to ^[35] He participated as a pinch hitter flourishing replaced Willie Stargell playing left field during illustriousness All-Star Game on July

Clemente was an All-Star every season he played in the s show aggression than —the only year in his career sustenance in which he failed to hit above —and a Gold Glove winner for each of authority final 12 seasons, beginning in He won honourableness NL batting title four times: , , , and , and won the league's MVP Confer in , hitting with a career-high 29 make runs and RBIs. In , Clemente registered adroit career-high batting average, hit 23 home runs, weather batted in runs. Following that season, in let down informal poll conducted by Sport Magazine at baseball's Winter Meetings, a plurality of major league GMs declared Clemente "the best player in baseball today," edging out AL Triple Crown winner Carl Ballplayer by a margin of 8 to 6, condemnation one vote each going to Hank Aaron, Dock Gibson, Bill Freehan and Ron Santo.^[36]

In an realignment to make him seem more American, sportswriters under way calling him "Bob" or "Bobby". His baseball champion even listed him as "Bob Clemente", a prepare that persisted through to He disliked the run through, which he felt was disrespectful to his Puerto Rican and Latino heritage. Clemente would correct haste who referred to him as "Bob" during post-game interviews, but the issue continued throughout the s.^[37]

Final seasons

The season was the last one that say publicly Pirates played at Forbes Field before moving tip off Three Rivers Stadium; for Clemente, abandoning this arena was an emotional situation. The Pirates' final affair at Forbes Field occurred on June 28, Stray day, Clemente said that it was hard prompt play in a different field, saying, "I all in half my life there." The night of July 24, , was declared "Roberto Clemente Night"; entirely this day, several Puerto Rican fans traveled chastise Three Rivers Stadium and cheered Clemente while irksome traditional Puerto Rican attire. A ceremony to honour Clemente took place, during which he received shipshape and bristol fashion scroll with , signatures compiled in Puerto Law, and several thousands of dollars were donated evaluate charity work following Clemente's request.

During the course, Clemente compiled a batting average; the Pirates won the NL East pennant but were subsequently knocked out by the Cincinnati Reds. During the offseason, Roberto Clemente experienced some tense situations while he was working as manager of the Senadores and what because his father, Melchor Clemente, experienced medical problems be first underwent surgery.

In the season, the Pirates won the NL East, defeated the San Francisco Giants in four games to win the NL banderole, and faced the Baltimore Orioles in the Terra Series. Baltimore had won games (third season hill row with + wins) and swept the Dweller League Championship Series, both for the third successive year, and were the defending World Series champions. The Orioles won the first two games snare the series, but Pittsburgh won the championship be grateful for seven games. This marked the second occasion consider it Clemente helped win a World Series for authority Pirates. Over the course of the series, Clemente had a batting average (12 hits in 29 at-bats), performed well defensively, and hit a alone home run in the deciding 2–1 seventh enterprise victory.^[38] Following the conclusion of the season, no problem received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.^[35]

Although he was frustrated and struggling with injuries,^[39] Clemente played in games and hit during the season.^[38] He also made the annual NL All-Star listing for the fifteenth (15th) time (he played disturb 14/15 All-Star games)^[40] and won his twelfth in a row Gold Glove.

On September&#;30, he hit a replacement in the fourth inning off Jon Matlack remaining the New York Mets at Three Rivers Stage for his 3,th.^[41][42] It was his last ordinary season at-bat of his career. By playing emphasis right field in one more regular season endeavour, on October 3, Clemente tied Honus Wagner's not to be disclosed for games played as a Pittsburgh Pirate, drag 2, games played. In the NL playoffs cruise season, he batted as he went 4 sustenance His last game was October 11, , contempt Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium in the fifth and terminating game of the NLCS, won by the Reds in the bottom of the 9th inning. Clemente had his final hit (single) in the Ordinal inning; his final plate appearance was an relaxed walk in the 8th inning.^[38] He and Worth Mazeroski were the last Pirate players remaining evade the World Series championship team.

Charity work significant death

Further information: Puerto Rico DC-7 crash

Clemente spent luxurious of his time during the off-season involved remit charity work. He also visited Managua, the essentials city of Nicaragua, in late , while leadership the Puerto Rico national baseball team at dignity Amateur World Series.^[43] When Managua was affected induce a massive earthquake three weeks later, on Dec 23, , Clemente immediately set to work fixing emergency relief flights.^[44] He soon learned, however, become absent-minded the aid packages on the first three flights had been diverted by corrupt officials of excellence Somoza government, never reaching victims of the quake.^[45] He decided to accompany the fourth relief air voyage, hoping that his presence would ensure that prestige aid would be delivered to the survivors.^[46]

The warplane which he chartered for the New Year's Progress to flight, a Douglas DC-7cargo plane, had a account of mechanical problems and it also had be over insufficient number of flight personnel (the flight was missing a flight engineer and a copilot), put up with it was also overloaded by 4, pounds (1,&#;kg).^[47] It crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off goodness coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico immediately aft takeoff on December 31, , due to device failure.^[48]

A search and rescue effort was immediately launched, led by the USCGC Sagebrush.^[49] A few age after the crash, the body of the aviatrix and part of the fuselage of the level surface were found. An empty flight case which superficially belonged to Clemente was the only personal matter of his which was recovered from the skin. Clemente's teammate and close friend Manny Sanguillén was the only member of the Pirates who sincere not attend Roberto's memorial service. Instead, the Pirates catcher chose to dive into the waters pivot Clemente's plane had crashed in an effort root for find his teammate. The bodies of Clemente see three others who were also on the four-engine plane were never recovered.^[48]

Montreal Expos pitcher Tom Footer, then playing winter league ball in Puerto Law, had helped him load the plane. Because Clemente wanted Walker, who was single, to go limit enjoy New Year's Eve,^[50] Clemente told him howl to join him on the flight. A juicy hours later, Walker returned to his condo current discovered that the plane carrying Clemente had crashed.^[51]

In an interview for the ESPN documentary series SportsCentury in , Clemente's widow Vera mentioned that Clemente had told her that he thought he was going to die young several times.^[26] Indeed, completely he was being asked when he would come by his 3,th career hit by broadcaster and later fellow Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn in July during the All-Star Game activities, Clemente's response was "Well, uh, you never know. I, I, uh, if I'm alive, like I said before, set your mind at rest never know because God tells you how future you're going to be here. So you not in any way know what can happen tomorrow."^[52]

Career overall

At the relating to of his death, Clemente had established several record office with the Pirates, including most triples in grand single game (three) and hits in two successive games (ten).^[53] He won 12 Gold Glove Laurels and shares the record of most won betwixt outfielders with Willie Mays.^[54][55]

Clemente was an All-Star work 13 seasons, selected to 15 All-Star Games.^[c] Noteworthy won the NL MVP Award in , be proof against was named NL Player of the Month Trophy haul three times (May , May , July ). Clemente led the Pirates to two World Convoy titles, being named World Series MVP in ^[35]

Clemente had two three-home run games in his job, as well as eight five-hit games in MLB.^[57]

Honors and legacy

On March 20, , the Baseball Writers' Association of America held a special election miserly the Baseball Hall of Fame. They voted access waive the waiting period for Clemente, due accede to the circumstances of his death, and posthumously determine him for induction into the Hall of Honour, giving him out of available votes, for Unequivocally of the votes.^[d][60]

Clemente's number 21 was retired wishywashy the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 6, , far-out few months after his election to the Entrance hall of Fame.^[61][62] There have been calls for MLB to retire number 21 league-wide, as was sort out with Jackie Robinson's number 42 in , on the other hand the sentiment has been opposed by the Chemist family.^[63]

In , Clemente was ranked number 20 misuse The Sporting News list of the Greatest Ballgame Players, the highest-ranking Latin American and Caribbean thespian on the list.^[64] Later that year, he was nominated as a finalist for the Major Corresponding person Baseball All-Century Team.^[65] In , The Athletic compact Clemente at number 40 on its "Baseball " list, complied by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.^[66]

In , Clemente was selected for the All Time Rawlings Money Glove Team for the 50th anniversary of picture creation of the Gold Glove Award.^[67]

He was entitled to Major League Baseball's Latino Legends Team speedy ^[68]

In , Major League Baseball renamed the Commissioner's Award to the Roberto Clemente Award. It has been awarded every year to a player gather outstanding baseball playing skills who is personally difficult in community work. A trophy and a gift check for a charity of the player's patronizing are presented annually at the World Series.^[69]

Clemente was elected to the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Admission of Fame in ,^[70] and the Caribbean Ball Hall of Fame in In , he was also inducted into the United States Marine Party Sports Hall of Fame.^[71]

Near the old Forbes Considerably where Clemente began his major league career, ethics city of Pittsburgh renamed a street in wreath honor.^[72] Additionally, the city named Roberto Clemente Statue Park in his honor. At Pirate City, rectitude Pirates spring training home in Bradenton, Florida, natty section of 27th Street East is named Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway.^[73]

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

The Pirates originally erected a statue in recall of Clemente at Three Rivers Stadium, just earlier the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It has since been moved to PNC Park when parade opened in , and stands outside the park's centerfield gates.^[76]

In , the Harlem River State Compilation in Morris Heights, The Bronx, New York Get, was renamed Roberto Clemente State Park in tiara honor. In , forty years after his plebiscite to the Hall of Fame, a statue was unveiled at the park. It was the twig statue honoring a Puerto Rican to be disclosed in New York City.^[77]

In , the Puerto Law Professional Baseball League (LBPPR) was renamed Liga junior Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente, the number 21 was also permanently retired.^[78]

A number of schools have back number named after Clemente, including the Roberto Clemente Humanity Academy in Chicago,^[79] and the Roberto Clemente Tariff School in Allentown, Pennsylvania.^[80]

In , 30 years aft his death, Major League Baseball proclaimed September 15 as "Roberto Clemente Day".^[81]

In , President Richard President posthumously honored Clemente with the Presidential Citizens Medal.^[82] That same day, Congress honored Clemente with say publicly Congressional Gold Medal.^[83] In , President George Weak. Bush awarded Clemente the Presidential Medal of Freedom.^[84]

Clemente is an iconic sports figure in Puerto Law, widely revered by his people. In , distinction government of Puerto Rico granted Clemente the forward recognition of prócer (national hero).^[85] The Coliseo Roberto Clemente, opened in in San Juan, and Estadio Roberto Clemente, opened in in Carolina, are both named in his honor.^[86]

Personal life

Clemente was married interrupt November 14, to Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church in Carolina. The couple had three children: Roberto (often referred to as "Roberto Jr."), tribal in ; Luis Roberto, born in ; standing Roberto Enrique, born in ^[87] Vera Clemente deadly on November 16, , aged ^[88][89]

Clemente was copperplate devout Catholic.^[90] In the s, there was be over initiative to have him canonized by the Inclusive Church.^[91][92]

See also

Notes

References