Roberto Clemente---1970
The immensely gifted Roberto
Clemente was often described as
moody and sullen. Of course, maybe
it was because after 16 seasons in
Pittsburgh he was asked to wear a
uniform that was missing an "I" as he
dons a "Prates" jersey here in his
1970 card.
Kidding aside, Clemente was always
searching for a respect that
unfortunately was not truly given until
his untimely death, when the plane
he was on crashed off the coast of
Puerto Rico en route to taking
earthquake relief to Nicaragua on
December 31, 1972.
He is one of three Hall of Famers who
did not wait the mandatory five year
waiting period before induction, with
the other two being Lou Gehrig and
Babe Ruth.
Clemente is revered as the "Jackie
Robinson" of Latin players.
Following Clemente's passing,
Commissioner Bowie Kuhn said it
best in 1973, "He gave the term
'complete' a new meaning. He made
the word 'superstar' seem
inadequate. He had about him the
touch of royalty."
Royalty... that's a good word for
Clemente.
(Clemente, Part II-- Tuesday, May 27)
Clemente was often described as
moody and sullen. Of course, maybe
it was because after 16 seasons in
Pittsburgh he was asked to wear a
uniform that was missing an "I" as he
dons a "Prates" jersey here in his
1970 card.
Kidding aside, Clemente was always
searching for a respect that
unfortunately was not truly given until
his untimely death, when the plane
he was on crashed off the coast of
Puerto Rico en route to taking
earthquake relief to Nicaragua on
December 31, 1972.
He is one of three Hall of Famers who
did not wait the mandatory five year
waiting period before induction, with
the other two being Lou Gehrig and
Babe Ruth.
Clemente is revered as the "Jackie
Robinson" of Latin players.
Following Clemente's passing,
Commissioner Bowie Kuhn said it
best in 1973, "He gave the term
'complete' a new meaning. He made
the word 'superstar' seem
inadequate. He had about him the
touch of royalty."
Royalty... that's a good word for
Clemente.
(Clemente, Part II-- Tuesday, May 27)
