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 Roberto Clemente Photo Gallery
Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery:

Click on this link to see a great Roberto Clemente throw!

Our Annual Tribute to Roberto Clemente

“HE’S GOT IT!!”

“If it was humanly possible for a ball to be caught, Roberto Clemente was going to get it.” –Pirates’ manager, Danny Murtaugh

As I’m sure many of you are aware, today, December 31, is the anniversary of the tragic death of Roberto Clemente. He was killed in a plane crash 48 years ago today while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. As has now become our custom, we like to honor the memory of this great ballplayer each year on the anniversary of his death.

In the great action shots above and to the right, we get a glimpse of what Danny Murtaugh meant in the above quote. The yell, “He’s got it!” was probably heard on these catches and so many, many others over his career. In the above sequence, we see Clemente stretched out like an acrobat making a fantastic catch as he charges in from his position in right field, his athleticism captured for all to see. Since it’s at Wrigley Field, chances are I saw this catch on WGN when I was a kid.

To honor the memory of one of the game’s all-time greats, here’s a few words edited from my past posts about his Hall-of-Fame career:

Whenever anyone from the “older generation” (like me) is asked who had the best arm they ever saw, they’ll usually respond “Roberto Clemente” without hesitation, almost automatically. It’s a shame today’s younger fans didn’t get to see him play. (Click on this link to see a great Clemente throw).

He was definitely something special. As a Cub fan, I saw him beat the Cubs many times. If it wasn’t with his bat or his speed, it was with a great catch in right or with his cannon of an arm. National League runners knew not to try to take an extra-base on Roberto Clemente. He’s certainly one of the best – if not the best – to ever patrol right field.

Roberto Clemente played 18 seasons for the Pirates from 1955 through 1972. He was inducted posthumously to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, becoming the first Latin American player to be enshrined. His death established the precedent that as an alternate to the five year retirement period, a player deceased for at least six months is eligible for entry into the Hall of Fame.

Over his career, Clemente hit .317, with exactly 3000 hits, 1416 runs, 440 doubles, 166 triples, 240 home runs, 1305 RBIs, .359 on-base percentage, and .475 slugging. Clemente was a 15-time All-Star, a National League Most Valuable Player (1966), a World Series MVP (1971), a four-time National League batting champion (1961, ’64, ’65, and ’67), a two-time World Series champion (1960 and 1971), and a twelve-time Gold Glove winner. He led the National League in hits twice, triples once, put-outs as a right fielder three times, and outfield fielding average once. His #21 has been retired by the Pirates. 

In his 1966 MVP season, Roberto edged out Sandy Koufax (27-9, 1.73 ERA) for the honor, hitting .317, with 29 home runs, and 119 RBIs. In a record that may never be broken, Clemente is first all-time by a wide margin in career assists for a right fielder with 266. In second place is Hank Aaron with 186. Only 16 men in baseball history have as many as 100.

Following Roberto Clemente’s untimely death, major league baseball has presented the Roberto Clemente Award every year to a ballplayer who most closely exhibits the attributes of Roberto Clemente, combining exceptional baseball talent with outstanding community involvement. The winner is selected from nominees from each team, with the trophy being presented at the World Series, along with a donation to the recipient player’s favorite charity.  The 2020 Roberto Clemente award went to the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright. 

Roberto Clemente has  been posthumously presented three civilian awards from the President of the United States:

• Roberto Clemente Congressional Gold Medal
• Presidential Citizens Medal (the first recipient)
• Presidential Medal of Freedom

So today, on the anniversary of his tragic death, let’s turn our baseball spotlight on one of the game’s true greats, Roberto Clemente.