Pittsburgh Sports Legends - Roberto Clemente

[Alphalion75]

Clemente, Roberto | Baseball Hall of Fame

“He played a kind of baseball that none of us had ever seen before… As if it were a form of punishment for everyone else on the field.” – Roger Angell The numbers he assembled over 18 big league seasons tell the story of a complete ballplayer. The story of Roberto Clemente, however, goes beyond...

baseballhall.org

 

[AvgUser]

My first, and maybe only, sports idol.

 

[Alphalion75]

My first, and maybe only, sports idol.

He was an exceptional athlete and even more exceptional human being.

 

[CF Lion]

First time I ever saw my mother cry was Jan 1, 1973 when we learned of Roberto’s plane crash.

 

[LionJim]

My first, and maybe only, sports idol.

We all could do a lot worse. Some people shine.

 

[ChandlerPearce]

My first idol was Dick Allen and Richie Ashburn....1964, then i became a catcher and Manny Sanguillen and Thurmon Munson.....lastly was Johnny Bench.

 

[pap]

Clemente, Roberto | Baseball Hall of Fame

“He played a kind of baseball that none of us had ever seen before… As if it were a form of punishment for everyone else on the field.” – Roger Angell The numbers he assembled over 18 big league seasons tell the story of a complete ballplayer. The story of Roberto Clemente, however, goes beyond...

baseballhall.org

I became a baseball fan because of him

 

[91Joe95]

My first idol was Dick Allen and Richie Ashburn....1964, then i became a catcher and Manny Sanguillen and Thurmon Munson.....lastly was Johnny Bench.

The paint salesman?

 

[cac@PSU]

I had the good fortune to be at Three Rivers Stadium for Clemente's 3000 hit. Clemente was a great right fielder with a cannon for an arm.

 

[Auxgym]

Clemente, Roberto | Baseball Hall of Fame

“He played a kind of baseball that none of us had ever seen before… As if it were a form of punishment for everyone else on the field.” – Roger Angell The numbers he assembled over 18 big league seasons tell the story of a complete ballplayer. The story of Roberto Clemente, however, goes beyond...

baseballhall.org

#Retire 21 in all of baseball.

Hearing the news on the way to church hit like a ton of bricks for me at age 10. The first time I learned that life isn't always fair.

 

[Bvillebaron]

#Retire 21 in all of baseball.

Hearing the news on the way to church hit like a ton of bricks for me at age 10. The first time I learned that life isn't always fair.

Am I correct that Clemte is not in the Pirates Hall of Fame.

 

[LionJim]

Am I correct that Clemte is not in the Pirates Hall of Fame.

No, you’re not correct.

 

[Jimmy69]

I had the privilege of seeing Roberto play at Forbes Field back in the early 60's. He played with a flair not often seen, and it infected the whole team and the crowd. His arm had no equal...nobody ran on Roberto. When he died, the Pirate's third baseman (?) made a statement to the effect of "I don't know when it will happen, but at some point a runner will go from 1st to 3rd on a single to right, and the throw will right by me because I won't even be looking for it. "

 

[WSTLion87]

One of the very few misfortunes I've ever had was that I was only 3 when he passed and never got to see him play live.

 

[LionJim]

One of the very few misfortunes I've ever had was that I was only 3 when he passed and never got to see him play live.

He was a very good hitter, ran the bases with abandon, and had the best outfield arm of his generation. He never took a pitch off.

 

[Thorndike2021]

Roberto Clemente was my boyhood hero. He was more than a hero to some young boys who love baseball, he was a hero to the world. He played the game like he wanted, he said what he wanted, and he tried to help everyone. This was a truly great man.

That 'showmanship' that someone pointed out before was common in his era for players from the Caribbean. Games in Puerto Rico, Cuba, or The Dominican Republic were part baseball game and part circus. Players did flips, behind the back tosses, and all sorts of entertaining things on and around the field to delight their fans. Baseball is much more interactive in the Caribbean league ballparks.

The pictures of three men grace the walls of my 'man cave': my father, my uncle (both wounded veterans), and Roberto Clemente. Nobody else measures up.

 

[Bvillebaron]

No, you’re not correct.

Thanks. Did they retire his number?

 

[LionJim]

Thanks. Did they retire his number?

Yes.