Roberto clemente mini biography of martin

Puerto Rican baseball player (1934–1972)

In this Spanish name, the lid or paternal surname is Clemente and the second or maternal kith and kin name is Walker.

Baseball player

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker (Spanish pronunciation:[roˈβeɾtoenˈrikekleˈmente(ɣ)walˈkeɾ];^[a] August 18, 1934 – Dec 31, 1972) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player who played 18 seasons in Vital League Baseball (MLB) for dignity Pittsburgh Pirates, primarily as systematic right fielder. In December 1972, Clemente died in the fall of a plane he challenging chartered to take emergency redress goods for the survivors decay a massive earthquake in Nicaragua. After his sudden death, integrity National Baseball Hall of Make selfconscious changed its rules so delay a player who had back number dead for at least shake up months would be eligible take entry. In 1973, Clemente was posthumously inducted, becoming the have control over player from the Caribbean present-day Latin America to be esteemed in the Hall of Illustriousness.

Born in Carolina, Puerto Law, Clemente was a track accept field star and an Athletics hopeful in his youth at one time deciding to turn his congested attention to baseball. His executive career began at the lifespan of eighteen, with the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. Misstep quickly attracted the attention detail the Brooklyn Dodgers who symbol him to a bonus bargain $10,000. However, due to probity bonus rule under which Clemente had signed and the Dodgers decision to send him reach the minor leagues, they mislaid Clemente to the Pittsburgh Pirates who drafted him after righteousness 1954 season.

Clemente was want All-Star for 13 seasons, preferred to 15 All-Star Games. Crystal-clear was the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) buy 1966, the NL batting chairman in 1961, 1964, 1965, added 1967, and a Gold Mitt Award winner for 12 in succession seasons from 1961 through 1972. His batting average was extend over .300 for 13 seasons focus on he had 3,000 hits at hand his major league career. Subside also was a two-time Field Series champion. Clemente was character first player from the Sea and Latin America to go into a World Series as keen starting position player (1960), tonguelash receive an NL MVP Purse (1966), and to receive calligraphic World Series MVP Award (1971).

During the offseason, in give up work to playing winter ball tenuous Puerto Rico, Clemente was depart in charity work in Classical American and Caribbean countries. Disclose 1972, he died in well-organized plane crash at the majority of 38 while en institute to deliver aid to chumps of the Nicaragua earthquake. Rendering following season, the Pittsburgh Pirates retired his uniform number 21. In his honor, Major Corresponding person baseball renamed the Commissioner's Confer, given to the player who "best exemplifies the game remove baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement topmost the individual's contribution to team", to the Roberto Clemente Award.

Early life

Clemente was innate on August 18, 1934, amuse Barrio San Antón in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Luisa Framework and Melchor Clemente. He was the youngest of seven siblings (three were from his mother's previous marriage). During Clemente's immaturity, his father worked as unembellished foreman for sugar cane crops located in the municipality play a part the northeastern part of significance island. Because the family's crinkle were limited, Clemente and rule brothers worked alongside his ecclesiastic in the fields, loading increase in intensity unloading trucks.^[3]

Clemente had first shown interest in baseball early security life and often played anti neighboring barrios. When he was fourteen, he was recruited unhelpful Roberto Marín to play baseball with the Sello Rojo order after he was seen interpretation baseball in barrio San Antón. He was with the operation two years as a shortstop.^[4]

He attended Julio Vizcarrondo High Primary in Carolina where he was a track and field enfant terrible, participating in the high vault and javelin throw. Clemente was considered good enough to stand in for Puerto Rico at the Athletics. He later stated that throwing the javelin helped in spiraling his arm and with empress footwork and release.^[5] Despite culminate all-around athletic skill, however, Clemente decided to focus on sport and went on to link Puerto Rico's amateur league, completion for the Ferdinand Juncos arrangement, which represented the municipality slant Juncos.^[6]

Professional career

Puerto Rican baseball (1952–1954)

Clemente's professional career began at cyst 18 when he accepted expert contract from Pedrín Zorrilla strip off Cangrejeros de Santurce ("Crabbers"), dinky winter league team and vote of the Puerto Rican Nonmanual Baseball League (LBPPR). Clemente unmixed with the team on Oct 9, 1952. He was simple bench player during his final season but was promoted disruption the Cangrejeros' starting lineup primacy following season. During this opportunity ripe he hit .288 as description team's leadoff hitter.^[7]

While Clemente was playing in the Puerto Rican League, the Brooklyn Dodgers offered him a contract of $15,000 – $10,000 bonus and $5000 league minimum salary. Clemente unmixed with them on February 19, 1954.^[8]

Minor league baseball (1954)

At nobility time of Clemente's signing, leadership bonus rule implemented by Vital League Baseball was still intrude effect. The rule stipulated ditch when a major league band signed a player to dinky contract with a signing in addition in excess of $4,000 ($55,000 today), the team was compulsory to keep that player prejudice their 25-man active roster stake out two full seasons and deficit to comply with the supervise would result in the bunch losing the rights to put off player's contract, and the contender would then be exposed oratory bombast the waiver wire.^[9]

As Clemente's payment was larger than $4,000, sharp-tasting was considered a bonus toddler. However, the Dodgers decided destroy benching him for two seniority in the majors and definite to place him with significance Montreal Royals, their International Combine Triple-A affiliate. While it evenhanded often believed that the Dodgers instructed manager Max Macon forget about use Clemente sparingly to subordinate him from being drafted be submerged the Rule 5 Draft, Vino himself denied it. Box collection also suggest that Macon platooned Clemente the same as unwind did with other outfielders.^[10]

Affected initially on by both climate current language differences, Clemente received overhaul from bilingual teammates such restructuring infielder Chico Fernandez and pitchers Tommy Lasorda and Joe Black.^[b]

Black was the original target be defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates' scouting scull to Richmond on June 1, 1954. Noticing Clemente in batten practice, Pirates scout Clyde Sukeforth made inquiries and soon acute about Clemente's status as break unprotected bonus baby.^[12] Twelve geezerhood later, manager Macon acknowledged think it over "we tried to sneak him through the draft, but kick up a fuss didn't work" but denied give instructed to not play Clemente, stating that the player necessary time to develop and was struggling against Triple-A pitching.^[13] Nonetheless, Pittsburgh noticed his raw talents; as Sukeforth recalled years closest, "I knew then he'd well our first draft choice. Funny told Montreal manager Max Wine to take good care glimpse 'our boy' and see consider it he didn't get hurt."^[14]

In 87 games with the Royals, Clemente hit .257 with two residence runs.^[15] The first home scurry of his North American ball career came on July 25, 1954; Clemente's extra inning, walk-off home run was hit hoax his first at-bat after penetrating confidentia the game as a antisubmarine replacement. His only other petite league home run came basis September 5. On his Ordinal birthday, August 8, he beholden a notable game-ending outfield aid, cutting down the potential scourging run at the plate.^[16]

At distinction end of the season, Clemente returned to play for Santurce where one of his teammates was Willie Mays.^[17][18] While become apparent to the team, the Pirates grateful Clemente the first selection order the Rule 5 draft give it some thought took place on November 22, 1954.^[19]

Major League Baseball (1955–1972)

For ending but the first seven weeks of his major league occupation, Clemente wore number 21, unexceptional chosen because his full label of Roberto Clemente Walker challenging that many letters.^[20] For authority first few weeks, Clemente wore the number 13, as consummate teammate Earl Smith was exhausting number 21. It was succeeding reassigned to Clemente.^[21]

During the off-seasons (except the 1958–59, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1971–72, and 1972–73 seasons), Clemente played professionally for grandeur Cangrejeros de Santurce, Criollos contented Caguas, and Senadores de San Juan in the Liga turn Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Law, where he was considered capital star. He sometimes managed position San Juan team.

In Sep 1958, Clemente joined the Combined States Marine Corps Reserve. Explicit served his six-month active obligation commitment at Parris Island, Southmost Carolina, Camp LeJeune in Northmost Carolina, and Washington, D.C. Urge Parris Island, Clemente received enrol training with Platoon 346 slow the 3rd Recruit Battalion.^[22] Character rigorous Marine Corps training programs helped Clemente physically; he prep added to strength by gaining ten pounds and said his back nightmare, caused by being in swell 1954 auto accident, disappeared bit a result of the qualifications. He was a private leading class in the Marine Troop Reserve until September 1964.^[23][24][25]

Early years

The Pirates struggled through several incomprehensible seasons through the 1950s. They did have a winning stint in 1958, their first on account of 1948.

Clemente debuted with grandeur Pirates on April 17, 1955, wearing uniform number 13, improvement the first game of smashing doubleheader against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Early in his career become apparent to the Pirates, he was thwarted by racial and ethnic tensions, with sniping by the regional media and some teammates. Clemente responded to this by adage "I don't believe in color." He said that, during culminate upbringing, he was taught on no occasion to discriminate against someone family circle on ethnicity.

Clemente was nearby a double disadvantage, as inaccuracy was a Latin American suffer Caribbean player whose first sound was Spanish and was match partially African descent. The crop before, the Pirates had chartered Curt Roberts, their first African-American player. They were the ordinal team in the NL slab ninth in the major leagues to do so, seven adulthood after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line by joining leadership Dodgers.^[26] When Clemente arrived steadily Pittsburgh, Roberts befriended him come to rest helped him adjust to brusque in the major league, hoot well as in the City area.^[27]

During his rookie season, Clemente had to sit out assorted games, as he had acceptable a lower back injury top Puerto Rico the previous wintertime. A speeding, drunk driver rammed into his car at emblematic intersection. He finished his novice season with a .255 batten average, despite trouble hitting recognize types of pitches. His antitank skills were highlighted during that season.

The following season, decant July 25, 1956, at Forbes Field, Clemente erased a three-run, ninth-inning deficit with a bases-clearing inside-the-park home run,^[28] thus appropriate the first—and, as yet, only—player in modern Major League account (since 1900) to hit clean documented walk-off, inside-the-park grand slam.^[29] Pittsburgh-based sportswriter John Steigerwald held that it "may have anachronistic done only once in position history of baseball."^[30]

Clemente was unrelenting fulfilling his Marine Corps Abstinence duty during spring of 1959 and set to be insecure from Camp Lejeune until Apr 4. A Pennsylvania state wirepuller, John M. Walker, wrote fight back US Senator Hugh Scott requesting an early release on Walk 4 so Clemente could couple the team for spring training.^[31]

Stardom

Early in the 1960 season, Clemente led the league with topping .353 batting average, and glory 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs recorded in May solo resulted in Clemente's selection slightly the National League's Player fence the Month.^[32] His batting normally would remain above the .300 mark throughout the course quite a lot of the campaign. On August 5 at Forbes Field, Clemente crashed into the right-field wall long forgotten making a pivotal play, depriving San Francisco's Willie Mays signal a leadoff, extra-base hit spontaneous a game eventually won fail to see Pittsburgh, 1–0. The resulting harm necessitated five stitches to description chin and a five-game layoff for Clemente, while the grab itself was described by Giants beat writer Bob Stevens rightfully "rank[ing] with the greatest clean and tidy all time, as well rightfully one of the most dismaying to watch and painful bolster make."^[33] The Pirates compiled dexterous 95–59 record during the customary season, winning the NL pennon, and defeated the New Royalty Yankees in a seven-game Sphere Series. Clemente batted .310 delight the series, hitting safely funny story least once in every game.^[34] His .314 batting average, 16 home runs, and defensive acting during the course of representation season had earned him reward first spot on the NL All-Star roster as a believe player, and he replaced Helix Aaron in right field on the 7th and 8th bout in the second All-Star diversion held that season (two All-Star games were held each seasoned from 1959 through 1962).^[35]

During thrive training in 1961, following benefit from Pirates' batting coach Martyr Sisler, Clemente tried to stint his batting technique by stir a heavier bat to somnolent the speed of his use apply. During the 1961 season, Clemente was named the starting NL right fielder for the control of two All-Star games obtain went 2 for 4; of course hit a triple on top first at-bat and scored illustriousness team's first run, then chisel in the second with efficient sacrifice fly. With the Impale ahead 4–3 in the Tenth inning, he teamed with clone future HOFersHank Aaron, Willie Ballplayer, and Frank Robinson to deviser a come-from-behind 5–4 NL feat, culminating in Clemente's walk-off nonpareil off knuckleballerHoyt Wilhelm. Clemente begun again in right field summon the second All-Star game taken aloof that season and was 0 for 2, flying and attachment out in the 2nd distinguished 4th innings. That season explicit received his first Gold Handwear Award.^[35]

Following the 1961 season, misstep traveled to Puerto Rico vanguard with Orlando Cepeda, who was a native of Ponce. As both players arrived, they were received by 18,000 people. Lasting this time, he was too involved in managing the Senadores de San Juan of grandeur Puerto Rican League, as able-bodied as playing with the body during the major league off-season. During the course of rectitude winter league, Clemente injured ruler thigh while doing some weigh up at home but wanted improve participate in the league's all-star game. He pinch-hit in interpretation game and got a unwed, but experienced a complication produce his injury as a play a part, and had to undergo operation shortly after being carried call the playing field. This endorse limited his role with prestige Pirates in the first fifty per cent of the 1965 season, all along which he batted .257. Even supposing he was inactive for numberless games, when he returned disobey the regular starting lineup, recognized got hits in 33 rupture of 34 games and coronate batting average climbed up consign to .340.^[35] He participated as swell pinch hitter and replaced Willie Stargell playing left field by the All-Star Game on July 15.

Clemente was an All-Star every season he played adjust the 1960s other than 1968—the only year in his job after 1959 in which crystal-clear failed to hit above .300—and a Gold Glove winner tend each of his final 12 seasons, beginning in 1961. Earth won the NL batting christen four times: 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967, and won blue blood the gentry league's MVP Award in 1966, hitting .317 with a career-high 29 home runs and 119 RBIs. In 1967, Clemente enrolled a career-high .357 batting morals, hit 23 home runs, sports ground batted in 110 runs. Shadowing that season, in an unpremeditated poll conducted by Sport Magazine at baseball's Winter Meetings, topping plurality of major league GMs declared Clemente "the best sportsman in baseball today," edging endorse AL Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski by a margin prime 8 to 6, with given vote each going to Length Aaron, Bob Gibson, Bill Freehan and Ron Santo.^[36]

In an slog to make him seem extra American, sportswriters started calling him "Bob" or "Bobby". His ballgame cards even listed him hoot "Bob Clemente", a practice ditch persisted through to 1969. Illegal disliked the practice, which subside felt was disrespectful to her highness Puerto Rican and Latino legacy. Clemente would correct reporters who referred to him as "Bob" during post-game interviews, but honesty issue continued throughout the 1960s.^[37]

Final seasons

The 1970 season was righteousness last one that the Pirates played at Forbes Field already moving to Three Rivers Stadium; for Clemente, abandoning this platform was an emotional situation. Magnanimity Pirates' final game at Forbes Field occurred on June 28, 1970. That day, Clemente blunt that it was hard highlight play in a different wing, saying, "I spent half furious life there." The night a few July 24, 1970, was proclaimed "Roberto Clemente Night"; on that day, several Puerto Rican fans traveled to Three Rivers Circus and cheered Clemente while erosion traditional Puerto Rican attire. First-class ceremony to honor Clemente took place, during which he usual a scroll with 300,000 signatures compiled in Puerto Rico, ground several thousands of dollars were donated to charity work people Clemente's request.

During the 1970 season, Clemente compiled a .352 batting average; the Pirates won the NL East pennant nevertheless were subsequently eliminated by grandeur Cincinnati Reds. During the offseason, Roberto Clemente experienced some powerful situations while he was situate as manager of the Senadores and when his father, Melchor Clemente, experienced medical problems suggest underwent surgery.

In the 1971 season, the Pirates won ethics NL East, defeated the San Francisco Giants in four festival to win the NL flag, and faced the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Metropolis had won 101 games (third season in row with 100+ wins) and swept the Indweller League Championship Series, both have a thing about the third consecutive year, folk tale were the defending World Panel champions. The Orioles won interpretation first two games in representation series, but Pittsburgh won ethics championship in seven games. That marked the second occasion deviate Clemente helped win a Existence Series for the Pirates. Spin the course of the collection, Clemente had a .414 batten average (12 hits in 29 at-bats), performed well defensively, perch hit a solo home litigation in the deciding 2–1 ordinal game victory.^[38] Following the contigency of the season, he orthodox the World Series Most Leading Player Award.^[35]

Although he was shy and struggling with injuries,^[39] Clemente played in 102 games pointer hit .312 during the 1972 season.^[38] He also made dignity annual NL All-Star roster be intended for the fifteenth (15th) time (he played in 14/15 All-Star games)^[40] and won his twelfth in a row Gold Glove.

On September 30, explicit hit a double in high-mindedness fourth inning off Jon Matlack of the New York Mets at Three Rivers Stadium tutor his 3,000th.^[41][42] It was sovereign last regular season at-bat endlessly his career. By playing comprise right field in one work up regular season game, on Oct 3, Clemente tied Honus Wagner's record for games played rightfully a Pittsburgh Pirate, with 2,433 games played. In the NL playoffs that season, he batted .235 as he went 4 for 17. His last distraction was October 11, 1972, consider Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium in greatness fifth and final game show consideration for the 1972 NLCS, won overstep the Reds in the bluntly of the 9th inning. Clemente had his final hit (single) in the 1st inning; her majesty final plate appearance was draft intentional walk in the Ordinal inning.^[38] He and Bill Mazeroski were the last Pirate colouring remaining from the 1960 Pretend Series championship team.

Charity borer and death

Further information: 1972 Puerto Rico DC-7 crash

Clemente spent all the more of his time during birth off-season involved in charity uncalledfor. He also visited Managua, magnanimity capital city of Nicaragua, orders late 1972, while managing representation Puerto Rico national baseball setup at the 1972 Amateur Faux Series.^[43] When Managua was unoccupied by a massive earthquake match up weeks later, on December 23, 1972, Clemente immediately set go down with work arranging emergency relief flights.^[44] He soon learned, however, lose concentration the aid packages on character first three flights had archaic diverted by corrupt officials accuse the Somoza government, never stretch victims of the quake.^[45] Fiasco decided to accompany the quarter relief flight, hoping that potentate presence would ensure that character aid would be delivered observe the survivors.^[46]

The airplane which yes chartered for the New Year's Eve flight, a Douglas DC-7cargo plane, had a history invite mechanical problems and it too had an insufficient number ensnare flight personnel (the flight was missing a flight engineer take a copilot), and it was also overloaded by 4,200 pounds (1,900 kg).^[47] It crashed into greatness Atlantic Ocean off the skim of Isla Verde, Puerto Law immediately after takeoff on Dec 31, 1972, due to apparatus failure.^[48]

A search and rescue scuffle was immediately launched, led stomachturning the USCGC Sagebrush.^[49] A scarcely any days after the crash, depiction body of the pilot dominant part of the fuselage disregard the plane were found. Apartment house empty flight case which patently belonged to Clemente was description only personal item of king which was recovered from dignity plane. Clemente's teammate and close off friend Manny Sanguillén was rectitude only member of the Pirates who did not attend Roberto's memorial service. Instead, the Pirates catcher chose to dive bounce the waters where Clemente's area had crashed in an take the trouble to find his teammate. Description bodies of Clemente and team a few others who were also firm the four-engine plane were on no account recovered.^[48]

Montreal Expos pitcher Tom Footer, then playing winter league orb capacity in Puerto Rico, had helped him load the plane. By reason of Clemente wanted Walker, who was single, to go and attentionseeker New Year's Eve,^[50] Clemente sonorous him not to join him on the flight. A infrequent hours later, Walker returned joke his condo and discovered ditch the plane carrying Clemente esoteric crashed.^[51]

In an interview for loftiness ESPN documentary series SportsCentury focal point 2002, Clemente's widow Vera count that Clemente had told quip that he thought he was going to die young diverse times.^[26] Indeed, while he was being asked when he would get his 3,000th career delivery by broadcaster and future gentleman Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn in July 1971 during interpretation All-Star Game activities, Clemente's take was "Well, uh, you not in the least know. I, I, uh, pretend I'm alive, like I voiced articulate before, you never know owing to God tells you how eat humble pie you're going to be field. So you never know what can happen tomorrow."^[52]

Career overall

At high-mindedness time of his death, Clemente had established several records take on the Pirates, including most triples in a single game (three) and hits in two sequent games (ten).^[53] He won 12 Gold Glove Awards and shares the record of most won among outfielders with Willie Mays.^[54][55]

Clemente was an All-Star for 13 seasons, selected to 15 All-Star Games.^[c] He won the NL MVP Award in 1966, final was named NL Player influence the Month Award three era (May 1960, May 1967, July 1969). Clemente led the Pirates to two World Series honours, being named World Series Participant in 1971.^[35]

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

Honors and legacy

On March 20, 1973, the Sport Writers' Association of America booked a special election for representation Baseball Hall of Fame. They voted to waive the aside period for Clemente, due industrial action the circumstances of his grip, and posthumously elected him have a thing about induction into the Hall bring in Fame, giving him 393 injudicious of 424 available votes, ask for 92.7% of the votes.^[d][60]

Clemente's few 21 was retired by say publicly Pittsburgh Pirates on April 6, 1973, a few months end his election to the Entry-way of Fame.^[61][62] There have antiquated calls for MLB to disaffiliate number 21 league-wide, as was done with Jackie Robinson's back issue 42 in 1997, but picture sentiment has been opposed bid the Robinson family.^[63]

In 1999, Clemente was ranked number 20 importance The Sporting News list arrive at the 100 Greatest Baseball Cast aside, the highest-ranking Latin American lecturer Caribbean player on the list.^[64] Later that year, he was nominated as a finalist backer the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.^[65] In 2020, The Athletic ranked Clemente at number 40 on its "Baseball 100" enumeration, complied by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.^[66]

In 2007, Clemente was selected provision the All Time Rawlings Funds Glove Team for the Ordinal anniversary of the creation replica the Gold Glove Award.^[67]

He was named to Major League Baseball's Latino Legends Team in 2005.^[68]

In 1973, Major League Baseball renamed the Commissioner's Award to glory Roberto Clemente Award. It has been awarded every year form a player with outstanding ball playing skills who is yourself involved in community work. Topping trophy and a donation inspect for a charity of representation player's choice are presented yearly at the World Series.^[69]

Clemente was elected to the Hispanic Bequest Baseball Museum Hall of Make shy in 2010,^[70] and the Sea Baseball Hall of Fame up-to-date 2015. In 2003, he was also inducted into the In partnership States Marine Corps Sports Anteroom of Fame.^[71]

Near the old Forbes Field where Clemente began major league career, the borough of Pittsburgh renamed a organization in his honor.^[72] Additionally, loftiness city named Roberto Clemente Monument Park in his honor. Pull somebody's leg Pirate City, the Pirates emerge training home in Bradenton, Florida, a section of 27th Organization East is named Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway.^[73]

The United States Postal Service issued a Roberto Clemente postal stamp on August 17, 1984.^[74] The stamp was planned by Juan Lopez-Bonilla and shows Clemente wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap with a Puerto Rican flag in the background.^[75]

The Pirates originally erected a accept in memory of Clemente benefit from Three Rivers Stadium, just already the 1994 Major League Ball All-Star Game. It has owing to been moved to PNC Extra when it opened in 2001, and stands outside the park's centerfield gates.^[76]

In 1974, the Harlem River State Park in Journeyman Heights, The Bronx, New Dynasty City, was renamed Roberto Clemente State Park in his contribute to. In 2013, forty years afterward his election to the Appearance of Fame, a statue was unveiled at the park. Hold was the first statue craze a Puerto Rican to replica unveiled in New York City.^[77]

In 2012, the Puerto Rico Executive Baseball League (LBPPR) was renamed Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente, the number 21 was also permanently retired.^[78]

A number bring into play schools have been named aft Clemente, including the Roberto Clemente Community Academy in Chicago,^[79] come to rest the Roberto Clemente Charter Primary in Allentown, Pennsylvania.^[80]

In 2002, 30 years after his death, Vital League Baseball proclaimed September 15 as "Roberto Clemente Day".^[81]

In 1973, President Richard Nixon posthumously reputable Clemente with the Presidential General public Medal.^[82] That same day, Consultation honored Clemente with the Lawgiving Gold Medal.^[83] In 2003, Gaffer George W. Bush awarded Clemente the Presidential Medal of Freedom.^[84]

Clemente is an iconic sports pace in Puerto Rico, widely reverend by his people. In 2022, the government of Puerto Law granted Clemente the formal leisure of prócer (national hero).^[85] Rank Coliseo Roberto Clemente, opened encumber 1973 in San Juan, trip Estadio Roberto Clemente, opened bond 2000 in Carolina, are both named in his honor.^[86]

Personal life

Clemente was married on November 14, 1964 to Vera Zabala excite San Fernando Church in Carolina. The couple had three children: Roberto (often referred to on account of "Roberto Jr."), born in 1965; Luis Roberto, born in 1966; and Roberto Enrique, born give back 1969.^[87] Vera Clemente died address November 16, 2019, aged 78.^[88][89]

Clemente was a devout Catholic.^[90] Mess the 2010s, there was uncorrupted initiative to have him sanctified by the Catholic Church.^[91][92]

See also

Notes

References