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A devout [[Christian]] who was outspoken about his [[faith]] in [[God]], Clemente's career was tragically cut short when his relief plane crashed on December 31, 1972 while taking off on a mercy mission to [[Nicaragua]] after a devastating [[earthquake]] had hit the country earlier in the year (he was traveling there due to political theft of relief supplies; it was believed that Clemente's presence would stop the thefts from occurring).  In a much-watched interview of him on the field when asked about when he thought he would get his 3,000th hit, he said that you never know what will happen tomorrow because that is up to [[God]]; he would get his 3,000th hit in what would be his final game.

A devout [[Christian]] who was outspoken about his [[faith]] in [[God]], Clemente's career was tragically cut short when his relief plane crashed on December 31, 1972 while taking off on a mercy mission to [[Nicaragua]] after a devastating [[earthquake]] had hit the country earlier in the year (he was traveling there due to political theft of relief supplies; it was believed that Clemente's presence would stop the thefts from occurring).  In a much-watched interview of him on the field when asked about when he thought he would get his 3,000th hit, he said that you never know what will happen tomorrow because that is up to [[God]]; he would get his 3,000th hit in what would be his final game.

Clemente was so revered (primarily due to the circumstances surrounding his death) that Major League Baseball waived the required five-year waiting period for Baseball Hall of Fame induction in his case; he was inducted at the next voting session.<ref>Clemente is the only player for which the waiting period was waived.  It is erroneously claimed that this was also done for Lou Gehrig, but at the time of Gehrig's induction there was no waiting period; in his case the baseball writers held a special election to induct him due to his ALS as his condition had worsened to the point where he would likely not be alive at the next election period.</ref>

Clemente was so revered upon his death that Major League Baseball waived for him the required five-year waiting period for Baseball Hall of Fame induction, and he was inducted at the next voting session.<ref>Clemente is the only player for which the waiting period was waived.  It is erroneously claimed that this was also done for Lou Gehrig, but at the time of Gehrig's induction there was no waiting period; in his case the baseball writers held a special election to induct him due to his ALS as his condition had worsened to the point where he would likely not be alive at the next election period.</ref>

Major League Baseball has honored him every September 15 (on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month) since 2002 (as Roberto Clemente Day).<ref>https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mlb-s-pirates-will-honor-roberto-clemente-wearing-his-number-n1239238</ref>  There have been repeated calls for MLB to retire his #21 across baseball as it did with Jackie Robinson.  Also, the Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the player who is considered to have done the best humanitarian work during the season.

Major League Baseball has honored him every September 15 (on the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month) since 2002 (as Roberto Clemente Day).<ref>https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mlb-s-pirates-will-honor-roberto-clemente-wearing-his-number-n1239238</ref>  There have been repeated calls for MLB to retire his #21 across baseball as it did with Jackie Robinson.  Also, the Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the player who is considered to have done the best humanitarian work during the season.