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[[File:Roberto Clemente 1965.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Roberto Clemente in 1965.]]

[[File:Roberto Clemente 1965.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Roberto Clemente in 1965.]]

'''Roberto Clemente Walker''', nicknamed "The Great One," was one of the finest all-round [[baseball]] players ever.  '''''More sculptures (11) honor Clemente than any other athlete.'''''<ref>https://www.spanish.academy/blog/how-world-series-champion-roberto-clemente-served-impoverished-puerto-ricans/</ref>  He had a hit in every [[World Series]] game (winning those championships), was the 11th player to reach 3,000 hits overall, had the highest batting average of anyone in the 1960s and the best arm of any outfielder ever.  He won a record 12 [[Gold Glove]]s, and is ranked as the greatest defensive right fielder ever.<ref>https://www.thereporter.com/2020/09/09/sieger-some-say-roberto-clemente-was-the-greatest-ever/</ref>  A strong argument can be made that he was actually an [[angel]].  He led the Pirates to two [[World Series]] championships, first in 1960 and again in 1971 while winning its MVP and batting .478.  He ranks along with [[Willie Mays]], [[Hank Aaron]], [[Rogers Hornsby]], and [[Joe DiMaggio]] as one of the greatest righthanded hitters ever.<ref>https://bleacherreport.com/articles/440271-albert-pujols-and-the-20-greatest-right-handed-hitters-of-all-time</ref>   

'''Roberto Clemente Walker''', nicknamed "The Great One," was one of the finest all-round [[baseball]] players ever.  ''''' More sculptures (11) honor Clemente than any other athlete.'''''<ref>https://www.spanish.academy/blog/how-world-series-champion-roberto-clemente-served-impoverished-puerto-ricans/</ref>  He had a hit in every [[World Series]] game (winning those championships), was the 11th player to reach 3,000 hits overall, had the highest batting average of anyone in the 1960s and the best arm of any outfielder ever.  He won a record 12 [[Gold Glove]]s, and is ranked as the greatest defensive right fielder ever.<ref>https://www.thereporter.com/2020/09/09/sieger-some-say-roberto-clemente-was-the-greatest-ever/</ref>  A strong argument can be made that he was actually an [[angel]].  He led the Pirates to two [[World Series]] championships, first in 1960 and again in 1971 while winning its MVP and batting .478.  He ranks along with [[Willie Mays]], [[Hank Aaron]], [[Rogers Hornsby]], and [[Joe DiMaggio]] as one of the greatest righthanded hitters ever.<ref>https://bleacherreport.com/articles/440271-albert-pujols-and-the-20-greatest-right-handed-hitters-of-all-time</ref>   

A devout [[Christian]] 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]] 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 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>

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.

Clemente used the number 21 because it is total number of all the letters in his full name:  "Roberto Clemente Walker."

Clemente used the number 21 because it is the total number of all the letters in his full name:  "Roberto Clemente Walker."

One reason Clemente hit so well in the World Series, and in clutch moments there, is that he was a good "bad-ball hitter,"<ref>Clemente “became known as a primary example of a good 'bad-ball hitter.'” [https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-25-1956-roberto-clemente-hits-an-inside-the-park-walk-off-grand-slam-to-lift-pirates/#ednref4]</ref> so he was very difficult to pitch around in big games. In the decisive 7th game of the 1960 World Series against the heavily favored New York Yankees -- called "the greatest game ever played" -- with the Pirates behind in the late innings Clemente fouled off pitch after pitch, even breaking his bat, before hitting a bad pitch towards first base and then outracing an opponent to the bag. He then scored the go-ahead run.<ref>https://www.espn.com.au/mlb/playoffs/2010/columns/story?id=5676003</ref>  In the 1971 World Series, Clemente's two-run homer in the decisive 7th game carried the Pirates to a 2-1 victory and the championship.<ref>https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/playerpost.php?p=clemero01&ps=ws</ref>

One reason Clemente hit so well in the World Series, and in clutch moments there, is that he was a good "bad-ball hitter,"<ref>Clemente “became known as a primary example of a good 'bad-ball hitter.'” [https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-25-1956-roberto-clemente-hits-an-inside-the-park-walk-off-grand-slam-to-lift-pirates/#ednref4]</ref> so he was very difficult to pitch around in big games. In the decisive 7th game of the 1960 World Series against the heavily favored New York Yankees -- called "the greatest game ever played" -- with the Pirates behind in the late innings Clemente fouled off pitch after pitch, even breaking his bat, before hitting a bad pitch towards first base and then outracing an opponent to the bag. He then scored the go-ahead run.<ref>https://www.espn.com.au/mlb/playoffs/2010/columns/story?id=5676003</ref>  In the 1971 World Series, Clemente's two-run homer in the decisive 7th game carried the Pirates to a 2-1 victory and the championship.<ref>https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/playerpost.php?p=clemero01&ps=ws</ref>

== Was Clemente an angel? ==

== Was Clemente an angel? ==

[[Angel]]s are known to take human form, and there are many examples in the [[Bible]].  Several aspects of Clemente's life, character, and public comments suggest he may have been angel:

[[Angel]]s are known to take human form, and there are many examples in the [[Bible]].  Several aspects of Clemente's life, character, and public comments suggest he may have been an angel:

*his super-human throwing arm was compared to a cannon, resulting in many spectacular, humorously surprising plays of the kind that [[Mystery:Does God Have a Sense of Humor?|might amuse God]].

*his super-human throwing arm was compared to a cannon, resulting in many spectacular, humorously surprising plays of the kind that [[Mystery:Does God Have a Sense of Humor?|might amuse God]].

*he had a carefree style while performing at the highest level, hitting in every [[World Series]] game.

*he had a carefree style while performing at the highest level, hitting in every [[World Series]] game.

*his baseball bat was a substantial 5 ounces heavier than the bat used by a much-larger top slugger today,<ref>https://www.audacy.com/national/sports/aaron-judge-takes-bp-with-replica-roberto-clemente-bat</ref> and one of the heaviest bats ever used.<ref>https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1251649-20-biggest-bats-in-mlb-history#:~:text=The%20contributions%20Roberto%20Clemente%20made,the%20Pittsburgh%20Pirates%20in%201955.</ref>

*his baseball bat was a substantial 5 ounces heavier than the bat used by a much-larger top slugger today,<ref>https://www.audacy.com/national/sports/aaron-judge-takes-bp-with-replica-roberto-clemente-bat</ref> and one of the heaviest bats ever used.<ref>https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1251649-20-biggest-bats-in-mlb-history#:~:text=The%20contributions%20Roberto%20Clemente%20made,the%20Pittsburgh%20Pirates%20in%201955.</ref>

*his body was never recovered from a humanitarian mission after he attained precisely 3,000 hits,<ref>https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml</ref> although the plane was found.

*his body was never recovered from a humanitarian mission after he attained precisely 3,000 hits,<ref>https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml</ref> although the plane was found.

*he had an unusual way of catching fly balls (his basket catch), and in flailing his arms while running the base paths as though his arms were wings.

*he had an unusual way of catching fly balls (his basket catch), and flailing his arms while running the base paths as though his arms were wings.

*despite his quick speed -- he hit the only inside-the-park grand slam in baseball history<ref name="SABR"/> -- he disliked stealing bases perhaps due to disfavoring stealing anything.

*despite his quick speed -- he hit the only inside-the-park grand slam in baseball history<ref name="SABR"/> -- he disliked stealing bases perhaps due to disfavoring stealing anything.

*his nickname, "The Great One," is unusual and has a spiritual implication.

*his nickname, "The Great One," is unusual and has a spiritual implication.

==Delaying his Major League Debut==

==Delaying his Major League Debut==

Clemente was hidden from the Major Leagues for several years due to rivalries between different teams:<ref>https://www.mlb.com/news/roberto-clemente-signed-with-dodgers-in-1954</ref>

Clemente was hidden from the Major Leagues for several years due to rivalries between different teams:<ref>https://www.mlb.com/news/roberto-clemente-signed-with-dodgers-in-1954</ref>

{{cquote|the Dodgers and [Montreal] Royals tried to hide him-that is, play him very little so that other teams wouldn’t notice him. The claim was expressed by Clemente at least as early as 1962 in an article by Howard Cohn in ''Sport'' magazine.<ref>https://sabr.org/journal/article/clementes-entry-into-organized-baseball-hidden-in-montreal/</ref>}}

{{cquote|the Dodgers and [Montreal] Royals tried to hide him - that is, play him very little so that other teams wouldn’t notice him. The claim was expressed by Clemente at least as early as 1962 in an article by Howard Cohn in ''Sport'' magazine.<ref>https://sabr.org/journal/article/clementes-entry-into-organized-baseball-hidden-in-montreal/</ref>}}

==Controversy over K-3 Children's Book about Clemente==

==Controversy over K-3 Children's Book about Clemente==

A controversy in [[Florida]] occurred in 2023 about a children's book about Roberto Clemente, written for levels K-3, might have more ideological references to alleged discrimination than allowed by Florida law for public library book sections targeting schoolchildren.<ref>https://www.yahoo.com/news/roberto-clemente-book-removed-florida-014504078.html</ref>

A controversy in [[Florida]] occurred in 2023 about a children's book about Roberto Clemente, written for levels K-3, which might have more ideological references to alleged discrimination than allowed by Florida law for public library book sections targeting schoolchildren.<ref>https://www.yahoo.com/news/roberto-clemente-book-removed-florida-014504078.html</ref>

==Military service==

==Military service==

Though not widely known, Clemente was in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from September 1958, when he volunteered, until September 1964, which included his first [[World Series]] in 1960.

Though not widely known, Clemente was in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from September 1958, when he volunteered, until September 1964, which included his first [[World Series]] in 1960.