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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 [[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 (by far, 15 points), and the best throwing arm of any outfielder ever.  He won a record 12 [[Gold Glove]]s.<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]]''''', see [[#Was Clemente an angel?|''Was Clemente an angel?'']]  He led the Pirates to two [[World Series]] championships, first in 1960 and again in 1971 while batting .478 and winning its MVP.  He ranks along with [[Willie Mays]], [[Hank Aaron]], [[Rogers Hornsby]], and [[Joe DiMaggio]] among the greatest right-handed hitters ever.<ref>https://bleacherreport.com/articles/440271-albert-pujols-and-the-20-greatest-right-handed-hitters-of-all-time</ref>  Clemente won 4 NL batting crowns in his shortened career, ranking fifth all-time.

'''Roberto Clemente Walker''', nicknamed "The Great One," was one of the finest [[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 (by far, 15 points), and the best throwing arm of any outfielder ever.  He won a record 12 [[Gold Glove]]s.<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]]''''', see [[#Was Clemente an angel?|''Was Clemente an angel?'']]  He led the Pirates to two [[World Series]] championships, first in 1960 and again in 1971 while batting .478 and winning the MVP.  He ranks along with [[Willie Mays]], [[Hank Aaron]], [[Rogers Hornsby]], and [[Joe DiMaggio]] among the greatest right-handed hitters ever.<ref>https://bleacherreport.com/articles/440271-albert-pujols-and-the-20-greatest-right-handed-hitters-of-all-time</ref>  Clemente won 4 NL batting crowns in his shortened career, ranking fifth all-time.

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]] and 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 with 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>

Clemente used the number 21 because it is the 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>

In his total of 14 World Series games throughout his career, Clemente hit a remarkable .362 despite how pitchers surely tried to pitch around him.<ref name="Clemente">https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/clementes-hit-wins-1971-world-series</ref>  The owner of Baltimore Orioles even went to the Pirates locker room after losing to them in 1971 to tell Clemente that “You are one of the greatest.”<ref name="Clemente"/>

In his total of 14 World Series games throughout his career, Clemente hit a remarkable .362 despite how pitchers surely tried to pitch around him.<ref name="Clemente">https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/clementes-hit-wins-1971-world-series</ref>  The owner of the Baltimore Orioles even went to the Pirates locker room after losing to them in 1971 to tell Clemente that “You are one of the greatest.”<ref name="Clemente"/>

== Was Clemente an angel? ==

== Was Clemente an angel? ==

{{See also|Mystery: Was Roberto Clemente an angel}}''?''

{{See also|Mystery: Was Roberto Clemente an angel}}''?''

*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.

*he publicly spoke about God taking him from this world at any time, and his additional quotes were from an angel's perspective: "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on [[Earth]]."<ref>https://www.robertoclemente.com/quotes/</ref>

*he publicly spoke about God taking him from this world at any time, and his additional quotes were from an angel's perspective: "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on [[Earth]]."<ref>https://www.robertoclemente.com/quotes/</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 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.

*his 3,000th hit was on his last regular season at-bat of his career, as though [[God]] called him back to [[heaven]] after reaching that milestone.

* his 3,000th hit was on his last regular season at-bat of his career, as though [[God]] called him back to [[heaven]] after reaching that milestone.

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

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

*despite his quick speed -- he hit the only inside-the-park grand slam in baseball history,<ref name="SABR"/> and is tied for the National League lead in career inside-the-park homers in the live-ball era with speedster Lou Brock (9 each) -- Clemente disfavored stealing bases perhaps due to disliking any stealing.

* despite his quick speed -- he hit the only inside-the-park grand slam in baseball history,<ref name="SABR"/> and is tied for the National League lead in career inside-the-park homers in the live-ball era with speedster Lou Brock (9 each) -- Clemente disfavored stealing bases perhaps due to disliking any stealing.

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

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

*in [[Mystery:Does God Have a Sense of Humor?|God's style of humor]] reminiscent of the [[Gospels]] (including [[Saint Dismas]]), Clemente played for the only baseball team named after criminals (pirates).

*in [[Mystery:Does God Have a Sense of Humor?|God's style of humor]] reminiscent of the [[Gospels]] (including [[Saint Dismas]]), Clemente played for the only baseball team named after criminals (pirates).

Fifty years ago today, the fleet feet of [[Willie Mays]] challenged the awesome arm of Roberto Clemente and lost. Mays remembered the situation in 1998, saying, “Roberto Clemente threw me out on a bang-bang play at third. I should have remembered what a tremendous arm he had.”<ref>https://calltothepen.com/2018/04/13/mlb-history-clemente-mays/</ref>}}

Fifty years ago today, the fleet feet of [[Willie Mays]] challenged the awesome arm of Roberto Clemente and lost. Mays remembered the situation in 1998, saying, “Roberto Clemente threw me out on a bang-bang play at third. I should have remembered what a tremendous arm he had.”<ref>https://calltothepen.com/2018/04/13/mlb-history-clemente-mays/</ref>}}

==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, 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>

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.

== Quotes ==

== Quotes ==