Revisiting Roberto Clemente’s best moments
A model of this story was initially revealed on Dec. 31, 2021.
Roberto Clemente made his Major League debut on April 17, 1955, batting third and enjoying proper area for the Pirates within the first recreation of a doubleheader in opposition to the Dodgers. In his first at-bat, the 20-year-old Clemente legged out an infield single on a ball to Brooklyn shortstop Pee Wee Reese, providing the Forbes Field crowd a glimpse of the drive and depth that might come to outline him.
Over the subsequent 18 seasons, Clemente morphed from a strong participant right into a bona fide celebrity. A spot hitter who swung at nearly all the pieces, Clemente slashed .317/.359/.475 whereas reaching 3,000 hits and placing out only one,230 instances. He ran the bases with abandon and acquired away with it due to his pace that allowed him to amass 166 triples.
Clemente was a must-see attraction in proper area, the place he received 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards starting in 1961. Blessed with a strong and correct arm, he led the National League in outfield assists 5 instances and since 1904 ranks second in profession assists with no consideration fielder, with 255. Basket catches, sliding catches, leaping catches — Clemente may do all of it.
A two-time World Series champion, Clemente earned 15 All-Star Game nods whereas claiming 4 NL batting titles and the 1966 NL MVP Award. He ranks thirty seventh all-time with 94.8 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball-Reference. At his prime, he was some of the full gamers the sport has ever seen. Yet the Puerto Rican-born Clemente’s biggest contribution to baseball may need come as an advocate for minorities, particularly Latinos, who to this present day revere him as a trailblazer.
After his loss of life in a aircraft crash on Dec. 31, 1972, at age 38 whereas trying to ship humanitarian support to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, Clemente was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in a particular election in ’73. He was the primary Latino to be enshrined.
Let’s revisit a few of Clemente’s signature moments on the sector.
July 25, 1956: Inside-the-park, walk-off grand slam
There has been only one inside-the-park, walk-off grand slam in Major League historical past, and it was finished by Clemente. His historic journey across the bases gave the Pirates a 9-8 victory over the Cubs, making it one among simply 32 “ultimate grand slams” on file and the one one which was inside-the-park. (Fun truth: Clemente’s first large league homer on April 18, 1955, was additionally an inside-the-park homer.)
Sept. 8, 1958: A 3-time three-bagger
Clemente grew to become simply the twenty eighth participant in historical past to triple 3 times in a single recreation, tying a Modern Era file, hitting a trio of three-baggers — within the fourth, fifth and eighth innings — within the Pirates’ 4-1 win over the Reds at Forbes Field.
July 11, 1961: Walk-off hit within the All-Star Game
In his third All-Star Game and first as a starter, Clemente delivered a walk-off single within the tenth inning that gave the NL a 5-4 victory. Pinch-hitter Hank Aaron led off the underside half of the body with a single off Hoyt Wilhelm and superior to second on a handed ball. Aaron then scored on Willie Mays’ double to left. The subsequent batter, Frank Robinson, was hit by a pitch. And all of it set the stage for Clemente, who drove in Mays with a single to proper.
Clemente received his solely NL MVP Award in 1966, a 12 months through which he hit .317/.360/.536 with 29 homers and 119 RBIs, marking the primary time in his profession that he drove in 100 runs or extra. (His finest season arguably got here a 12 months later, when he completed third within the NL MVP Award voting after posting a .357/.400/.554 slash line, with 23 homers, 110 RBIs and an MLB-high 209 hits.)
May 15, 1967: Three-homer, seven-RBI efficiency
In what was in all probability the most effective single-game efficiency of his profession, Clemente went 4-for-5 with three dwelling runs and 7 RBIs in opposition to the Reds at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field. The first two homers had been two-run photographs, within the first and fifth innings. Clemente added a solo shot within the ninth, however the Pirates ended up shedding, 8-7, in 10 innings.
Sept. 20, 1969: Preserving a no-hitter
It appears that each no-hitter or excellent recreation options one unbelievable defensive play that retains the bid alive. When Bob Moose of the Pirates threw a no-hitter in opposition to the Mets at Shea Stadium, it was Clemente who did the honors, with a one-handed seize over the right-field fence within the sixth inning to rob New York third baseman Wayne Garrett.
July 24, 1970: Roberto Clemente Night at Three Rivers Stadium
Eight days after opening Three Rivers Stadium, the Pirates hosted Roberto Clemente Night of their new dwelling and welcomed a contingent of followers from Puerto Rico for the event. After a ceremony on the sector, Clemente hit two singles and made a pair of spectacular catches earlier than leaving the sport after six innings with a knee damage.
1971 World Series: An MVP efficiency
At age 37, Clemente slashed .414/.452/.759 within the 1971 Fall Classic to assist raise the Pirates over the Orioles in seven video games. As was the case in his first World Series in ’60, Clemente hit safely in all seven contests. In the fourth inning of Game 7, he contributed a solo dwelling run that turned out to be key in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 win. Clemente was named the MVP of the Series, turning into the primary Spanish-speaking participant to earn the award. In a poignant postgame second, Clemente requested his dad and mom in Puerto Rico for his or her blessing earlier than accepting the award.
Sept. 30, 1972: 3,000th hit
With the ultimate hit of his profession — a double to left at Three Rivers Stadium off Mets lefty Jon Matlack — Clemente joined the storied 3,000-hit membership. At the time, Clemente was simply the eleventh participant in Major League historical past and the primary Latino to achieve that quantity.
