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Robert Walker Clemente was born in Carolina, Puerto
Rico on August 18, 1934. He was the youngest of seven, (some
accounts say four) children born to Melchor Clemente, a sugar
mill foreman, and Luisa Walker. Roberto Clemente was a descendent of
both African and Spanish ancestors.
In 1952, while still in high school,
Roberto played with the Santurce Cangreheros in the Puerto Rican
League. His batting average was .356 that year.
Roberto signed with the Dodgers in
1953, but was drafted as the number one pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates
in 1954. He joined the team in 1955. Roberto played for Pittsburgh
over his entire career of eighteen years and retired in in 1972.
Roberto married Vera Cristina Zabala on
November 14, 1964. They had three sons; Roberto Walker Clemente Jr. ,
Louis Roberto Clemente and Roberto Enrique Clemente.
Roberto, like most minority players of
the early fifties, was forced to sleep, eat and travel in segregated
quarters. His refusal to humbly accept this racist treatment led to a
reputation as a Hothead. In his second year with the
Pirates, he batted .311 and drove in 60 runs.
Roberto was the National League Batting
Champion four times and played in two World Series. He was awarded
twelve Golden Gloves and was the 1971 World Series MVP. He had a
lifetime batting average of .317, lifetime RBI of 1,305 and hit
240 homeruns over the course of his career.
Roberto Clemente died on December 31,
1972. On December 23, 1972 Managua, Nicaragua was hit by an earthquake
that killed thousands and left many homeless. Roberto and four others
gathered relief supplies and chartered a plane to bring help to
the victims. The Plane crashed shortly after takeoff and all aboard
were killed.
Roberto Clemente was inducted into
Baseball's Hall of Fame on August 6, 1973. He was the first Hispanic
inducted into the Hall.
Sources:
Encyclopedia
Britannica
Encyclopedia
Africana
National
Baseball Hall of Fame
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