Roberto Clemente is featured on this episode of #sportsbreak
Roberto Clemente spent 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5 PM CT, The Beat presents a new episode of #sportbreak. Each episode takes a look back at highlights of the greatest moments in sports history. It’s a little sumptin’ sumptin’ to tide you over ’til you get home or, maybe you’re at home working or just getting off work. You’ll find each episode on-demand in our app and here on the website.
Born in Puerto Rico on August 18, 1934, baseball star Roberto Clemente was killed on Dec. 31, 1972 in a plane that crashed immediately after takeoff from Isla Verde International Airport, flying into the ocean at the adjacent area known as Piñones. He with others on the plane was en route to Nicaragua to deliver aid to a nation devasted by a massive earthquake.
The Major League had a rule that in order for a player to be considered for the Hall of Fame, he had to be retired for five years. Clemente’s death brought a change to that. The League added an addendum to that rule; a player who has been deceased for at least six months is eligible for entry into the Hall of Fame. With that change, Clemente was ushered in as the first Latin American into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1973, deservedly so.
When the Pirates won the World Series in 1960, it marked the first time a Latin American and Caribbean starting player helped a team win the Series. Clemente had a few more firsts to add to his amazing career including The first Latin American player to win a National League MVP Award in 1966 as well as the first Latin American to win the World Series MVP Award in 1971.
Clemente racked up records that were simply amazing in his career.
He was an All-Star for 12 seasons, played in 15 All-Star Games.
National League MVP in 1966
National League batting leader in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967,
Gold Glove winner for 12 seasons in a row
Batted over .300 for 13 seasons
On September 30, 1972, his last regular-season at-bat, in front of the hometown fans, Clemente’s double in the 4th inning off of Mets pitcher Jon Matlack would give Clemente his 3,000th hit.
Click here for more about Roberto Clemente
Click here for past episodes of #sportsbreak