Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente - Baseball Players, Birthday and Life

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Roberto Clemente Biography Stories 

Roberto Clemente's Personal Details

Roberto Clemente was a professional Puerto Rican baseball player, who is regarded among the best baseball players ever

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 18, 1934
Died onDecember 31, 1972
NationalityPuerto Rican
FamousAfrican American Baseball Players, Hispanic Athletes, Sportspersons, Baseball Players
SpousesVera Cristina Zabala (m. 1964–1972)
Known asRoberto Enrique Clemente Walker
ChildrensLuis Roberto Walker, Roberto Enrique Walker, Roberto Walker Jr.
Cause of death
  • Plane Crash
Birth PlaceCarolina, Puerto Rico
GenderMale
FatherDon Melchor Clemente
MotherLuisa Walker
Sun SignLeo
Born inCarolina, Puerto Rico
Died at Age38

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Roberto Clemente's photo

Who is Roberto Clemente?

Roberto Clemente was a professional Puerto Rican baseball player, who is regarded among the best baseball players ever. Having won numerous awards including the Most Valuable Player Award in his lifetime, he was one of the few players in history who reached the 3000-hit milestone. Because of his great skills as a sportsman, his name is written in cornerstones of schools, hospitals, as well as many other such public buildings, including monuments and statues, which also prove that his fame was beyond baseball. Clemente was also known for having a huge ethnic pride, and didn’t see himself merely as a representative of Latin America, but saw his career as a tool to help Latin Americans, especially the ones who were underprivileged. He had a lot of affection for children. He used to hold baseball clinics for little children despite his busy schedule. He had also wanted to build a ‘Sports City’ that would have innumerable facilities for the Puerto Rican youths which would encourage them to build their careers in sports. Unfortunately his untimely death in a plane crash shattered all that he still had to offer to the world.

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Childhood

Roberto Clemente was born on August 18, 1934, in Barrio San Anton, Carolina, in Puerto Rico. His parents were Don Melchor Clemente and Dona Luisa Walker. They had seven children, Roberto being the youngest one. Their family was not very privileged, and his father used to work in the sugar fields, sometimes being aided by Roberto as well, in loading and unloading trucks.

Clemente attended Vizcarrondo High School, which was located in Carolina. From an early age, he developed an interest in baseball. In his first year of high school, he was recruited by Roberto Marin to play softball with the Sello Rojo team after Marin was impressed by his baseball skills. At the age of sixteen, he joined the Puerto Rico’s amateur league, playing for the Ferdinand Juncos team.

Career

In October 1952, he was given a contract by Pedrin Zorilla, which marked the beginning of his professional career in baseball. He played for the Cangrejeros de Santurce, a winter league team, in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.

From 1954, he started playing with the American baseball team Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he had signed a contract. The next year, he started playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates as well, making his debut in major league.

Slowly, as the years passed, he became one of the best baseball players of the country. Having won the NL batting title four times, he was also known for having one of the most dangerous arms ever witnessed in baseball.

He used to be referred to as ‘Bob Clemente’ during his career in Major League Baseball, though he usually preferred to be called with his first name.

He debuted with the Pirates in April 1955, in a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. As a Latin American, as well as being of African descent, he was under a lot of stress, especially because of the media attention. However, he not only continued playing, but also managed to show his amazing skills in the sport.

He led the league during the early 1960, with a batting average of .353. He also registered runs batted in 25 out of a total of 27 games. His batting average always stayed above the .300 mark.

Though he missed five games due to a chin injury during the regular season, the Pirates managed to win the NL pennant after defeating the NL Yankees in a seven-game World Series. Clemente earned his first stop on the NL All-star roster as a reserve player because of his fantastic performance including a .314 average and 16 home runs.

After playing in the 1961 season, he went back to Puerto Rico with his friend and fellow baseball player Orlando Cepeda, a native of Ponce. They were received by a huge crowd of 18,000 people when they arrived. He also involved himself with managing the Sendaores de San Juan, which was of the Puerto Rican League.

During the major league off-season, Roberto Clemente played for Senadores de San Juan as well. Shortly after, he injured his thigh while doing some household work. Despite this, he did not stop playing. However, he had to undergo surgery after being carried off the playing field once his injury became severe during a game.

Later, during the 1970 season, Clemente compiled a batting average of .352. During the off-season, he worked as a manager of the Senadores. This period however was a difficult one for the player on the personal front as his beloved father was undergoing some health problems.

The Pirates won the NL East in the 1971 season, defeating the San Francisco Giants in four different games. They faced the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Clemente played brilliantly and helped win the World Series for the Pirates. He had a .414 batting average in the series, as well as hit a solo home run in the deciding 2-1 seventh game victory. For his incredible performance he received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.

Awards & Achievements

Roberto Clemente won several awards in his lifetime, which included the NL MVP Award in 1966.

He won the NL Player of the Month Award thrice (May 1960, May 1967, and July 1969).

In 1971, he was awarded with the World Series MVP Award.

He received the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award posthumously in 2006.

Clemente also received three civilian awards posthumously: the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Citizens Medal from President Richard Nixon in 1973, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2003.

Personal Life & Legacy

Roberto Clemente got married in the year 1964. He and his wife had three children.

Throughout his life, he was involved in different kinds of charity work, though they were not always related to baseball.

He died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972 while he was on his way to Nicaragua to deliver aid to earthquake victims.

The MLB started presenting the Roberto Clemente Award from 1971. It is given every year to a player who shows incredible skills in baseball and is also personally involved in community work.

Based on his life, several books and documentaries have been produced. Some of them are ‘Baseball’s Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories’, an American film, and ‘Chasing 3000’, another American film.

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Roberto Clemente's awards

YearNameAward

Other

1973Presidential Citizens Medal
0
0
02002 - Presidential Medal of Freedom
0 - National League Most Valuable Player Award
0 1973 - Congressional Gold Medal

Roberto Clemente biography timelines

  • // 18th Aug 1934
    Roberto Clemente was born on August 18, 1934, in Barrio San Anton, Carolina, in Puerto Rico. His parents were Don Melchor Clemente and Dona Luisa Walker. They had seven children, Roberto being the youngest one. Their family was not very privileged, and his father used to work in the sugar fields, sometimes being aided by Roberto as well, in loading and unloading trucks.
  • // 1952
    In October 1952, he was given a contract by Pedrin Zorilla, which marked the beginning of his professional career in baseball. He played for the Cangrejeros de Santurce, a winter league team, in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.
  • // 1954
    From 1954, he started playing with the American baseball team Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he had signed a contract. The next year, he started playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates as well, making his debut in major league.
  • // Apr 1955
    He debuted with the Pirates in April 1955, in a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. As a Latin American, as well as being of African descent, he was under a lot of stress, especially because of the media attention. However, he not only continued playing, but also managed to show his amazing skills in the sport.
  • // 1960
    He led the league during the early 1960, with a batting average of .353. He also registered runs batted in 25 out of a total of 27 games. His batting average always stayed above the .300 mark.
  • // 1961
    After playing in the 1961 season, he went back to Puerto Rico with his friend and fellow baseball player Orlando Cepeda, a native of Ponce. They were received by a huge crowd of 18,000 people when they arrived. He also involved himself with managing the Sendaores de San Juan, which was of the Puerto Rican League.
  • // 1964
    Roberto Clemente got married in the year 1964. He and his wife had three children.
  • // 1966
    Roberto Clemente won several awards in his lifetime, which included the NL MVP Award in 1966.
  • // 1967 To 1969
    He won the NL Player of the Month Award thrice (May 1960, May 1967, and July 1969).
  • // 1970
    Later, during the 1970 season, Clemente compiled a batting average of .352. During the off-season, he worked as a manager of the Senadores. This period however was a difficult one for the player on the personal front as his beloved father was undergoing some health problems.
  • // 1971
    The Pirates won the NL East in the 1971 season, defeating the San Francisco Giants in four different games. They faced the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Clemente played brilliantly and helped win the World Series for the Pirates. He had a .414 batting average in the series, as well as hit a solo home run in the deciding 2-1 seventh game victory. For his incredible performance he received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
  • // 1971
    In 1971, he was awarded with the World Series MVP Award.
  • // 1971
    The MLB started presenting the Roberto Clemente Award from 1971. It is given every year to a player who shows incredible skills in baseball and is also personally involved in community work.
  • // 31st Dec 1972
    He died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972 while he was on his way to Nicaragua to deliver aid to earthquake victims.
  • // 2006
    He received the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award posthumously in 2006.

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Roberto Clemente's FAQ

  • What is Roberto Clemente birthday?

    Roberto Clemente was born at 1934-08-18

  • When was Roberto Clemente died?

    Roberto Clemente was died at 1972-12-31

  • Where was Roberto Clemente died?

    Roberto Clemente was died in San Juan

  • Which age was Roberto Clemente died?

    Roberto Clemente was died at age 38

  • Where is Roberto Clemente's birth place?

    Roberto Clemente was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico

  • What is Roberto Clemente nationalities?

    Roberto Clemente's nationalities is Puerto Rican

  • Who is Roberto Clemente spouses?

    Roberto Clemente's spouses is Vera Cristina Zabala (m. 1964–1972)

  • Who is Roberto Clemente childrens?

    Roberto Clemente's childrens is Luis Roberto Walker, Roberto Enrique Walker, Roberto Walker Jr.

  • What is Roberto Clemente's cause of dead?

    Roberto Clemente dead because of Plane Crash

  • Who is Roberto Clemente's father?

    Roberto Clemente's father is Don Melchor Clemente

  • Who is Roberto Clemente's mother?

    Roberto Clemente's mother is Luisa Walker

  • What is Roberto Clemente's sun sign?

    Roberto Clemente is Leo