Roberto Clemente is the first Latin American player to reach 3,000 hits and to be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Over the course of his career from 1955 to 1972, he established himself as one of the top all-around players in baseball.

Clemente won many awards and two World Series titles over the course of his 18-year career. Off the field, he earned a reputation as a quiet gentleman. He also focused much of his off-season efforts on charity work. He was tragically killed in a plane crash while delivering supplies to Nicaragua after an earthquake.

Early Life and Minor League Career

Roberto Clemente Walker was born in 1934 in Barrio San Antòn, Carolina, Puerto Rico. He was an athlete from a young age. In high school, he became so skilled in the high jump and javelin throw that some thought he could go to the Olympics.

However, Clemente’s real passion was for baseball. He got his interest in the sport from his mother, who, he said later, had just as good of a throwing arm as he did.

Clemente signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 18. He went to play on their minor league team in Montreal, despite the fact that, at this point, most coaches believe he already had the skills to play in the majors. Clemente later said he felt the Dodgers “hid” him in Montreal.

They probably chose to keep him in the minors both due to his inexperience and because having too many minorities on their team would upset white racists both on the field and in the audience, according to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. Indeed, Clemente would unfortunately face a lot of discrimination over the course of his career, but he always remained proud of his Puerto Rican heritage.

After playing one season in Montreal, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Clemente in the offseason draft. The Dodgers had wanted to keep him, but he remained unprotected, and a Pirates scout saw Clemente during a trip to scout another player in Montreal. The Pirates took him with the first pick. Clemente ended up playing his entire career with the Pirates.

Robert Clemente’s Major League Career

Clemente struggled with injuries and the language barrier, particularly early in his career, but he didn’t let this hold him down. In 1960 he really began to soar, and ended up leading the Pirates to defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series. That season, he batted .312 and knocked in 94 runs. He also became an All-Star for the first of 15 times.

Over the course of his career, Clemente won four National League batting titles, was the National League’s MVP in 1966, and won 12 straight Gold Glove awards as an outfielder. In 1971, at the age of 36, Clemente led the Pirates to the World Series again, where they defeated the Baltimore Orioles. He was named World Series MVP.

The next year, 1972, Clemente got his 3,000th hit; he was the first Latin American player to do so. He also hit what may be the only inside-the-park walk-off grand slam in baseball history in 1956, in a game against the Chicago Cubs.

In addition to the MLB, Clemente spent many offseasons playing for various Puerto Rican teams in their winter league. He also did a lot of charity work and stood up for minority rights. He is described as a gentleman who never compromised his character, even as he became famous and successful.

Death and Legacy

In December 1972, a terrible earthquake struck Nicaragua. Multiple times, Clemente sent much-needed supplies there, but they never made it as corrupt officials redirected them to themselves. Finally, Clemente decided to go along with the next flight on New Year’s Eve 1972, so he could personally ensure that the supplies made it to their destination.

Tragically, the plane crashed off the coast of Puerto Rico shortly after takeoff. Clemente died in the crash. Officials never recovered his body. He was 38 years old.

In his final season in 1972, Clemente hit .312, with 10 home runs, 60 RBI and 68 runs scored in 102 games.

The following season, the Pirates retired his uniform number, 21, and the Hall of Fame posthumously inducted him. Technically, a player must spend five years in retirement before becoming eligible for the hall, but hall officials waived this waiting period for Clemente. Today, Clemente is remembered as an incredible ball player, a humanitarian, and an icon of Puerto Rican pride.