#21 Roberto Clemente was born on this day in 1934. He was killed tragically in a plane crash while delivering relief supplies to earthquake striken Nicaragua on New Year’s Eve 1972.

  Ten Notes About Roberto Clemente.

1. He had the strongest and most accurate arm of any outfielder I have ever seen.

2. He was the most exciting ballplayer I ever saw play. There were times when I was at a game I’d just watch him, constantly. I can still remember watching him just warming up, playing catch in front of the dugout before a game. Just the way the man moved was exciting.

3. It is often forgotten now but he was at times a controversial player in Pittsburgh. He missed games with injuries. He was the kind of person if asked how he was feeling would go on and on about all his injuries and illnesses. He believed if he wasn’t 100 percent he was cheating the fans and the team by going out to play. A lot of the old timers especially would complain about him at times. He was a sensitive and proud man. He was misunderstood by a lot of people. His greatness as a ballplayer can never be doubted though. His coming out party was the 1971 World Series. Playing in Pittsburgh his entire career he was underrated. He carried the Pirates in the 71 series. The baseball world saw how great he was.

4. Roberto Clemente played in 2 World Series. He played 14 World Series games. He had hits in all 14 games.

5.He was one of the greatest bad ball hitters in baseball history. If the bat could reach it he might swing at it. He was successful how can you argue with that?

6.Roberto Clemente was originally property of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. Pirate scouts got wind of him and took him in the minor league draft when the Dodgers failed to protect him on their roster. One must wonder how many more World Series the Dodgers would have appeared in and won in the late 1950’s-1960’s had they had Clemente to go with the great pitching staff they had. Koufax and Clemente on the same team?

7. The book to read as far as Roberto Clemente goes is  “Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero” which came out in 2006.

8.Roberto Clemente won 4 National League Batting titles. He was a 15 time all-star and won the NL MVP Award in 1966. He was a career.317 hitter. He got exactly 3000 hits. He won the Gold Glove Award 12 seasons in a row- 1961 to 1972.

9. The highest salary Clemente earned in his career was in his last season- $150,000. You have to wonder what he would earn today? Back then that was a big salary.

10. The bridge that takes you from downtown Pittsburgh to PNC Park is called the Roberto Clemente Bridge. When you get across the Roberto Clemente Bridge you will see Roberto Clemente’s statue. Roberto played his last game 40 years ago. The 40th anniversary of his death is a few months away. Go to a Pirate game and you will see people wearing as many Clemente Jersey’s as you will Andrew McCutchen jersey’s. People who are not old enough to have seen Roberto Clemente play, wearing Clemente Jersey’s. Roberto Clemente is still very much alive in Pittsburgh.