21 story of roberto clemente biography
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Review by Win Wiacek
Roberto Clemente Walker is barely known outside baseball-loving nations, but within those countries the Puerto Rican is a renowned name both for his prodigious sporting talent and for his compassionate nature. Wilfred Santiago’s innovative and imaginative biography is a passionate and evocative account of the life of a groundbreaking star, quietly philanthropic humanitarian and culture-changing champion of ethnic equality.
Known professionally as Roberto Clemente, he grew up as one of seven kids in a devoutly Catholic family. Baseball and, latterly, his wife Vera and three children were his entire life. He played for a Puerto Rican team until head-hunted by the Brooklyn Dodgers. At that time racial restrictions were dominant in the American game, so it was only in the Canadian League for farm team the Montreal Royals that he actually played against white people.
In 1954 Clemente was finally introduced into the American game after signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates, beginning a working relationship that lasted until his tragic death in a plane crash in December 1972.
During those tempestuous 18 years Clemente broke down many social barriers and became a sporting legend. He was the first Hispanic player to win a World Series as a starter, the first Lati
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Roberto Clemente
Puerto Rican baseball player (1934–1972)
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Clemente and the second or maternal family name is Walker.
Baseball player
| Roberto Clemente | |
|---|---|
Clemente with the Pirates c. 1961 | |
| Right fielder | |
| Born:(1934-08-18)August 18, 1934 Barrio San Antón, Carolina, Puerto Rico | |
| Died: December 31, 1972(1972-12-31) (aged 38) Off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| April 17, 1955, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| October 3, 1972, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Batting average | .317 |
| Hits | 3,000 |
| Home runs | 240 |
| Runs batted in | 1,305 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Induction | 1973 |
| Vote | 92.7% |
| Election method | Special Election |
Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker[a] (Spanish pronunciation:[roˈβeɾtoenˈrikekleˈmente(ɣ)walˈkeɾ]; August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, primarily as a right fielder. In December 1972, Clemente died in the crash of a plane he had chartered to take emergency relief goods for the survivors of a massive earthquake in Ni
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