Clemente Quietly Grew in Stature

Playing in an era dominated by the likes of Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente was usually overlooked by fans discussing great baseball players. Not until late in his 18-year career did the public appreciate the talents of the 12-time All-Star of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Of all Clemente's skills, his best tool was his right arm. From right field, he unleashed lasers. He set a record by leading the National League in assists five seasons. He probably would have led even more times but opponents learned it wasn't wise to run on Clemente. Combined with his arm, his ability to track down fly balls earned him Gold Gloves the last 12 years of his career.

 

 

Roberto Clemente's life was cut short when he died at age 38 in a plane crash.

At bat, Clemente seemed uncomfortable, rolling his neck and stretching his back. But it was the pitchers who felt the pain. Standing deep in the box, the right-handed hitter would drive the ball to all fields. After batting above .300 just once in his first five seasons, Clemente came into his own as a hitter. Starting in 1960, he batted above .311 in 12 of his final 13 seasons, and he won four batting titles in a seven-year period. He was the 11th player to achieve 3,000 hits. He hit safely in all 14 World Series games he played, helping the Pirates win both seven-game Series.

 

"He had about him a touch of royalty," then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn said.

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