Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente Walker was one of the greatest baseball players ever to play right field, and his pride and humanitarianism won him universal admiration. Despite an unorthodox batting style, the Pirates' great won four batting crowns and amassed 3,000 hits. He earned National League MVP honors in 1966 and won 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards for his excellence in the outfield. He achieved his greatest fame in the 1971 World Series, when he batted .414. Clemente died tragically at age 38 in a plane crash while flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. Though adored and respected for his accomplishments on the baseball field, he was also remembered by his family as a great humanitarian. On August 8, 1973, he was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first inductee of Latin American descent. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn later honored him by creating the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball's highest award for sportsmanship and community activism.

Daytona Beach, Florida · United States