Born August 18, 1934, in Puerto Rico, he was the youngest of seven children. Roberto enjoyed baseball. While still in high school, he was offered a bonus to sogin with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but declined until he graduated.
In 1954, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and, at age 20, still learning English, he became a starting outfielder.
In 1960, Roberto helped the Pirates win the National League pennant and the World Series. In the 1972 season, Clemente slammed his 3,000th hit.
Later that year, On December 23, 1972, the city of Managua, Nicaragua, was devastated by an earthquake that killed thousands and left many more homeless. Roberto helped oragnize a relief effort for the victims.
On New Year's Eve, despite his family's concern about weather and the plane's safety, he and four others boarded a small DC-7 with supplies for Managua. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed into the ocean.
All on board were killed.
In 1973, Roberto Clemente became the first Hispanic player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Little Blue Book, Diocese of Saginaw