Roberto Clemente: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:56, 13 January 2007

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In [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], the [[Roberto Clemente Bridge|6th Street Bridge]] was renamed in his memory, and the Pirates retired his number 21 at the start of the 1973 season. The right field wall at the Pirates' [[PNC Park]] is 21 feet high in honor of Clemente. A statue of the outfielder stands outside the park; Clemente was the second Pirate so honored ([[Honus Wagner]] was the first). The City of Pittsburgh maintains [[Roberto Clemente Memorial Park]] along North Shore Drive in the city's North Side. On the other side of the state, in eastern Pennsylvania, the [[Roberto Clemente Charter School]], in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]], is named in Clemente's honor.

MLB presents the [[Roberto Clemente Award]] every year to the player who best follows Clemente's example with humanitarian work. In 1973, Clemente was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. In 2002, Clemente was posthumously awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]. In 2003, he was inducted into the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] Sports Hall of Fame. There is also currently a campaign underway to have all major league teams retire Clemente's number. Supporters cite an influence on baseball at least as strong as that of [[Jackie Robinson]], whose number is also retired throughout MLB.

[[Image:Roberto Clemente Stamp.jpg|left|120px|thumb|Roberto Clemente on a US stamp, 1984]]