Born August 18, 1934

1
Roberto Clemente

• Born August 18, 1934
• Died December 31, 1972
• By Ben G.

2
Background

• Youngest of 7 children of Luisa and Melchor
  Clemente
• Grew up in Carolina, Puerto Rico
• As a child, he excelled in track and field, but
  really loved baseball.
• Married Vera Zabala on November 14, 1964.
• 3 sons Roberto Jr., Luis Roberto, and Roberto
  Enrique

3
Hardships/Struggles

• Grew up in poverty
• Always was bothered with minor injuries
  throughout career
• Never completely got the national attention he
  really deserved until the end of his career and
  his death.

4
Road to the Majors

• While in high school at 17, started playing for
  the Santacruce Puerto Rican Winter League team
  attracted scouts.
• Signed by Dodgers for 10,000, played 1 year in
  AAA.
• Drafted on first pick in Rule V draft by Pirates,
  signed for 4,000 in 1954.
• Broke into majors in 1955.

5
Baseball Achievments

• Played RF for Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955-72
• Had exactly 3,000 hits
• Batted .311 or higher 13 seasons career .317 BA
• Won NL batting title 4 times
• Won 12 Gold Gloves
• 1966 NL MVP
• 1971 World Series MVP also won Series in 60
• 1st Hispanic Hall of Fame member (Aug. 5, 1973)
• His number, 21, retired by Pirates in 1973

6
Contributions

• In 1972, he created 304 acre Roberto Clemente
  Sports City in his birth town, Carolina, Puerto
  Rico, to teach kids baseball and keep them away
  from drugs.
• On New Years Eve, 1972, Roberto was delivering
  supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua, when
  his plane crashed, and he died.
• Was inducted to The World Sports Humanitarian
  Hall of Fame in 1995.
• Roberto Clemente Award given to MLB player that
  excels on the field and gives back to his
  communities off the field.

7
Characteristics

• Compassion When Clemente attempted to deliver
  supplies to Nicaragua, he was obviously concerned
  about the needs of others that need help.
• Service When he made Roberto Clemente Sports
  City, he was taking his time money to help
  others, as well as in his fatal trip to deliver
  supplies to Nicaragua.
• Leadership Nobody told Roberto that he had to be
  as generous as he was. He took his own path, and
  tried to have others follow it.
• Self-Awareness Roberto knew that he wasnt the
  flashiest or most outgoing player on the field,
  and the media knew and respected that.

8
An Important Lesson

• One famous quote by Clemente Anytime you have
  and opportunity to make things better and you
  dont, then you are wasting your time on this
  Earth.
• I think that that quote really sums it all up
  Clemente was all about helping others when they
  needed it most, and he would never pass by an
  opportunity. If everybody could live by that
  quote, then this Earth would be a much, much
  better place.