September 15: My hero’s day: Roberto Clemente Day
People who know me from Pittsburgh know that Roberto Clemente was my absolute hero as I grew up in Pittsburgh.
I watched his magic, recognized but underappreciated around the league because he was from a non-elite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He was the finest, most exciting right fielder with the greatest arm in the history of baseball.
He was an All-Star for 15 years and the winner of 12 Gold Gloves. To watch his wizardry in right field was a thrill beyond thrills — the basket catches, the brilliant playing off the right field wall and more.
To watch him frequently throw out a runner who took a wide turn after hitting a single was electrifying.
I also watched him hit his actual 3000th hit that was not counted as a hit because, I infer, the official scorer wanted him to get a clearer hit for #3000.
Little known, but known in person by a Pittsburgh friend who follows my posts-he was cut by a knife wielded by racist Roy Face-the low class but talented Pirate reliever.
During a rare slump, Clemente was booed by a minority of those at Forbes Field, only to doff his cap as if to say: “I have always loved you, Pittsburgh fans.”
Those of us who adored him gave him a standing ovation and drowned out the fools who had jeered him.
I adored Roberto Clemente more than any public athlete and still do.
He had the most famous personal interview of any sports figure with WIIC (I think) sportscaster Sam Nover, an interview I had suggested by phone to Sam by phone.
Sam simply said to me: “That’s a great idea!”
Watch it. You’ll see perhaps the most touching and sensitive great athlete you have ever seen.
https://www.youtube.com/
He died bringing food stuffs to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, an act of selfless charity, prototypical of The Great Roberto.
His great friend Willie Stargell and others honored him.
Perhaps the greatest Pirate. Perhaps the greatest baseball player. Perhaps the greatest athlete in major league history.
Roberto Clemente Day: celebrated by Major League Baseball with each team choosing a nominee who represents Clemente’s humanitarianism.
Professor Vatz, a Pittsburgher who loves Baltimore teams after over a half century in Baltimore, worships and worshipped his lifelong baseball hero, Roberto Clemente.
Richard E. Vatz https://wp.towson.edu/vatz/ is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of political rhetoric at Towson University and author of The Only Authentic of Persuasion: the Agenda-Spin Model (Bookwrights House, 2024) and over 200 other works, essays, lectures, and op-eds. He is the benefactor of the Richard E. Vatz Best Debater Award at Towson. The Van Bokkelen Auditorium at Towson University has been named after him.