Who Was Roberto Clemente?

“He gave the term ‘complete’ a new meaning. He made the word ‘superstar’ seem inadequate. He had about him the touch of royalty,” stated former commissioner Bowie Kuhn in eulogizing Roberto Clemente Walker after the player’s tragic death at age 38. Clemente, the great Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder, was killed in a plane crash while flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. Clemente’s pride and humanitarianism won him universal admiration, while his brilliance on the field became legendary. He won four batting crowns and amassed 3,000 hits, displaying a precise and powerful arm. Clemente earned National League Most Valuable Player honors in 1966.