New Year’s Eve has long been a somber day in baseball history, as it was on this day in 1972 that Pirates superstar Roberto Clemente was killed in a plane crash at age 38. The outfielder was personally accompanying a shipment of relief supplies headed from his native Puerto Rico to victims of a recent earthquake in Nicaragua, but the flight tragically crashed just off the P.R. coast. Clemente’s passing inspired the creation of the Presidential Citizens Medal, the United States’ second-highest civilian honor. Clemente’s legacy is acknowledged every year by MLB via the Roberto Clemente Award, and there has been speculation that Clemente’s #21 will one day be retired league-wide as a way of honoring his heroism and his iconic status in Latin American baseball.
As we remember one of the game’s true legends, here are some items from the National League…
- One interesting wild card in the Nationals‘ attempts to keep Bryce Harper beyond 2018 could be his older brother Bryan Harper, MASNSports.com’s Byron Kerr writes. The elder Harper, who just turned 28, is a left-handed reliever who posted strong numbers in 2015-16 for Washington’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, with good splits against left-handed batters. The southpaw is preparing to return to the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2016, and there’s at least a chance he could join his younger brother on the Nats roster this season.
- While Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen has said that the team is comfortable deploying Chris Herrmann, Jeff Mathis, and John Ryan Murphy behind the plate, MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert figures the team has to make an upgrade at catcher before the offseason is out. The D’Backs are one of the few contenders with a glaring need at catcher, which in my opinion could leave them well-positioned to sign Jonathan Lucroy or Alex Avila on a relative bargain contract, given the two free agents’ relative lack of suitors. With other needs around the diamond and little payroll space to work with, however, the Snakes still might not have enough to afford Lucroy or Avila at even a discounted price.
“there has been speculation that Clemente’s #21 will one day be retired league-wide “, unfortunately Ken Griffey Jr. doesn’t play anymore, so it has to come from Manfred himself
What does Griffey have to do with any of this?
Griffey started the wearing 42 on Jackie Robinson day, I am not sure if it was his idea to retire number 42 league wide though.
42 was retired in like 1999?
April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of Robinson’s debut. MLB had already decided to retire #42 and Junior called Selig to get special permission to change is # that day in 2007. When it was retired, the players who wore #42 at the time were allowed to continue wearing it.
Len Coleman, the NL Pres. at the time came up with the idea for all of MLB to retire #42
The World…drugs…the end…
Why would Clemente’s number be retired league wide?
The article states honouring his heroism and iconic status in Latin America
The question stands. I didn’t read 1 good reason to retire his number league wide. Nothing even remotely related to baseball was a factor in his death. This seems like a “let’s honor another non-white group for being not white.” Pathetic racism.
He was a great player who lost his life serving his fellow man. I’m not sure why you think retiring Clemente’s number is a racist act, but I don’t think you get why 42 was retired. It wasn’t “remotely related to baseball” either.
How do you possibly believe that’s racism?
Yes, baseball has really dropped the ball when it comes to honoring its white players. Good grief, white people are the worst sometimes.
Well, if anyone is an expert on “pathetic” it’s you.
Not his number. Clemente was number 21
Joke with Robinson would be a joke with Clemente as well. Stop with the retiring of players who didn’t play with the team.
He pioneered the whole Robinson number.
Sure but he wouldn’t pioneer Clemente. Clemente wasn’t black.
Did you just say “Clemente wasn’t black”?
Black = african american to some people. 4 legs good, two legs bad.
Merica
Black = African descent, so by that definition, Clement was black. Puerto Rican (Boriquas) are mixed with African, native and Spanish.
Huh? He was a black Puerto Rican of Latin dissent!
“Clemente wasn’t black.”
So you think it’s either Latin or Black and it can’t be both?
So if you have black ancestry and hispanic ancestry you can’t be both?
Dude… lol.
“relative bargain contract, given the two free agents’ relative lack of suitors”
Very incestuous thought.
Yes, I like the whole, they have positioned themselves well to sign a catcher to a bargain contract, if only they had the money to sign one of them to that bargain contract. Maybe a Judge could just sentence one of them to serve community service on the Diamondbacks. Bet they could afford that.
Clemente is a legend but to retire his number for all teams forever? Not a fan.
Why?
Because it should be more of an honor for future Latin (or other) players on teams to wear #21 in his honor. Just as it would be more of an honor for players to be allowed to wear #42 to honor Jackie. And I am not talking about the foolishness that is everyone wearing the number on one day. Just look at all the shortstops that currently wear #2 based on honoring Jeter. Look at the many players wore #23 and #32 in the NBA to honor Jordan and Magic respectively. You don’t honor someone by NOT wearing their number.
It is also weird for teams to honor players when they never even played in the stadium, let alone for the franchise. Why should the Colorado Rockies retire a number of a man that not only never played there, but who died 21 years before they even existed? Same with many other teams. I have no problem with the Pirates retiring #21 for Clemente because no other Pirate should have to be measured by him. But wearing #21 for the Rays or the Oakland A’s will not even make people think of Clemente, let alone compare to him.
Besides that, where will it end? Should #3 be retired for Babe Ruth? Baseball would have never been as popular without him. How about #9 for Ted Williams, who interrupted his career twice for military service? He could have had the finest counting numbers in history otherwise. Should #24 be retired for Mays, #44 for Aaron, #7 for Mantle, #51 for Ichiro? There are far more players than Clemente or Jackie that could be honored as well.
You somewhat make a case with Williams’ #9, and Mays’ #24, who also interrupted his career for military service, but to equate Ruth, Aaron, Mantle, and Ichiro to Robinson and Clemente under cuts your argument. It isn’t about just being good, which is the case with Ruth, et al. Both Robinson and Clemente had a social impact beyond that of Williams and Mays, and those other players should not even be in the discussion when the issue is their contributions to society, not what they did on the field.
You make a very cogent argument for not retiring numbers league-wide. And I’m biased! Thank you.
Clemente also interrupted his career for military service, in 1958
How so? I am undecided as to whether it’s a good idea or not, but I sense your reading comprehension is lacking as I simply pointed out that both Robinson and Clemente had an impact on society that others players that some here have mentioned did not.
As with Williams and Mays, Clemente interrupting his career to serve isn’t enough to retire a number league wide. Even though that’s a better reason than for guys like Ruth and Mantle. that were just very good. That what the HoF is for.
The only reason to retire a number league wide is for that player’s impact on society. I’m not sure about retiring #21 league wide, and as a kid Clemente was my favorite player. I still consider seeing him play live in the 6th game of the WS against the O’s in 1971 as the high point of all I have seen in baseball.
I think too many people here don’t remember a time when a light-skinned Latin player could play in the major leagues, but a dark-skinned Latin player was problematic. But if MLB does decide to retire #21 it will be seen as an honor to all Latin players, and that is something that I don’t see as that bad a thing to do.
If not for Ruth baseball likely wouldn’t have recovered from the gambling scandal of the black sox. He did more for the game then Robinson If Robinson didn’t break that barrier someone else would have soon after.
No player should have their numbers retired for every team. It’s a joke and meaningless.
As a reds fan I found it highly insulting that 42 was retired but 14 wasn’t for decades
“As a reds fan I found it highly insulting that 42 was retired but 14 wasn’t for decades”
I just threw up in my mouth a little with that true sign of homerism.
They only thing #14 had in common with #42 was death threats. #42’s threats came from racists, #14’s came from NY mob bookies.
On another note, I guess it was your teenage daughter #14 was doing.
wasn’t your teenage daughter*
“He (Ruth) did more for the game then Robinson.”
You just don’t get it. It’s not for what Robinson did for baseball, it was his impact on society. Ruth did not have an impact on society.
That’s true, but I think his argument was that without Ruth there is no baseball.
Last year, I read the Clemente biography by David Maraniss (would reccomend). For being a humanitarian, he was such an a-hole to the media lol
And they to him, as well.
Yeah, was just surprised to have read that, thats all.
I read it as well. He certainly wasn’t always kind to the media, but they always kept calling him Bob and Bobby, long after he let them know he preferred to be called by his given name. The media in Clemente’s era was much harsher to players than it is now; a ton of great players didn’t get along well with the media. Clemente’s charitable work in Latin America – which killed him eventually -speaks volumes to his character, much more than some anecdotes about his treatment of the media.
Agree with your post 100%. Clemente wasn’t comfortable talking to the media in the first place, because of his concerns about being misunderstood via the language barrier and because he simply didn’t trust or maybe fully understand the media. It’s absolutely true that the media was not overly fair to him, nor was Roberto always kind to them; it’s more true that Roberto’s relationship with the media should not have much of anything to do with his legacy. BTW I second the recommendation of the Maraniss biography of Clemente, it’s really an outstanding read.
I third the recommendation of the Maraniss book. For me it was a gateway to other social justice warriors like MLK and Ghandi
“calling him Bob and Bobby” almost like Richie/Dick Allen. Unfortunately at that time many in the media, and country for that matter, felt it was necessary to “put some in their place” by intentionally antagonizing certain players.
Why can’t the Nats just trade the brothers Harper together?
This is unrelated to your comment, and I don’t know if ur a mets fan or not.
But, Justin Turner used to play for the Mets 🙁 and the Mets used to play Takin Care of Business after each win up until 2014.
Just wanted to point out the randon coincidence lol
How is that a coincidence?
lol watch all the Harper suitors next year try to sign Bryan Harper to an outlandish MLB contact to persuade Bryce to sign with them.
well, considering that Bryan Harper would still be with the nationals, for he isnt a free agent, I highly doubt Bryan will influence his decision
Well technically both Harpers have a potential to be FAs next year. Bryan if not added to 40 man has already achieved the pre req 6 years for milb FA.
If Bryan Harper is a factor for Bryce, you can rest assured he will be added to the 40-man.
When the Sox acquired Richie Allen for Tommy John before the 1972 season, we had to carry Richies brother Hank for two years. And Hank was terrible.
no
Realmuto to the D-Backs for Duplantier, Clarke, and Varsho
Miami can do better.
Can they though? I would not be upset with that at all, coming from a realistic standpoint. I’d love more but what you got in mind? Realistically.
Dumber…
Huh?
Why would a team give good prospects for realmuto
Because he’s really good?
Why would a team give good prospects for Trout?
Why wouldn’t they? He is the second best catcher in baseball.
If we talking about retire numbers, why not babe Ruth? You hardly see anyone wear that number.
I think it has to do with out-the-field ‘achievements’.
Jackie Robinson was the first African-American in MLB, he broke the color barrier and Roberto Clemente was one of the first Latin American players and spent much of his time during the off-season involved in charity work
Also, Ruth didn’t wear a number at all until much later in his career. He revolutionized the way the game was played, in a way, but he didn’t have to face death threats the way Jackie did, and he certainly wasn’t known for his devotion to humanitarian causes the way Clemente is.
Ruth was very good, and he is recognized for that by his induction into the HoF. Clemente gave his life helping others. The 2 are not comparable.
Maybe PR will retire his number.
I understand the sentiment of a league wide number retiring ceremony, but I don’t agree with it. Especially with 40 years passing between.
I thought the whole point of retiring a number was so that they were the last person to wear that number. Meanwhile Mariano Rivera wore 42 his entire career.
“Meanwhile Mariano Rivera wore 42 his entire career.”
When #42 was retired in 1997 there were 12 or 13 players (I don’t remember the exact #) who were wearing that number. All were granted permission to continue wearing it…not just Rivera. He was the last to wear it because he outlasted them all.
DBacks should make a trade for Realmuto. Package Brandon Drury and Jon Duplantier together and that should at least get the conversation started. Realmuto would be a huge upgrade at a cheap price financially, not to mention that an upgrade at catcher takes the pressure off the question marks surrounding Yasmany Tomas in LF.
What does a Realmuto acquisition have to do with Tomas? The issue with Tomas is he hasn’t been very good, and he’s still owed a lot of money. Realmuto is an upgrade at catcher for most teams but for the D’backs he would me more of a lateral replacement for Iannetta, the advantage being less payroll. Whether they can land Realmuto or not I still see Tomas as a problem for AZ.
I was thinking about Bryan getting him to stay with the nats too