The 22nd annual Roberto Clemente Day will be held on Friday, honouring the memory of one of baseball’s greatest players and humanitarians almost 51 years after his terrible death.
Clemente, a Puerto Rican, perished in an aircraft accident on New Year’s Eve 1972, at the age of 38, while providing emergency relief to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, becoming the first Latin American player to do so.
Clemente, a 15-time All-Star and 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, concluded his career with precisely 3,000 hits, four batting crowns, and was voted the National League MVP in 1966. He also helped the Pirates win two World Series titles and was named MVP after the Pirates beat Baltimore in the 1971 Fall Classic, hitting.414 with two home runs and a 1.210 OPS in the Pirates’ seven-game victory against the Orioles.
MLB instituted Roberto Clemente Day in 2002 and continues to honour the late Hall of Famer on September 15, which also marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Clemente, a 15-time All-Star and 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, concluded his career with precisely 3,000 hits, four batting crowns, and was voted the National League MVP in 1966. He also helped the Pirates win two World Series titles and was named MVP after the Pirates beat Baltimore in the 1971 Fall Classic, hitting.414 with two home runs and a 1.210 OPS in the Pirates’ seven-game victory against the Orioles.
MLB instituted Roberto Clemente Day in 2002 and continues to honour the late Hall of Famer on September 15, which also marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Pirates Clemente Award finalist David Bednar, along with Pirates personnel and partner volunteers, paid a visit to patients at the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute on Friday morning. The group distributed morning pastries, coffee, and ticket coupons to Cancer Institute workers and patients, as well as created and delivered care/comfort packages.
This endeavour was part of the Pirates’ Day of Service, which took place around Pittsburgh at the same time. Every current roster player and coach took part. A renovation project to improve the Southside Nike RBI field, a food preparation and re-stocking service event at a Women’s Centre & Shelter, a care package build at PNC Park in support of active military service men and women, and a pantry & toy donation at the Pittsburgh Latino Community Centre are among the other initiatives.
On Friday, all players and on-field staff will wear “21” patches on their jersey chests in honour of Clemente, who wore No. 21 during his illustrious career.
The Pirates, with whom Clemente played his entire 18-year career, will face the Yankees at PNC Park at 6:35 p.m. ET to begin a three-game series. For Friday’s game, all Pirates players and coaching staff will wear No. 21.
All 2023 nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One, which honours MLB players for philanthropic efforts in their communities, will also have the option of wearing No. 21, joining players from Puerto Rico and others who have worn the number in previous Roberto Clemente Day commemorations.
MLB Network’s Emmy-winning MLB Network Tonight, at 5 p.m. ET, we’ll be live from PNC Park, leading up to MLB Network’s national coverage of the Yankees-Pirates game. Aaron Judge and David Bednar, both Clemente Award nominees, will join co-host Harold Reynolds live from the set.
In addition, all current players who have previously earned the Roberto Clemente Award will wear a “21” patch on the back of their hats to honour this distinguished honour.
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