Clemente Legacy A Fascinating Learn For Today's Pirates

As spring training begins, there's a wonderful piece of the club's history that players should brush up on.

In a time when players move around from organization to organization far speedier than decades back when the Pirates moved their southern home to Bradenton from Fort Myers, it's good for all in uniform to know something about who came before them.

For the Pirates, a detailed rundown on arguably their greatest superstar, the late Roberto Clemente, should be required learning.

Most fans, whether young or senior attending workouts and exhibition games at LECOM Park this spring, weren't around when Clemente played his last game for the Pirates. Hard to believe for some but this season will mark 50 years since the game lost one of its greatest.

"He (Clemente) was a true humanitarian," says Bruce Markusen, manager of digital and outreach learning at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. "He lost his life trying to help people in Nicaragua."

Back in 1972, Clemente's 18th season with the Buccos, it was during his final at-bat of the season against New York Mets' Jon Matlack that he slapped his 3,000th career hit. That fourth inning double at Three Rivers Stadium put a cap on a truly amazing career.

Today's prospects, be it Oneil Cruz or Nick Gonzales, and even budding star third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, need to familiarize themselves with the richness of Pirates history.

One dozen consecutive Gold Gloves captured for his commanding presence in rightfield, a National League MVP, two-times a World Series champion, four league batting titles, and the 3,000 hits highlight the collective trophies associated with Clemente.

In 1973, Clemente was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

The importance of today's Pirates for studying the accomplishments of Clemente will give them guidance and goals, for what they, too, can contribute to organizational success on the diamond.

As Markusen points out, there are many performances during Clement's all-star career (he appeared in 15 Midsummer Classics) that could be used as a barometer for others to shoot for.

"Roberto's performance in the 1971 World Series was as remarkable as any player. He did everything a player could do to carry his team on to victory. His amazing fielding, his base running, batting over .400, it was the Roberto Clemente show for seven games."

When Clemente took part in the Pirates training camp on 9th Street West, the ballpark was called McKechnie Field. The club's Grapefruit League play shifted to Bradenton in 1969.

Besides among the greatest talents baseball has ever witnessed, earning Clemente the moniker "The Great One," the native of Carolina, Puerto Rico was a tremendous humanitarian. It was after an earthquake struck Managua on December 23, 1972, that Clemente went into action.

On a plane headed to the Nicaraguan capital loaded with relief supplies, it was on December 31, 1972, that humanity lost one of its best at age 38. Due to engine failure, the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff. There were no survivors.

So, as Pirates young and senior prepare for upcoming home games this month with Boston, Minnesota, and the Rays, in-between workouts and innings, maybe they can be encouraged to reflect on not only one of the greatest ever to wear spikes and swing a bat but the equal importance of using their celebrity to advance causes beyond stadium parking lots.

Play Ball!