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Roberto Walker Clemente was born on August 18,1934.
Roberto Clemente grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In those days,
Roberto, his sister, three brothers, and Luisa's son and daughters by a
previous marriage all shared a wooden framed house. His parents
names were Luisa and Melchor Clemente. On a spring day in 1954, the 19
year old Roberto Clemente left his family and friends to try to make his
way in the unfamiliar, English speaking world of American baseball, 2,000
miles to the north. Clemente was headed to Montreal. He played
for the Montreal Royals. The Montreal Royals were a minor league
team. As it turned out, the perennial last place finishers, the
Pittsburgh Pirates were watching Roberto Clemente as carefully as they
could, considering that he was being played so infrequently by the Montreal
Royals. He impressed the Pirates scout, who was sent to look at Joe
Black. He said he was impressed so much with him, he could not take
his eyes off him. The Pirates started asking questions about him and
learned he was a bonus player and would be available for the draft.
On November 22, 1954 the Pittsburgh Pirates used their first pick in the
draft to purchase Roberto Clemente from Brooklyn for 4,000 dollars.
When Clemente joined the Pirates in 1955, they had lost more than 100
games for 3 years in a row. His first year with the pirates he only
batted with a .255 average, 23 doubles, and 5 homeruns in 24 games.
Clemente became the pirates regular right fielder for good
after1955. For Clemente,1960 was the first season in which he began
to truly deliver on his great promise. He batted .314, with 16
homeruns, 89 runs scored, and a team high 94 RBIs. Roberto
Clemente's team won the World Series in 1960. Also Clemente
and his team won the world Series in 1971. He won 6 gold gloves and
won 4 National Batting Titles. also he won the MVP award in
1966. He hit 3,000 hits in his career, whish is a very accomplished
mark. Clemente is also in the Hall of Fame. He married Vera
Clemente. On December 23, 1972, Clemente left to help Nicaragua, who
had a earthquake. He died on New Years Eve 1972. There is a
statue of him in front of PNC Park. Roberto Clemente was a great
player and never should be forgotten.
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