It was Nicaragua and that was a day (New Year's eve, 1972) that I will never forget. It was a shock that he could have been killed like that. Clemente was my all time favorite ball player and a hell of a good man to boot.
Auburn and Roberts were members of the Phillies 1950 'Whiz Kids' team. Both were great players.
Back than when we were playing ball on the street, we all rolled up the sleeves on our t-shirts to show our muscles -- just like 'Big Klu.'
BTW. Another guy on that Pirate team for that first game I ever attended was the shortstop, Dick Groat. Interesting story there. He never played a day in the minors, was the starting shortstop from his first day with the team, and won both the MVP and battling title with the Pirates. He was also the first 'modern' player to play on professional teams and two different sports in the same season (1953?). Groat loved basketball better than baseball, (he was the first guy to have his number retired at Duke) and was actually better at basketball, but in the 50s, pro baseball paid better and Branch Rickey told him he could not play both and to make a choice. He was from a blue collar family so he chose baseball and the money. Great memories.
I run into Groat every once and a while. He still looks like he could win a one-on-one and he's in his late 70s now.
Doh! Yes, Nicaragua.
At least two players have played both basketball and baseball in the same season, probably more. I remember Gene Conley of the Celics. Dave Debusschere was another. And I think there was pitcher named Reed who played basketball. There were probably a few more, but I don’t know if they played both sports in the same season. Danny Ainge comes to mind.