Clemente, Pirates' Star, Dies in Crash Of Plane Carrying Aid to Nicaragua (1972)

New York Times ^ | January 2, 1973 | N/A

[fkabuckeyesrule]

SAN JUAN, P. R., Jan. 1--Roberto Clemente, star outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, died late last night in the crash of a cargo plane carrying relief supplies to the victims of the earthquake in Managua.

Three days of national mourning for Mr. Clemente were proclaimed in his native Puerto Rico, where he was the most popular sports figure in the island's history. He is a certainty to be enshrined in Baseball's Hall of Fame. He was only the 11th man in baseball history to get 3,000 hits, and his lifetime batting average of .317 was the highest among active players.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

34 years ago tonight. I was reading David MAriness book on Roberto Clemente this year. It's a pretty good read. Apparently Clemente had a friend died in a car wreck on New Years Eve one year plus Clemente's death was on New Years Eve. So in the Dom. Rep. New Years Eve is kinda a day of mourning.

[wimpycat]

He is a certainty to be enshrined in Baseball's Hall of Fame.

And so he was, being the only player besides Lou Gehrig for whom the 5 year requirement was waived.

[battlegearboat]

I was stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station when this sad event occurred.

Roberto Clemente is a god in Puerto Rico.

It was like the Kennedy assassination.

[Clemenza]

A true class act. I used to work with Manny Sanguillen (Pirates catcher) son, who said that Roberto was one of those guys who did not try to draw attention to himself off the field, but was, nevertheless, gracious and generous off the field.

I don't know who runs the PR ping list, but they may want to know about this article.

BTW: It was this earthquake that precipitated the Sandanista Revolution. Somoza's mishandling of the Earthquake, and his pocketing of much of the aid money, destroyed his "invulnerable" image in the eyes of the Nicaraguan populace.

[mcg2000]

Pittsburgh: PNC Park's Clemente Statue with The Clemente Bridge in the background.

[NJRighty]

Roberto Clemente is a god in Puerto Rico.

Indeed he is. I was in Puerto Rico a few years ago when the Montreal Expos played some of their home games in San Juan. Their opponents were the Pittsburgh Pirates and the whole series was one long well deserved tribute to Clemente. His grandson (probably about 12 years old I would guess) ran the bases in a pre-game ceremony. Four former Pirates teammates stood on the field, one at each base. The grandson high-fived each of his granddad's teammates as he rounded the bases. At home plate, teammate Bob Robertson picked the boy up and gave him a huge hug.

[martin_fierro]

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[xsmommy]

that is nice to hear. thanks for relating that!

[sgtbono2002]

Its a damned shame. hate to see a good man go,but he was doing good works,and will receive his reward in Heaven.

[Alberta's Child]

Clemente is one of the true class acts in American history, but there's an angle to this story that hasn't gotten a lot of attention over the years.

The plane in which Clemente was riding when it crashed in 1972 was making the last of a series of flights that Clemente had organized as part of the relief effort. Clemente hadn't taken any of the previous flights himself, but decided to take this last one because word had gotten back to him that almost none of the supplies that were sent to Nicaragua had been of much help to the people in need.

Most of the supplies that had been sent previously were stolen by people on the ground in Nicaragua who were supposed to be working with the relief effort.

[Jemian]

Despite the two Heisman Award winners and other great sportsmen from my Alma Mater, Roberto Clemente has always been my Sports Hero. He was a great man, both on and off the field.

[beyond the sea]

As a lifelong Pirate fan since the early 50's and a baseball player myself.......... I drove up to the house from a party that New Year's Eve and heard the news on the radio around 5:00 a.m..

Awful, is all I can say ..........

[beyond the sea]

As a lifelong Pirate fan since the early 50's and a baseball player myself.......... I drove up to the house from a party that New Year's Eve and heard the news on the radio around 5:00 a.m..

Awful, is all I can say ..........

[cll]

Thanks for the ping, Clemenza.

Puerto Rico Ping!

And a woderful New Year to all.

[cll]

"So in the Dom. Rep. New Years Eve is kinda a day of mourning"

You mean is Puerto Rico, no?

Puerto Rico has been hit by two big tragedies on days like today.

The biggest was Roberto's loss. The other was the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in 1986, set by disgruntled Teamsters, in which 97 people died.

[rabidralph]

I had a 7-11 Slurpee cup with his picture on it. I didn't know who he was but I remember when he died.

[Cicero]

Gee, for a minute I was asking myself, gosh, is there really another star named Roberto Clemente out there? Maybe Roberto Clemente, Jr.? Then I saw the date.

[JRios1968]

[BW2221]

A number of baseball players have died in plane crashes: Clemente, Thurman Munson, Ken Hubbs (a Cubs rookie who was supposed to be an all-star - prior to Sanburg, and now the Yankees' pitcher.

[smokeyb]

I remember hearing this after waking up with a hangover. Really ruined my day, being from the Burgh and being a fan at the time.

He was a true class act.