Roth Pond Regatta

I was unfamiliar with this guy until a friend of mine from San Juan Puerto Rico explained to me the impact this great baseball player had on the sport of baseball and the people and culture of the country of Puerto rico.

Roberto Walker Clemente was born in Barrio San Anton in Carolina, Puerto Rico on August 18, 1934.

He is remembered today as one of the game’s best all-round right fielders, with one of the best arms in baseball. Often referred to as “The Great One,” Clemente was the fi

rst Latin American player elected to the baseball Hall of Fame.

Roberto Clemente’s had an impressive lifetime batting average of .317, and is one of only a few players to have collected 3,000 hits. He was a powerhouse from the outfield too, throwing out players from over 400 feet. His personal records included four National League batting championships, twelve Gold Glove awards, the National League MVP in 1966, and the World Series MVP in 1971, where he batted .414.

Tragically, Roberto Cle

mente’s life ended on December 31, 1972 in a plane crash while en route to Nicaragua with relief supplies for earthquake victims. Always the humanitarian, Clemente was on the plane to make sure the clothing, food and medical supplies weren’t stolen, as had happened with previous flights.

The rickety plane went down off the coast of San Juan shortly after takeoff, and Roberto’s body was never found.  For his “outstanding athletic, civic, charitable, and humanitarian contributions,” R

oberto Clemente was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress in 1973.