The ultimate day of 2022 will mark 50 years since one of the vital tragic occasions in baseball historical past. On Dec. 31, 1972, Roberto Clemente was killed in a aircraft crash whereas he was on his approach to ship emergency provides to an earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua.
On Thursday, MLB celebrates the twenty first annual Roberto Clemente Day, and with it, commemorates the passage of a half-century because the Corridor of Famer’s demise. The Pirates, for whom Clemente performed his complete 18-year Main League profession, will play the Mets at Citi Discipline in New York, with all gamers, managers and coaches for each golf equipment donning Clemente’s No. 21 on their uniforms. The sport can be televised nationally by FOX at 7 p.m. ET.
Clemente was a 15-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glove Award winner in proper discipline, the 1966 Nationwide League MVP, a four-time batting champion and helped lead the Pirates to World Sequence titles in 1960 and ’71 — getting at the least one hit in all 14 video games he performed. He was named MVP of the 1971 Fall Basic, wherein Pittsburgh defeated the Orioles in seven video games — Clemente hit .414 with two doubles, one triple and two dwelling runs. He had precisely 3,000 hits in his magnificent MLB profession.
Annually, MLB honors one participant with the Roberto Clemente Award introduced by Capital One for finest representing the sport of baseball by way of extraordinary character, group involvement, philanthropy and constructive contributions, each on and off the sphere. There’s one nominee for the distinguished honor from every of the 30 MLB golf equipment, and this yr’s nominees have been introduced final week. Whereas all gamers round MLB will put on a particular “21” patch on their uniform sleeves on Thursday, Clemente Award nominees could have language on their patches reflecting their nomination.
As well as, Clemente Award nominees, in addition to all prior Clemente Award winners who’re energetic gamers, could have the choice of carrying No. 21 on their uniforms, becoming a member of gamers from Clemente’s native Puerto Rico and others who wore No. 21 on their uniforms in the course of the 2021 Roberto Clemente Day celebration. Energetic gamers who’ve received the Clemente Award may even have a particular “21” patch on the again of their caps.
Retired gamers who’re Clemente Award winners may even be at Citi Discipline to take part in a meals packaging volunteer occasion with Rise In opposition to Starvation, becoming a member of Commissioner Rob Manfred, staff from the Commissioner’s Workplace and the Mets. The Clemente Award winners can be honored throughout a particular pregame ceremony with members of the Clemente household.
MLB Community’s “MLB Tonight” will air dwell from Citi Discipline on Thursday at 6 p.m., and that can be adopted at 7 p.m. by a particular new episode of “MLB Tonight: The Dialog.” This system will characteristic hosts Harold Reynolds and Pedro Martinez, together with particular company and Roberto Clemente Award winners Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins, Ozzie Smith, Rod Carew, Curtis Granderson and Nelson Cruz. The present may even characteristic particular visitor Luis Clemente, son of Roberto and Vera.
In each ballpark throughout MLB, a personalized tribute video to each Roberto and his spouse, Vera, entitled “Momentito” (in English and Spanish) can be proven. The video may even seem on MLB Community, MLB.com, membership websites and MLB social media platforms. Further content material celebrating Roberto’s legacy, in addition to the influence of the late Vera Clemente, who served as MLB’s Goodwill Ambassador, can be featured all through the day on MLB social media platforms. MLB.com and all 30 membership websites will characteristic Roberto Clemente Day and award tales and content material as effectively.
