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Claim to Fame
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Roberto (Walker) Clemente
Born: August 18, 1934, Carolina, Puerto Rico
Died: December 31, 1972, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bats: right
Throws: right
Elected to Hall of Fame by BBWAA: 1973
393 votes of 424 ballots cast: 92.69%
The Pirates' Roberto Clemente played with an intensity that won him universal admiration. Despite an unorthodox batting style, he topped the .300 mark 13 times, won four batting crowns, and amassed 3,000 hits. He was equally brilliant in right field, as he paced outfielders in assists five times with his precise rifle-arm. Clemente was the National League MVP in 1966 and was the star of the 1971 World Series when he batted .414. He died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972, flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.
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