What could have been for Pittsburgh Pirates’ star Roberto Clemente

We take a look back at what could have been for Pittsburgh Pirates’ star Roberto Clemente.

 

The year of 2016 has been filled with heartbreak and great losses of figures who have captured the public eye in sports, music, film, theater, government, and countless others. Coping comes in many forms. Some people try to rationalize arguments and disagreements; others try to find some way to honor the person and make them out to be larger than life or better than they were in this life.

Months or even years later, some people choose to hypothesize what that person’s life and the world around them would be like had the person not passed away.

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker passed away in a plane crash on December 31, 1972. This is not going to be a eulogy, and despite this being a website that discusses all things related to the Pittsburgh Pirates, this will not focus on Clemente being part of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Instead, the objective of this article is to look at what could have happened had the plane not crashed that fateful day.

As much as Roberto Clemente loved the Pirates’ organization, he would certainly be ashamed if he was solely remembered for patrolling right field first at Forbes Field and later at Three Rivers Stadium. Even after saying, “I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give,” the stat books only tell half the story of one of the greatest men in professional sports history.

In his final game, he became just the 11th player in MLB history to record 3,000 or more hits when he lined a double into the left center field gap. Little did fans anticipate, his cap tip foreshadowed his departure from baseball.

It wasn’t the grand stage or the records that made Roberto Clemente the man he is remembered as today. It was his humble beginnings as a benchwarmer in his first professional season at the age of 18 for the Cangrejeros de Santurce. Clemente never forgot his humble beginnings, and his struggle to reach the Mount Rushmore of Pirates’ royalty only furthered his effort to positively impact and inspire the people of Latin America.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.”[/perfectpullquote]

In September 1958, Clemente joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He would go on to serve one tour of active duty in North Carolina and claimed the grueling training healed his ailing back problems from earlier in life. That was the type of man Clemente was; he regularly put the concerns of others before his own.

When he heard of an earthquake in Nicaragua, Clemente arranged three flights of emergency relief supplies. However, the supplies were commandeered by corrupt officials. Determined the help the people of Nicaragua, Clemente took it upon himself to personally travel with the supplies. Like in baseball and life, Clemente refused to accept failure. The plane, which had a history of mechanical failures, crashed due to being overloaded.

While the plane was being loaded, Clemente told former major league pitcher Tom Walker to go enjoy the new year celebrations rather than join him on the flight. The selfless decision to see Walker go have fun while Clemente carried on with his personal mission spared Walker’s life. Walker’s son Neil Walker has gone on to talk extensively about the legacy of Clemente, even after his time with the Pirates.

So how would history have changed had Clemente arrived safely to and from Nicaragua?

For the Pirates, Clemente would have likely only played for a couple more years. Prior to the accident, he had given every indication he would be back in 1973. However, Richie Zisk filled in admirably in his absence. It would be easy to say Clemente would have willed the Pirates to another championship before retiring. Perhaps, he would have played a role in scouting for the Pirates in Latin America, specifically his home of Puerto Rico, while also trying to train future players. Perhaps, he would have been an assistant at spring training like Manny Sanguillen and influenced past, current, and future Pirates, but like I said, this article isn’t about Roberto Clemente the Pirates player.

In death, Clemente became an icon. He embodied everything that was good about the rich and powerful using influence. Others could have thrown money at the problem. Others could have given up when the first three planes were seized. Clemente didn’t take no for an answer. The people of Latin America have never forgotten his sacrifice. His quiet, determined demeanor with outbursts of passion and pride. Clemente could be known to boast of his abilities and dreams. The people of Latin America now boast of his character and compassion. That would still exist had the plane not crashed, but it would likely not be so widely remembered.

Finally, in baseball, Clemente’s actions might have made headline news in the sports sections of local newspapers had the plane not crashed, but it would have been quickly forgotten as normalcy resumed at the start of the new year. The league would have probably paid little attention to it. Instead, Clemente became the only player to ever be inducted in the baseball hall of fame before the mandatory five-year waiting period was over. An award for the player who best exemplifies Clemente’s dedication to helping others and the community is given to a player annually.

Yet, it begs the question, is this enough? Can handing out a trophy to a single player who may or may not be spending time in the community making a difference out of their own choice or an obligation to their club really be the best way to honor Clemente? Could it be retiring 21 across the league in much the same way as Jackie Robinson finally give him the respect he deserves?

Perhaps when all is said and done, the best way to honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente is to stand in the gap and take advantage of the opportunities to make a difference that were taken from him too soon. Help out in your community. Don’t just throw money in a donation envelope, but volunteer to be on the frontlines of impacting the people around you who need your help. Go above and beyond to carry the same attitude into your workplace that he had out on the field, considering yourself fortunate to be in the position and determined enough to prove yourself worthy of being respected for what you do.

Gracias, Roberto.