Roberto Clemente

Birth

Aug 18, 1934

Roberto Clemente Walker is born in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Roberto Clemente Walker

Period: Aug 18, 1934 to Dec 31, 1972

Crabbers

Oct 9, 1952

Clemente signs with the Santurce Crabbers of the Puerto Rican winter league for $5,000.

Dodgers

Feb 7, 1953

The Brooklyn Dodgers sign Clemente for $10,000.

Signed by Pirates

Nov 22, 1954

After a year in Montreal, the Pirates choose Clemente in the first round of the minor league draft.

Majors

Apr 17, 1955

Clemente makes his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

World Series Champs

Oct 13, 1960

The Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series.

Gold Glove 1/12

Oct 9, 1961

Clemente wins the first of 12 consecutive Gold Gloves for his defensive play in right field. Clemente also leads the National League in batting, finishing the season with a .351 average.

NL Batting Title

Oct 14, 1964

Clemente wins a second NL batting title with a .339 average

Wedding Bells

Nov 14, 1964

Clemente marries Vera Cristina Zabala in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Threepeat

Oct 17, 1965

Clemente wins his third NL batting title with a .329 average.

MVP

Oct 11, 1966

Clemente wins the National League Most Valuable Player award. He hits .317 with 29 home runs and 119 runs batted in.

4th

Oct 17, 1967

Clemente wins his fourth (and final) NL batting title with a .357 average.

Triples leader

Oct 18, 1969

Clemente Leads the League in triples

World Series #2

Oct 17, 1971

The Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series against heavy favorites, the Baltimore Orioles. Clemente is named the World Series Most Valuable Player.

3,000

Sep 30, 1972

Clemente doubles against the New York Mets in his last game of the season, marking career hit 3,000. He is the first Latin player and just the 11th in baseball history (at that time) to reach the milestone. He dedicates the hit to "the Pittsburgh fans and to the people in Puerto Rico."

Quake

Dec 23, 1972

A earthquake hits Managua, Nicaragua. Clemente decides to gather relief supplies and help deliver them to quake survivors.

The End

Dec 31, 1972

The plane Clemente charters for his humanitarian mission crashes into the ocean shortly after takeoff, killing the baseball star and four crew members.

Special Election

Mar 20, 1973

The Baseball Hall of Fame unanimously waives the customary five-year period for induction, allowing the Baseball Writers Association of America to hold a special election on Clemente's behalf.

Retired

Apr 6, 1973

Clemente's number is retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates

First Latin-American Hall of Famer

Aug 6, 1973

Clemente is inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame. He was the first Latin-born player to ever be inducted