Timeline: Roberto Clemente

Aug 18, 1934

Birth

Roberto Clemente Walker is born in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Period: Aug 18, 1934 to Dec 31, 1972

Roberto Clemente Walker

Oct 9, 1952

Crabbers

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

Feb 7, 1953

Dodgers

The Brooklyn Dodgers sign Clemente for $10,000.

Nov 22, 1954

Signed by Pirates

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

Apr 17, 1955

Majors

Clemente makes his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Oct 13, 1960

World Series Champs

The Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series.

Oct 9, 1961

Gold Glove 1/12

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.

Oct 14, 1964

NL Batting Title

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

Nov 14, 1964

Wedding Bells

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

Oct 17, 1965

Threepeat

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

Oct 11, 1966

MVP

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

Oct 17, 1967

4th

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

Oct 18, 1969

Triples leader

Clemente Leads the League in triples

Oct 17, 1971

World Series #2

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

Sep 30, 1972

3,000

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."

Dec 23, 1972

Quake

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

Dec 31, 1972

The End

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

Mar 20, 1973

Special Election

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.