Roberto Clemente By: Tito Nugent Period 5

Roberto Clemente

Roberto’s Family Roberto Clemente was born August 18, 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. His parents were Luisa and Melchor Clemente. Roberto’s parents were sugar crop farmers. Roberto and his six other siblings often helped out their parents by working in the fields.

This is Roberto with his parents and siblings.

Roberto’s Childhood Roberto Clemente grew up in poverty. He did not have any nice things like we have today but he was still able to have fun with his friends. He would often play baseball with his friends in a field. The baseball he played with was very different. They used a crushed can as a ball and a broomstick as a bat.

This is a picture of Roberto as a kid playing baseball.

Baseball Debut 1955 Just after high school Roberto Clemente began his professional baseball career. He signed a deal with the Brooklyn Dodgers and played with their minor league team, the Montreal Royals for one season. The very next year he was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and made his major league debut in 1955.

This is Roberto receiving his first contract.

Roberto In Pittsburgh In his first Major League season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955, Clemente had a solid rookie season batting.255 with five homers and 47 RBI's. He did even better the next season and batted.311. After that, Clemente hit above.300 for the next 12 seasons.

Roberto Clemente with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Awards Was a MVP in the year He starred in two World Series. Also named 1971 World Series MVP. He was a star in the 1960 and the 1971 World Series.

Roberto Clemente with his World Series teammates.

Charitable Contributions Roberto Clemente was not only a great player on the field, but he was a great person off the field too. Roberto Clemente worked with many charitable foundations in He especially liked to help his own country and the Latino Race.

Roberto Clemente doing charity work.

Roberto’s Death 1972 Roberto Clement passed away on December 23, He died in a plane crash in the Caribbean Sea. The plane took off in route for Nicaragua with relief supplies in its cargo hold. Soon after take off the plane quickly plummeted to the ground.

Roberto Clemente Dead at age 38.

Sources En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Clemente