Good Friday Baseball

Alright, I know it is Good Friday (commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Calvary). I will be taking the ham out of the freezer today for dinner on Sunday and am excited that Carrie & Dan will be here for dinner (and missing Beth!). But today my thoughts turn to Baseball. The weather is warm and sunny here in London. It is indeed spring and a perfect day to be at a baseball game. My baseball musings today are inspired by a legend. Today is Roberto Clemente Day. The Pittsburg Pirates retired his number (number 21!) on this date in 1973 and there is also currently a campaign underway to have all major league teams retire Clemente's number. Supporters cite an influence on baseball at least as strong as that of Jackie Robinson, whose number is also retired throughout MLB. Maybe it is a good idea. A reminder to professional ballplayers and the rest of humanity to be good citizens of the world! I most certainly remember him as a great player but more importantly I remember him as the best of men.

Roberto Clemente was born on 18 August 1934 in Puerto Rico. He was a right fielder and right-handed batter who played 18 seasons with the Pittsburg Pirates. Clemente made his debut in 1955 against the Brooklyn Dodges. He won the MLB Most Valuable Player Award in 1966 and won Golden Glove Award 12 times! 12 Times!

Elected to the Baseball Hall on Fame posthumously in 1973 as the first Hispanic American to be selected, he was the only exception to the mandatory five-year post-retirement waiting period since it was instituted in 1954. I think he is still the only player to have ever scored a walk off inside the park grand slam. What an amazing feat! In case you are unfamiliar with the term it means a home run that immediately ends a game! After the run is scored, the players can "walk off" the field. The game is finished! In order for this to happen, a member of the home team must hit a home run in the bottom of the last inning to either come from behind or break a tie. Clemente had one of the most powerful throwing arms in baseball history. Vince Scully a baseball commentator once claimed, "Clemente could field the ball in New York and throw out a guy in Pennsylvania."

The real reason I mention Roberto today, is to recall his humanitarianism. It somehow seems appropriate on Good Friday. He helped many people in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries, often delivering supplies and food to them. I loved that he brought baseball supplies to children! He died in a plane crash on 31 December 1972 while taking aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

"Since 1971, Major League Baseball has annually presented an award that recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individuals contribution to his team. In 1972 the award, formerly know as the Commissioner's Award, was renamed to honor Roberto Clemente who tragically died in a plane crash while delivering much needed supplies to earthquake victims of Nicaragua. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the award." - MLB Commissioner Allan H. Selig (2002).

I thought I would also mention to the non NY Mets fans in my family, the 2006 winner of this award was Carlos Delgado of the NY Mets! Won more time by Mets than Yankees! But on such a nice day, let’s all go out and be great human beings!