When Puerto Ricans pronounce the name Roberto Clemente, they want the whole world to understand their pride, unity and culture.
For them, Clemente represents the pinnacle of what it means to be an authentic Puerto Rican. His name is in his songs. Children read their story at school. His image is displayed in the homes of many Latin American baseball players.
“If someone challenges us to do it to find out who we are, the answer is that we are all the number 21,” said Luis Clemente, one of Roberto's sons. “We are Roberto Clemente. You know who we are. It's the face of what makes you Puerto Rican.”
Fifty years after his death, Roberto Clemente, the talented outfielder of the Pittsburgh Pirates, remains one of the most revered figures in Puerto Rico and Latin America.
His elegant style and the power of his arm were unrivaled in his time. But his humanitarian efforts constitute perhaps his greatest legacy.
Half a century after he played, many of today's Latin American players thank him for having paved the way for them.
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