Pittsburgh Pirates x Roberto Clemente [1971-1972]

Welcome to my latest post for Jersey Sunday. On hand is my Pittsburgh Pirates Roberto Clemente road uniform by Cooperstown Majestic. This is something I've wanted to have for a long time. The jersey was bought as a blank online and was crested by Pickering Pro Image.


It was a no-brainer as to who I wanted on the back of this jersey. Roberto Clemente is definitely one of, if not, the greatest Buc of all time. This one had to be special and I was very stoked to see how well the twill matched the trim perfectly.


Finding the matching fitted cap is a struggle - but I was able to easily find the matching Cooperstown snapback at a very generous price at an outlet store.


Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on 18 August 1934, Robert Clemente Walker made his Pirates debut in 1955. Although it took writers much time to realize how great he'd turn out to be, it wasn't until he won his first World Series title in 1960 where he'd become one of the best players on the grass and one of the most loved individuals outside of Forbes Field due to his charitable contributions.


In the winter of 1972, he boarded a plane to Nicaragua with medical supplies to a city in ruins after an earthquake. Unfortunately, the plane did not make it to South America and his body was never found. He was declared dead on 31 December 1972. Not only will he be remembered as a baseball player, but as a humanitarian. Through special election, he was posthumously inducted into The National Baseball Hall Of Fame in the spring of 1973.


Career Highlights, Honours, and Awards:
2x World Series Champion [1960, 1971], World Series MVP [1971], National league MVP [1971], 15x MLB All-Star [1960-1972], 12x Gold Glove Award Winner [1961-1972]. National Baseball Hall Of Fame Inductee [1972], jersey #21 retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in his honour.
In 9474 at bats, he belted 240 home runs with a .317 average. He also became a member of the 3000 hits club on the last day of the regular season in 1972.
In 1973, The Commissioner's Award, usually handed out to the baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team" was renamed The Roberto Clemente Award.
Outside of PNC Park, a bronze statue of Clemente stands on a platform bearing "The Great One" on the base. Furhtermore, Pittsburgh's 6th Street Bridge was renamed The Roberto Clemente Bridge.

"I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all I had to give." - Roberto Clemente