Roberto Clemente

Hello! My name is Roberto Clemente. I grew up on a sunny island called Puerto Rico. It was warm and beautiful, and I loved to play games outside. My favorite game of all was baseball. I loved it so much! When I was a boy, my friends and I didn't have a real bat or ball to play with. So, we used a stick for a bat and rolled up a sock to make a ball. We would hit the sock-ball and run all day long. It was the best game ever.

When I grew up, my biggest dream came true. I got to play baseball for a real team! A long time ago, in the year 1955, I started playing for a team called the Pittsburgh Pirates. I was so proud to wear my special jersey with the number 21 on the back. I played in the big, green outfield, where there was so much room to run. People said I had a super-strong throwing arm because I could throw the ball very, very far. I was so happy to help my team win the World Series, which is the biggest and most exciting game in all of baseball.

As much as I loved playing baseball, I loved helping people just as much. I believed that it was very important to be kind and to share what you have with others who might need help. It made me feel happy to be a good friend to everyone. I lived to be 38 years old. Today, people remember me not just for being a good baseball player, but for being a kind person who always tried to help. Knowing that people remember my kindness is the best prize of all.