Roberto Clemente

Hello! My name is Roberto Clemente. I want to tell you my story. I was born on August 18th, 1934, in a town called Carolina in beautiful Puerto Rico. I was the youngest of seven children, and our home was always full of love. My father worked hard in the sugar cane fields, and my mother ran a small store. They taught me the importance of hard work and, most importantly, helping others. From a young age, my biggest passion was baseball. I would spend hours throwing a baseball against a wall or playing with friends using a stick for a bat and a bottle cap for a ball. It was my dream to one day become a professional baseball player.

When I was just a teenager, I started playing professional baseball in Puerto Rico. Then, in 1955, my biggest dream came true! I was asked to play in the Major Leagues in the United States for a team called the Pittsburgh Pirates. I was so excited, but it was also a little scary. I had to leave my family and my home, and I didn't speak English very well at first. In those days, it was also difficult for players who were Black or Latino like me. Some people were not kind and didn't think we belonged. But I knew I had an important job to do. I wanted to play my best to make my family and all the people of Puerto Rico proud.

I played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for my entire 18-year career. I wore the number 21 on my back with great pride. I was known for my powerful throwing arm from right field and for being a great hitter. My teammates and fans started calling me 'The Great One.' We had some amazing years. In 1960, we won the World Series! We won it again in 1971, and I was named the Most Valuable Player of that series. One of my proudest moments came on September 30th, 1972, when I got my 3,000th hit in the major leagues. Only a few players had ever done that, and it was a special day.

As much as I loved baseball, I believed my true purpose was to help people. I once said, 'Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth.' I spent my winters back in Puerto Rico, holding baseball clinics for kids and delivering food and supplies to families in need. My biggest dream off the field was to build a 'Sports City' in Puerto Rico, a special place where all children, especially those from poor families, could learn and play sports for free.

In December of 1972, a terrible earthquake hit the country of Nicaragua. I knew I had to help. I helped organize planes to send food, water, and medicine to the people who were suffering. When I heard that the supplies were not getting to the people who needed them most, I decided I had to go myself. On December 31st, 1972, the plane I was on crashed into the ocean. I lived to be 38 years old. Though my life ended sooner than anyone expected, I am so proud that people remember me not just as a baseball player, but as someone who cared deeply for others. Today, Major League Baseball gives a special award every year in my name, the Roberto Clemente Award, to the player who best shows the spirit of helping the community. My story reminds everyone that being a good person is the most important thing of all.