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To the Editor,
This past December, the Steelers and the NFL prepared to honor Franco Harris and the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, chosen by the NFL and many sports media venues as the greatest football play ever. Indeed it was a great play and brought back many thrilling memories of the Steeler dynasty from the 70's. Unfortunately, Franco's untimely passing just days prior to the celebration certainly dampened the mood. However, the Steelers did have the ceremony and posthumously retired Franco's number.
But you may not have heard much about another Pittsburgh legend being memorialized. This past New Year's Eve, I was lucky enough to attend 50th anniversary memorial of the death of a great one. The Great One. Roberto Clemente. On December 31, 1972, just three months after getting his 3,000th hit and while en route to deliver aid to victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake, Clemente and four others died in a plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico. He was 38 years old. The news of his death stunned sports fans in Pittsburgh and around the world. Arguably the greatest right fielder ever, he was one of the best all-around players to ever play the game. Two-time World Series champion, 15 All-Star Games, four National League batting titles, 1966 National League MVP Award, a .317 lifetime batting average, 11th player and first Latino with 3,000 hits. No player in major league history threw out more base runners from the outfield than he did (266). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973.
But most important was his humanitarian work. He was involved in charity work in Pittsburgh including as a regular visitor to children in Pittsburgh's hospitals. During the off-seasons he delivered financial aid to people in his native Puerto Rico and other Latin American and Caribbean countries. Clemente was famous for hosting baseball clinics for underprivileged youth free of charge and delivered baseball equipment and food to those in need. His commitment to helping people was so great that, since 1973, MLB established the Roberto Clemente Award given annually to the player who exemplifies Clemente's commitment to community involvement. It's one of the highest honors in all of sports.
During the memorial, a local singer sang "21," a song he wrote honoring Clemente. And there were several speakers including Roberto Clemente Jr. and Steve Blass telling stories of Clemente's greatness and kindness. Sadly ironic, a couple months prior, Franco had accepted an invitation from the hosts to be there and speak as well.
Clemente's way was one of hard work, tenacity and generosity. He used his God given skills to win batting titles and championships and his star power to help others who were less fortunate. If he were alive today, baseball would be better, the Pirate organization would certainly be better and the world would be better. So when you look to the night sky and you see a shooting star, is it really a star? Or is the Great One playing catch with Maz, Willie and the boys? Thank you Roberto. Thanks for the thrills, the plays, the memories. But most of all, thanks for the example you set.
Mark Marino
Weirton