MAYOR GIULIANI HONORS THE MEMORY OF HALL OF FAMER ROBERTO CLEMENTE
On the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani attended the First Annual Friends of Roberto Clemente Dinner commemorating the 25th anniversary of the untimely death of the Hall of Fame baseball player. At festivities held at Mickey Mantle's Restaurant, the Mayor presented a proclamation to Mrs. Vera Clemente, the widow of the late Pittsburgh Pirate, and named June 7, 1997, Roberto Clemente Day in New York City.
"In the same year we honor the contributions of Jackie Robinson to the game of baseball and American society, it is only appropriate that we remember another of the game's great pioneers -- Roberto Clemente," Mayor Giuliani said. "For 18 seasons, Roberto was an opposing pitcher's nightmare and a defensive wizard in the outfield, winning an astonishing 12 consecutive Gold Glove awards."
"He played baseball with a passion that was matched only by the community service he performed for his beloved Puerto Rico," the Mayor continued. "Roberto was devoted to his homeland and her people. Sadly, it was on a relief mission from Puerto Rico to earthquake ravaged Nicaragua in 1972 that Roberto Clemente lost his life. Though he was taken from us too soon, Roberto's legacy lives on -- his bust in Cooperstown was the first to ever represent a Hall of Famer of Latino descent, a 12-foot statue of Clemente welcomes fans to Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium, and, most importantly, his deeds and actions as a humanitarian and ballplayer have inspired generations of Americans."
The First Annual Roberto Clemente Dinner commemorates the 25th anniversary of his death on December 31, 1972. While departing on a relief mission to deliver supplies to the victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake, Clemente's plane crashed moments after takeoff from his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Clemente spent 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning 12 Gold Gloves and playing in 12 All-Star Games. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1966 and the World Series Most Valuable Player in 1971. Clemente posted a lifetime .317 batting average, collected 3,000 base hits and hit 240 career home runs. In 1973, Roberto was the first Hispanic player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Tonight's dinner takes place on the eve of the 40th Annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade. This year, the parade honors the accomplishments of Vera Clemente by bestowing upon her the first Woman of the Year award. Last year, parade organizers presented Roberto Clemente Jr. with its Youth Services Award for his work in the establishment of the Roberto Clemente Sports City, a multi-purpose sports and education center in Puerto Rico. Proceeds from this evening's event will benefit the Sports City.
"On behalf of all New Yorkers, it is an honor to declare today Roberto Clemente Day and to present this proclamation to Vera Clemente and the Clemente family. They have continued to assist the people of Puerto Rico, creating the Roberto Clemente Sports City to help student-athletes. For years to come, children will hear the Clemente name and truly know what remarkable human beings the Clementes are," the Mayor concluded.
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