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Recognizing and honoring The Life of Roberto Clemente and his Family on the occasion of the publishing of Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero.
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WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico and at the age of seventeen began his career in professional baseball with the Cangrejeros de Santurce in 1952, followed by his time with the Montreal Royals, the Triple A team of the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he played until he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 1955 season; and
WHEREAS, From 1955 until 1972 Roberto Clemente played for the Pittsburgh Pirates as a right fielder, and over that eighteen season career he was a National League Most Valuable Player, a twelve time Major League Baseball All-Star, four time National League batting champion, a winner of the Babe Ruth Award, a twelve time Gold Glove Award honoree, a two time World Series Champion, and in 1971 the World Series Most Valuable Player; and
WHEREAS, Through his success Roberto Clemente paved the way for future Latino Major League Baseball players, being the first Latino to win a World Series as a starter, to win an MVP award, and to be named the World Series MVP; and
WHEREAS, In 1973 Robert Clemente was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, being the first Latino American to receive that honor and one of two players, along with Lou Gehrig, for whom the mandatory five-year waiting period for entrance into the Hall of Fame was waived; and
WHEREAS, Not only was Roberto Clemente was a successful professional athlete, he also was dedicated to serving others, and his charity work took him to both Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America, and in 1972 when while traveling to Managua, Nicaragua to provide relief to earthquake victims, Roberto Clemente tragically died when the plane he was traveling in crashed into the ocean off the coast of Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, The legacy of Roberto Clemente is recognized and lives on here in Philadelphia through the Roberto Clemente Park and Playground at 18th and Mt. Vernon Streets, the Roberto Clemente Promise Academy, and in the statue of Mr. Clemente located at the school, whose inscription memorializes his powerful words:
Quiero que me recuerden como uno que dio todo lo que tenía para dar.
I want to be remembered as someone who gave all that he had to give.; and,
WHEREAS, To honor his life, Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero was written by Vera, Roberto Jr., and Ricky Clemente, along with CBS Sports writer Mike Freeman, who work to preserve the memory of their husband and father in the hope that his life can inspire the hope and charity that Roberto Clemente embodied, and
WHEREAS, The Clemente family, like their husband and father, are also dedicated to service, and to continue that tradition founded the Roberto Clemente Foundation to serve as the bridge for youth to become responsible members of their communities through sports, education and community service; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED THAT, The Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby recognizes and honors the life of Roberto Clemente for his illustrious career which broke down barriers for Latinos in baseball, and for his dedication to public service and critical volunteer work. We also honor the Clemente family for carrying on in the footsteps of their husband and father by continuing his dedication to charity and his work to provide strong Latino role models through their book Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero. We thank the entire Clemente family for their service, and look forward to their continued dedication to sports, youth, and the Latino community in the years to come.
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