Roberto Clemente

Quotations From & About Roberto Clemente

''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 am convinced that God wanted me to be a baseball player. I was born to play baseball."

"I am more valuable to my team hitting .330 than swinging for home runs."

"I dedicated the hit (his 3,000th) to the Pittsburgh fans and to the people in Puerto Rico and to one man (Roberto Marin) in particular. The one man who carried me around for weeks looking for a scout to sign me."

"I felt kind of bashful (when the fans went crazy). I'm a very quiet, shy person, although you writers might not believe because I shout sometimes."

"If I could sleep. I could hit .400."

"I tell you, (Steve) Blass, you pitch me inside, they never, never find that ball."

"I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give."

"I will hit .450 if you give me Ralph Garr's legs, Johnny Bench's age and cut the travel schedule."

"Nobody does anything better than me in baseball (said before the 1971 World Series)."

"There's no difference between me and you (Manny Sanguillen). You need something, a glove, a place to live, you let me know."

"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."

"Why does everyone talk about the past? All that counts is tomorrow's game."

"(Roberto) Clemente could field the ball in New York and throw out a guy in Pennsylvania." - Broadcaster Vin Scully

"He's a shining star to many, many people. He grows and grows over time. He doesn't diminish... The sad part is that there are not enough TV pictures of him. He made so many great plays that people can only talk about. You could never capture the magnificence of the man." - Pirate General Manager Joe L. Brown

"He gave the term 'complete' a new meaning. He made the word 'superstar' seem inadequate. He had about him the touch of royalty." - Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn (1973 eulogy)

"He was the one player that players on other teams didn't want to miss. They'd run out of the clubhouse to watch him take batting practice. He could make a 10-year veteran act like a 10-year-old kid." - Pitcher Steve Blass

"If (Roberto) Clemente were a football player, he'd make Ray Nitschke look like a pussycat." - Pirates psychologist Dr. Thomas Tutko

"If we have a foundation with Roberto Clemente's name on it, as a franchise we have a responsibility to make sure that it grows. Having kids play baseball in the inner city was important to Roberto Clemente, and we're going down that same road." - Pirate Owner Kevin McGlinchy

"I still see him sometimes when I am alone. People remember him as a ballplayer, but he was so much more. He was a father, a husband, a wonderful man." - Vera Clemente (wife)

"Roberto Clemente played the game of baseball with great passion. That passion could only be matched by his unrelenting commitment to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate and those in need. People saw Roberto as a great ballplayer and humanitarian. He was also a great father, husband, teammate and friend." - Manny Sanguillen

"Roberto Clemente was a legendary figure both as a player and a humanitarian. I have long been aware of his heroic efforts on behalf of others, and to have my name associated with his is a very special honor." - Al Leiter (winner of the 2000 Roberto Clemente Award)

"Since 1971, Major League Baseball has annually presented an award that recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. In 1972 the award, formerly know as the Commissioner's Award, was renamed to honor Roberto Clemente who tragically died in a plane crash while delivering much needed supplies to earthquake-stricken citizens of Nicaragua. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the award." - MLB Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig (2002)

"The big thing about (Roberto) Clemente is that he can hit any pitch. I don't mean only strikes. He can hit a ball off his ankles or off his ear." -Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal

"The day of the crash I was in Puerto Rico. I went with the divers out into the ocean. It was really rough. I said, 'I'm gonna dive.' They gave me a tank and [scuba gear]. I went down. I saw barracuda and sharks. Big sharks. I got scared and pulled on the rope and they pulled me up." - Manny Sanguillen

"This is a tremendous honor (winning the 2002 Roberto Clemente Award), to be considered in the same class as Roberto Clemente. He is a hero and role model for all of us who play the game and strive to be as good a player and person as he was." - Jim Thome

Quotations From & About Roberto Clemente

Fast Facts

The Roberto Clemente Award had, since 1971, only been given to Major League baseball players. After the terrorist attacks in New York City, Major League Baseball made the following press release:

MLB Press Release

In a unique gesture, a second 2001 Roberto Clemente Award presented by John Hancock was given to the citizens of New York City for their humanitarian efforts following the disaster of September 11.

The announcement was made prior to the second game of the 2001 World Series in Phoenix, Arizona, and in conjunction with the Roberto Clemente Award given to Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks in an earlier presentation.

On hand to accept the award on behalf of New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani were Bobby Valentine, Manager of the New York Mets, and Joe Torre, Manager of the New York Yankees. A message from Mayor Giuliani, who could not be in attendance, was shown on the scoreboard.

"The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes those individuals who truly understand the value of helping others," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "The example set by the citizens of New York City during this crisis has given us all a great deal of strength. We are proud to present this award to those citizens who, like Roberto Clemente, are committed to helping those in need."

In the weeks and now months following the disaster, firemen, policemen, EMS workers and everyday citizens joined together to help in any way they could. Whether it was through rescue efforts, volunteering, donating blood or money, or just being there for one another, New Yorkers united showing strength, resiliency and most importantly compassion for their fellow man.

The Roberto Clemente Award, presented by John Hancock, is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team.

Did you know that the twelve-foot statue at the entrance of Roberto Clemente Stadium, home of the 2003 Caribbean World Series, is of Roberto Clemente at-bat and a boy reaching up for him. It is inscribed with these simple, but perfect words: "Example and Glory of Puerto Rico"?

Roberto Clemente was the second (Jackie Robinson was the first) Major League baseball player to EVER appear on a U.S. Postage stamp.