08-R050

2008 -- S 2175

Enacted 01/31/08

 

S E N A T E  R E S O L U T I O N

URGING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO RETIRE JERSEY NUMBER 21 IN HONOR OF THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LATE ROBERTO CLEMENTE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Metts, J Montalbano, Ruggerio, and DaPonte

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2008

 

 

     WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was born on August 18, 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Roberto played Right Field for the Pittsburgh Pirates for eighteen years from 1955 to 1972,

before dying tragically in a plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in

Nicaragua; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente had a Hall of Fame baseball career and was one of the

greatest players to ever grace a baseball diamond. He was celebrated for his defensive prowess in

right field and for his incredible throwing arm. He is widely regarded to be the greatest defensive

right fielder in the history of Major League Baseball, and even today, many years after his career

ended, stories about his incredible feats in right field are told to new generations of baseball

players and fans; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente accomplished numerous incredible feats in his illustrious

baseball career. He compiled 3000 hits, posted a stupendous career batting average of .317, won

four National League batting titles in 1961, 1964, 1965 and 1967, was chosen the National

League Most Valuable Player in 1966, was a National League All-Star twelve times, and won the

Gold Glove as the best defensive Right Fielder in the National League an amazing twelve years in

a row from 1961-1972; and

     WHEREAS, As great as Roberto was in the regular season, he was even better in the

playoffs. Widely regarded as a clutch player, Roberto batted .310 in the 1960 World Series, a 4-3

win by the Pirates over the legendary New York Yankees. The 1971 World Series was perhaps

Roberto's greatest moment as a Major League player as he almost single handedly led the Pirates

to an upset 4-3 win over the heavily favored powerhouse Baltimore Orioles. In that series

Clemente was chosen MVP for his 414 batting average and two home runs including a big home

run in game 7; and

     WHEREAS, In 1973 Roberto Clemente was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of

Fame and awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his lifetime of humanitarian service. In

2002 Clemente was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom; now, therefore be

it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby urges Major League Baseball to retire Jersey Number 21 in honor of the lifetime

achievements of the late Roberto Clemente; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the family of the late Roberto Clemente, and

Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

     

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LC01224

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