Clemente was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying aid to the Nicaraguans who had been devastated by an earthquake on December 22, 1972 (the National Archives).
Clemente boarded a flight from San Juan to Managua that transported aid to the Nicaraguans affected by the December 22, 1972 earthquake (the National Archives).
Roberto Clemente, A Legacy Beyond Baseballs
adapted from the National Archives
Roberto Clemente is remembered as one of the greatest players and humanitarians of all time. Clemente represents much more than just baseball where he played right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972. His devoted following extends around the world. More than 40 schools and 200 parks are named in his honor in places ranging from Puerto Rico to Germany. The way in which this great baseball player died is a part of his legacy.
Clemente was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, his native homeland, to Managua, Nicaragua, carrying aid to the Nicaraguans who had been devastated by an earthquake on December 22, 1972. His plane crashed moments after takeoff. That trip exemplified how Clemente had been raised and lived, always helping others. In the final years of his life, his mantra was: "If you have a chance to make life better for others and fail to do so, you are wasting your time on this earth."
Most people do not know that not only was Clemente a baseball player, he was also a Marine. Instead of playing winter ball in Puerto Rico during the 1958-59 off season like the rest of the league, Clemente enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He spent six years of military commitment as an infantryman. The rigorous conditioning and military training kept him in shape throughout the winter. Clemente remained in the Marine Corps until 1964, but this did not slow down his game. When the Pittsburgh Pirates started spring training for the World Series in 1964, however, the schedule conflicted with Clemente's military commitment. The Pirates asked U.S. Senator Hugh Scott to consider Clemente for an early discharge so he would be able to participate in the World Series.
During his career as a National League player, he won the award for Most Valuable Player once, and was an All-Star 12 times, batting champion four times, and a 12-time Golden Glove winner. In 1972, Clemente got his 3,000th major league hit.
Clemente had shared with a former military training officer his three goals in life. The first goal was to be on a World Series Championship team. His second was to win a batting championship. And his third goal was to build a recreation center in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. Apart from having achieved these three goals, months after his death Clemente was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the first Latino to receive this honor. He joined Lou Gehrig as the only members not required to wait five years after their playing days to be considered for the Hall of Fame.
In 1997, New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani presented an award to Clemente's wife, Vera and named June 7, 1997, Roberto Clemente Day in New York City. In his speech Giuliani stated that Clemente "played baseball with a passion that was matched only by the community service he performed for his beloved Puerto Rico." Clemente may not have been the best player to have played in the history of the game, but there is no doubt that there was no one like him on the field or off. He is one of the greatest baseball players in history. No matter how long has passed since his death, time has not erased the legacy of this figure from the minds and hearts of not only Latino Americans, but baseball lovers all around.
1
Drag the tiles to the correct boxes to complete the pairs. Not all tiles will be used.
Which statement correctly paraphrases the sentence from the passage? Match the correct paraphrase with the original sentence from the passage.
According to the National Archives,
months after his death Clemente
was inducted into the National
Baseball Hall of Fame (the National Archives).
In 1964, Clemente's military
schedule clashed with
the Pittsburg Pirates'
spring training for the World Series
(the National Archives).
Clemente was flying from
San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying
aid to the Nicaraguans who had
been devastated by an earthquake
on December 22, 1972 (the National Archives).
Clemente boarded a flight
from San Juan to Managua
that transported aid to the
Nicaraguans affected by
the December 22, 1972
earthquake (the National Archives).
In addition to realizing
his life goals, Clemente was also
admitted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame
after his death (the National Archives).
1 answer