THE 21 TRIVIA COMPETITION IS TAKING OFF

Before we get to the subject at hand – the great and sorely missed number 21, Roberto Clemente – let me update you on the 21 Trivia Quiz. Apparently, I am not the only person in the world who loves the number 21. More than 2,500 people have completed the quiz already, and we’ve hardly started. People have played from the US, Canada, the UK, India, New Zealand, and other countries as well. I am truly overwhelmed. If you haven’t played the 21 Trivia Quiz, come on and join the fun. If you’ve already played, get your friends involved too. Let’s all play 21 Trivia.

ROBERTO CLEMENTE

Now I want to write about one of my all-time heroes, Roberto Clemente. Roberto Clemente, number 21 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was a great baseball player and, even more importantly, a great human being.

A GREAT BASEBALL PLAYER

Roberto Clemente played Major League Baseball for 18 seasons, from 1955 through 1972. He played his entire career for the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing right field and wearing uniform number 21. He was one of the greatest baseball players ever. Here are a few of his baseall highlights.

National League batting champion four times.
Highest single-season batting average: .357.
Career batting average: .317.
Career hits: 3,000.
National League Most Valuable Player in 1966.
World Series Most Valuable Player in 1971.
Selected to the National League All-Star Team 12 times.
Won the Gold Glove Award for fielding excellence 12 times.
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame

As a baseball player, Roberto Clemente had it all: great hitter, great fielder, and great team leader.

A GREAT HUMANITARIAN

Clemente’s accomplishments on the baseball field were outstanding, but his accomplishments off the field were even greater. Whenever he wasn’t playing baseball, he was busy helping other people.

In December 1973, a major earthquake hit Nicaragua. Clemente immediately went to work organizing relief shipments to the earthquake victims. On December 31, 1972, Clemente and four others loaded a DC-7 cargo plane with thousands of pounds of food, medicine, and other supplies, and took off for Nicaragua. The plane crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff, and all five people on board were killed.

Roberto Clemente, baseball superstar and humanitarian, number 21 for the Pirates, was dead at the age of 38. He was a great man, an inspiration to millions, and a credit to the number 21.

March 27, 2008