Happy Birthday Roberto Clemente!

In honor of the great Clemente, who would have been 76 today, I’m dedicating a post full of pictures and quotes of one of the most loved Pirates in history.

Quotes from Roberto Clemente:

• “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
• “I am convinced that God wanted me to be a baseball player. I was born to play baseball.” -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. -Roberto Clemente
• “I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.”
• “When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth.”
• I will hit .450 if you give me Ralph Garr’s legs, Johnny Bench’s age and cut the travel schedule.

For a beautiful video on the life of Roberto Clemente, watch this one by PBS

I wasn’t alive when Clemente played for the Pirates. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to see him play live. I have to re-live his memories by videos and stories from family and friends. He was an incredible ballplayer and human being. Heaven is lucky to have him on their team. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. Happy birthday “The great one”