The Power of 21 Mysterious and Meaningful Stories Surround Roberto Clemente and His Signature Number — We Explore How His Legacy Lives On
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feature THE POWER OF 21 Mysterious and meaningful stories surround Roberto Clemente and his signature number — we explore how his legacy lives on BY ANDREA BOSCO PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE CLEMENTE MUSEUM/DUANE RIEDER WHIRL n SEPTEMBER 2013 66 t was 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, 1972. The day was short, dark, and high-spirited. For three days, generous hearts THE FOURTH ANNUAL CLEMENTE MUSEUM FUNDRAISER WILL and beloved baseball fans scoured their pantries and BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19. TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT I CLEMENTEMUSEUM.COM. nearby grocery stores to contribute to a philanthropic mission they would never forget. Number 21, The Great One, Roberto Clemente called for action after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake McCutchen hit a double and the Pirates rocked the Seattle struck Managua, Nicaragua’s capital. For Tom Walker, a 23-year- Mariners, 4-1. old rookie from Florida, it was an afternoon of admiration. Sports photographer, and owner, curator, and executive Walker, the father of Pittsburgh Pirates standout Neil Walker, director of The Clemente Museum, Duane Rieder says, recounts what happened next: “Clemente lived the way he died. He died helping — he gave “Over three days, thousands upon thousands of people up his whole life for other people.” Rieder tells us Clemente felt showed up to Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan with goods,” God had a plan for him. “He dreamt of himself dying in a plane his voice shakes. “We managed to get it all to the airport. Two, crash,” he says. “He made sure his best friends were with Vera young, strong Puerto Rican men loaded the plane. I was in and the kids on the night of New Year’s Eve.” Each year, Rieder the best shape I had ever been in and did a lot of work myself. hosts a fundraiser in No. 21’s honor. This year, it will be held on Roberto’s friend owned the aircraft. His friend’s brother was the September 19. From 6-9 p.m., hors d’oeuvres and Enginehouse co-pilot. The plane had a history of problems and was supposed 25 Wines will be served among the archives. A VIP gathering to leave at 2 p.m. While we were loading the plane, it was shut with Rieder, the Clemente family, local sports legends, and Pirates down and being repaired. Whoever repaired the plane said it was alumni will start at 5:30 p.m. And, a wing for Manny Sanguillen, repaired. It was 5 p.m. I walked up to Roberto and said I wanted Clemente’s best friend, will be unveiled. to help. I was single — what else did I have to do other than Clemente, Jr. says he forever visualizes his father as the young party with my teammates? He walked up the ramp of the plane, man he was. looked down, and said, ‘No, no, no. You go home and party,’ in Clemente, Jr. is a father of three, a grandfather, and now Dad Spanish. There was no additional room on the plane. I turned to Jose Lima, Jr., 15, and Preston Lima, 6. In fact, Preston was around and said goodbye. Not for a moment in my life did I ever born on September 30, the momentous day Clemente, Sr. batted think that would be the last time I would see Roberto.” his 3,000th and final hit. While en route to deliver aid, the plane went down. Clemente, Stories such as these, and others never disclosed, are featured 38, and four others never made it to Nicaragua. “He did anything in the family’s first published pages, “Clemente: The True Legacy for anybody that needed help, and it actually cost him his life,” of an Undying Hero,” which will grace bookstores on September says Walker. 24. “We wanted to share an inside look from the family The two baseball brothers had a bond. And shared names. celebrating Dad’s accomplishments in such a short time,” says Tom’s given name, Robert. Clemente’s full name, Roberto Clemente, Jr. Clemente Walker, comprises 21 letters and was the foundation The day he died and years thereafter, the island of Puerto for his jersey number. He was raised with his mother Luisa’s Rico went into mourning. “You couldn’t see a car without a maiden name following his father’s, as per Puerto Rican culture. white handkerchief or a white veil tied to the antennae,” says Now, star second baseman, Neil runs onto the field every game Walker. “Everything was focused on his death.” Today, his day with The Clemente Wall along right field directly in his line legacy lives on through Clemente, Jr.; Vera, Luis, and Ricky of sight. Coincidence or fate? “I don’t think a day goes by that Clemente; Tom and Neil Walker; Rieder; and every fan who Neil doesn’t think, ‘If my dad got on that airplane, he wouldn’t be sports a Clemente jersey or shirt at PNC Park. “The aura of my dad,’” says Walker. Roberto Clemente still being part of the club is absolutely With that said, the mystique continues. This year’s Pittsburgh there,” says Walker. “It doesn’t go away and it’s not going to go Pirates are well on their way to October. For 20 consecutive away.” seasons, our beloved Buccos have endured losing records, but The ever-gracious Hall of Famer touched the City of this season — the 21st — could be the one. Pittsburgh, the people of Puerto Rico, others worldwide, Twenty-one, the number that lives on to represent one of the everyone he knew, and those, like me, who’ve always revered the greatest humanitarians in the world and one of the best players young photos representing the svelte, lion-hearted ball player. to ever play the game. Conceivably, the handwriting is on the So as our current superstars take the field each night, let’s wall and Clemente’s son, Clemente, Jr., feels it too. “It’s amazing cheer them on with 21 in mind. The season is here. The time is how mystical that number is in our life as a family and for me now. And, as we’ve been shown, truth speaks to the phrase there personally,” he says. “If they stop the streak this year, we’ll really is power in numbers. be part of something special.” Pittsburgh Pirates, pirates.com. Roberto Clemente Foundation, The titillating game of baseball is not a sport to discount when robertos-kids.org. The Clemente Museum, clementemuseum.com. it comes to prophecy through higher being, and, in many cases, superstition. “I don’t discount anything in baseball or the baseball gods,” says Walker. “There have been so many strange things that “I was always in awe of the man. He have occurred.” always treated me like a superstar, When you ask Clemente, Jr. about unplanned instances, he says: “That’s Dad.” but I wasn’t even a twinkle,” For example, few months ago, he and his wife, Melissa — says Tom Walker, on friend, Clemente. divorcée of the late Los Angeles Dodger Jose Lima, Sr. — visited Pittsburgh to present the first scholarship endowment in his father’s name at Duquesne University. Clemente, Jr. fortuitously Our sources: crossed paths with Andrew McCutchen on his father’s namesake Tom Walker, Roberto bridge during our June cover shoot. It was by happenstance. Clemente, Jr., and They exchanged conversation, phone numbers, and Cutch told Duane Rieder. us Clemente has always been one of his heroes. That night, WHIRLMAGAZINE.COM n WHIRL Photographs from St. Louis Cardinals, by Cayla Zahoran, Rob Larson. 67.