Roberto Clemente Day is celebrated throughout MLB this Friday

Puerto Rican Clemente died at the age of 38 when his plane carrying supplies for victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake fell into the sea on December 31, 1972. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously in 1973becoming the first Latin American player to carry a plaque in Cooperstown.

The Puerto Rican Clemente died at the age of 38 when his plane carrying supplies for victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake fell into the sea on December 31, 1972. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously in 1973, becoming the first player in soccer history. Latin America with a plaque in Cooperstown.

Called up fifteen times to the All-Star Game and a 12-time Gold Glove winner, Clemente finished his major-league career with exactly 3,000 hits. He won four batting titles and was the National League MVP in 1966. He also helped the Pirates win two World Series, where he was the MVP of the 1971 Fall Classic, hitting .414 with two home runs and a 1.219 OPS. Pittsburgh beats Baltimore in seven games.

MLB established Roberto Clemente Day in 2002 and continues to celebrate the late Hall of Famer every September 15, which coincides with the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

On Friday morning, Pirates 2023 Roberto Clemente Award nominee David Bednar, along with staff and volunteers from partner entities, visited patients at the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute. The group distributed food, coffee and ticket vouchers for Pirates games to hospital workers and patients.

The effort belongs to the Buccaneers’ Day of Service, a series of charitable activities in Pittsburgh, in which every player on the team will participate.

At Major League Baseball stadiums, all players and other personnel will wear the number 21 on a patch on their uniforms on Friday to honor Clemente, who wore that number with the Pirates.

Pittsburgh, Clemente’s team during 18 years in the major leagues, will host the Yankees at 6:35 ET at PNC Park, with everyone in both clubs wearing No. 21.

All players Nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award They will have the option to use 21 as their primary uniform number. In the past, major league Puerto Rican players and others have worn the number 21 during Roberto Clemente Day celebrations.

MLB Tonight, an MLB Network program, will be broadcast live from PNC Park beginning at 5 PM ET, prior to the broadcast of the game between the Yankees and Pirates. These teams’ nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award, Aaron Judge and Bednar, will be present live, along with presenter Harold Reynolds.

Additionally, all active players who have won the Roberto Clemente Award in the past will receive a patch of No. 21 on the back of their caps.

Fans can learn more about the efforts surrounding the Roberto Clemente Award nominees by visiting the website this site.