Tosado Succesfully introduces Resolution

Roberto Clemente
Picture by Stephen G A from flickr.com

Springfield City Councilor Jose Tosado successfully introduced a resolution to the Springfield City Council to retired baseball number 21 from the baseball league. Springfield now joins other communities throughout the US in the effort to retire Clemente's #21 from the baseball league. The famous number 21 was worn by Puerto Rican native Roberto Clemente. Roberto Clemente a native from Carolina, Puerto Rico, played professional baseball for eighteen season (1955-1972) from the Pittsburgh Pirates, until his untimely death on a plane crash carrying supplies destined to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Tosado stated, " I am Honor to participate in the effort to retire #21, as a way to pay tribute to this great Puerto Rican and a great Human Being"

As a kid I played baseball in Puerto Rico. I was the catcher. It was a beautiful time in my life. I remember the talks and the special, almost sacred, aura that just the name Roberto Clemente brought to the game and to the field. We all wanted to be like him. I am honor to see this effort to retire Roberto Clemente's #21 from the baseball league. It is a tribute fit to a great star and above all to a great humanitarian, as Roberto Clemente possessed qualities that transcended nationalities.

Roberto Clemente Record Book

Elected to the Baseball hall of fame, only the second player whom the mandatory 5 year period was waived, the other was Lou Gehrig.

Collected 3,000 hits

Lifetime batting avg. of 317

1966 Most Valuable Player

1971 World Series Most Valuable Player

Best defensive right fielder of all times, winning 12 Gold Globe Awards.

Roberto Clemente the Humanitarian

During spring training, refused to accept the indignity of " Jim Crow " segregation in the South, refusing food from restaurants that served "whites only".

Contributed financial support to Afro-American community in Pittsburgh.

After being named most Valuable player in 1971, insisted in speaking his native language(Spanish) first, an act that infused a new sense of pride in the Hispanic community in the US.

Died on a plane crash on December 31, 1971 on its way to Nicaragua to bring needed supplies to earthquake victims, his body was never recovered.

Roberto Clemente drawing and Clemente on Front Cover of Baseball Digest

Pictures by Stephen G A from Flickr.com