Clemente

Clemente, by David Maraniss, is the latest biography about my favorite baseball player in history, Roberto Clemente, the first Latin American player, and only the second player in history ever, to not only to into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but to be inducted before the five year period that players are supposed to wait; the other is Lou Gehrig.

This is the fifth biography I've ever read on Clemente, and it's also the thickest. Maraniss goes into further detail on Clemente the man, less on Clemente the player, and, based on this book, if there was ever a man who was the icon of what most people want to see as the All-American man, Clemente, ironically, is it, since he's from Puerto Rico. A proud man who had a heart bigger than gold, he is portrayed here as almost the perfect man; tall, strong, muscular and lean, good looking, God-fearing, always volunteering, always helping and selfless to the end,… well, there just aren't enough superlatives to throw in here.

It's also a very interesting look at Latin American players and their introduction into America, having to fight both the color and language barriers, not only with the people in cities they visited, but with other players and even their coaches and managers. Sports reporters often made these players look stupid by quoting them in broken English in newspaper stories, yet Clemente was a highly intelligent man who was deeply insulted by this propensity, and not quiet about it either.

And that's what ultimate set Clemente apart from all other players. He decided he wasn't just going to take it, and, because of his talent, he didn't have to. He was the one player who enabled other Latin American players to feel that they truly belonged in the game, and were equal to any man in sports or in life. Clemente was the man among men, and one of those few people who players on other teams sought out for advice on life, especially Latin American players. For Clemente was a trend setter, someone who really paved the way for the great explosion of Latin American players later on.

Of course, the book also chronicles his stats: 12 Gold Glove awards for right field (tying only Willie Mays for the most for an outfielder), 4 batting titles, National League MVP in 1966, World Series MVP in 1971, 12th player to reach 3,000 hits, led the league in hits twice, once in triples, and is the only player in history to hit an inside the park grand slam; wow. Oh yeah, while we're at it, his Pittsburgh Pirates also won two World Series titles.

Maraniss talks to, and quotes from, many players, sports writers, and other luminaries who knew Clemente. He even talked to regular people who, for whatever reason attracted Clemente to them, had nothing but glowing things to say to him, on how he gave them full attention, would treat them to games or invite them to his houses in New York or Puerto Rico, even if they were fans of other teams. He was genuinely interested in other people, liked other people, yet was misunderstood because of his honesty. If he were asked how he felt, he'd tell people his legs were stiff, or his back hurt, or whatever it was. This book shows how the racism of the time, overt or not, made him look like a malingerer, yet his play showed the total opposite. He played hurt, better than most other players, and this led to him being one of the most intentionally walked players in history, one year leading the league in that category.

And, selfless to the end, the same season where his very last hit was his 3,000, he decided to fly on a plane that had no reason being allowed to even taxi onto a runway and disappeared on New Years Eve, trying to bring supplies to Managua, Nicaragua, after a devastating earthquake. Because that's just how the man, Roberto Clemente was; giving until the very end.

This book is fabulous, more than just a traditional baseball book. It's honest; Roberto Clemente wasn't perfect, and there were a few examples of when he let his temper get the best of him. Then again, even Jackie Robinson got to fight after his first three years as a baseball player. I couldn't recommend this book enough; young baseball players should be introduced to this book, Clemente, though, because it's for adults, there are a few choice words here and there. Hey, that's life.

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