Roberto Clemente

Did you know? Since 1972, Major League Baseball has presented an award, known originally as the Commissioner's Award, each year to recognize the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball and the ideal of sportsmanship, and who contributes to both the community and his team.

In 1973, following the death of Roberto Clemente, the award was renamed in his honor. Clemente collected his 3,000th hit on Sept. 30, 1972, his final regular-season at-bat. He was killed in an airplane crash three months later while delivering relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Each club has nominated a player, and the winner is selected during the World Series.

Roberto Clemente by the numbers:
8/18/1934: date of birth
4: National League batting titles won
12: Gold Gloves won; number of times he was named an NL All-Star
13: seasons he hit .311 or higher
21: number worn with the Pittsburgh Pirates, retired in 1973
1966: named NL MVP
1971: named World Series MVP
3,000: career hits

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