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As is tradition, Major League Baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates are celebrating the legacy of the iconic Roberto Clemente by wearing his famed No. 21 during the organization's first “Roberto Clemente Day” on Wednesday evening against the Chicago White Sox.
While the league honors Clemente each and every year, this year has seen more than just the Pirates sport his No. 21 as other clubs are also partaking in the festivities.
It is also worth noting that the Pirates mowed the No. “21” into the right field grass, not too far away from where Clemente previously stood at Three Rivers Stadium during his time in Pittsburgh.
For the first time in 47 years, @Pirates players are wearing the No. 21. #ClementeDay pic.twitter.com/k5vR4uGOwq
— MLB (@MLB) September 10, 2020
“He’s our Jackie Robinson,” said current Pirates starting right fielder Gregory Polanco, via Yahoo! Sports. “He’s our idol. He’s the Great One, man. He’s the player we all know growing up, like, ‘Hey, Clemente. He was the man. It was outside the baseball field. That’s what makes it even more, the greatest person, what he did and the way he was helping people always.”
Clemente passed away back in 1972 as the result of a fatal plane crash while delivering food to the less fortunate off the coast of Puerto Rico.
“One of the things that we have talked about a lot is Roberto Clemente, the player, is one of the greatest players of all time,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton added. “Roberto Clemente, the humanitarian, was probably the greatest humanitarian in the history of our sport.”
Unfortunately, the Pirates are in the midst of a rough season on the field as Pittsburgh currently sits in last place in the National League.
