GROWING UP IN CAROLINA, Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente loved to play baseball. He swung a tree branchâsince he didnât have a batâand hit tin cans. At the age of 19, his passion for the sport paid off when he was tapped for a Major League team. First stop: chilly Montreal, where he warmed the bench and himself, longing to play baseball. Months later, he finally got his chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates where his talent on the field was soon on display. Many fans loved his bold playing style, but not everyone was quick to embrace a Black man from Puerto Rico who spoke espaĂąol. A man who demanded to be called Roberto, not Bob.
MLB.com journalist Nathalie Alonso shows the emotional highs and lows of Roberto Clementeâs career as he fought racismâfrom fans, reporters, and other figures in the sportâto become one of the greatest baseball players of all time.