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We wear 21 today. I think of my grandfathers, baseball fans before me. They would have enjoyed today. Puerto Rican MLB players can wear 21 today. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29825750/sources-mlb-allows-puerto-rican-players-wear-no-21-roberto-clemente-day
Roberto Clemente Day celebrates his legacy. First Latino (Afrolatino) inductee to the MLB Hall of Fame. His stats: Bating avg.317, 3000 hits, 250 HRs, 1305 RBIs 15x All-Star. 2 World Series. World Series MVP, NL MVP. 12x Golden Gloves. NL batting champion x4. 2/n
He was more than statistics he was dedicated to give back to his community. In time his community grew bigger. His efforts became legendary. That is part of his story 3/
As a Spanish speaking Black Latino he face discrimination and was outspoken from day one about the inequities he faced. He had never experienced the Jim Crow laws until he move to the US. It felt like a prison to him. https://mlbforlife.com/2012/12/27/roberto-clemente-facts-most-dont-know-part-2-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-and-vic-power/amp/ 4/n
Civil rights movement was important to him&was devastated when Dr.
King was killed. Beyond philanthropy he was a human &wanted to be treated like a person. As we all. Clemente never forgot where he came from and guided his approach to life. 5/n
King was killed. Beyond philanthropy he was a human &wanted to be treated like a person. As we all. Clemente never forgot where he came from and guided his approach to life. 5/n
When I first read his biography I didn’t appreciate the struggles he faced until I moved to the US. I was judged by my skin, hair&accent. I saw the documentary appreciating those details after. Despite that he never change who he was “Not Bob, Roberto” 6/n
As a physician I became aware of health inequities & have seen them. Working to change them. Roberto face then when missing 130 in his first 5 years in the Pirates due to several injuries. Critics weren’t kind. Today inequities in medicine are present https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22239747/ 7/n
Roberto Clemente served as a Marine Corp and was honorably discharge. 8/n
Today has many wear 21. We will remember Roberto Clemente’s legacy, reflect on how we can make things better for those after us and not waste our time on Earth. #RobertoClementeDay #RepresentationMatters #SoyBoricua #Beisbol 9/9
