September 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of Roberto’s 3,000th hit. It represents one of baseball’s most triumphant moments and the crown jewel of baseball’s most beloved player.
However, it wasn’t all about the records broken and games won, it was about service to humanity. Roberto once said that he wanted “to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.” His statement wasn’t specific to baseball. Roberto considered himself, first and foremost, a servant to the people who needed him.
When an earthquake hit Nicaragua in December 1972, Roberto managed to make contact with a man in Managua to take stock of the damages and what was needed in the country. The next week was spent making announcements and organizing collections of aid supplies from all over the island.
Roberto made a guest appearance on a popular game show with the great singer and future senator Ruth Fernandez, commending the island’s youth for their help and asking for further donations. One of the collection centers was Hiram Bithorn Stadium, where he had played often. They collected several tons of supplies and more than $100,000 for the effort.
Of course, we all know what happened next. The plane was a compromised DC-7 bought off a dingy lot in Miami, and the owner was a loose cannon with a history of defying air safety regulations. The plane barely cleared the palm trees at the edge of the runway and disappeared some miles north of Playa Piñones. Losing Roberto was a tragedy that shook the island and world. But, he left us with his mission as a legacy for all generations. He said it best himself:
“If you have an opportunity to accomplish something that will make things better for someone coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.”
Join us today as we bring the Roberto Clemente Foundation into the future. Our commitment to “building nations of good” has sustained this organization and will mark our efforts going forward as well. With your help, we can spread Roberto’s legacy of faith, love, and service to thousands of needy people all over the world. Our focus is on relief efforts for areas stricken by recent disasters and long-term poverty.
RCF responds to disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. We rely on partnership with people like you that loved Roberto and what he stood for.
Roberto Clemente Foundation is a 501(c)(3), and all donations are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Please see our Privacy and Donation Policies for more information.
We believe that anyone can be a hero. This isn’t just a memorial to a great athlete’s memory; it’s a living, breathing community devoted to “Building Nations of Good.”