The final months
After an underwhelming post season, where he tallied four hits, Roberto Clemente heads to puerto rico to teach a series of seminars to local youth.
On December 23rd, 1972 Nicaragua is affected by a destructive 6.3 magnitude earthquake near the capital of Managua.
Almost immediately, Roberto Clemente begins collecting and sending aid and supplies to the people of Nicaragua. Unfortunately, much of this aid ends up in the hands of the then president, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, instead of the people in need.
Becoming agitated by the lack of supplies getting through to those in need, Clemente charters a flight from Puerto Rico to Nicaragua so that he can personally deliver aid.
On December 31st 1972, Roberto Clemente departs Puerto Rico aboard a dc-7 plane loaded with aid in transit to Nicaragua. he is joined by his associate Angel Lozano, the plane’s owner and co-pilot Arthur Rivera, Pilot Jerry Hill and flight engineer Francisco Matias.
In bad shape and overloaded, the plane suffers a critical engine failure and goes down in the ocean 2 miles off the coast of Piñones.
Almost immediately, a search and rescue operation was organized by the coast guard.
Manny Sanguillén, Clemente’s close friend and teammate, takes part in the search. Even missing the memorial service to join divers searching off the coast.
After an exhaustive search,
Roberto Clemente’s body is never found.
On March 20, 1972, the baseball writers association of America held a special election for the baseball hall of fame. They voted to waive the waiting period for Clemente. Due to the circumstances of his death And posthumously elected him for induction into the hall of fame. Giving him 393 out of 420 available votes, for 92.7% of the vote.
On August 6th, 1973, Roberto Clemente is inducted into the baseball hall of fame. His widow, Vera Clemente, attends the ceremony to accept the award in his honor.
While receiving the award Vera Clemente remarked “This was Roberto’s last triumph.” However, his drive to be the best he could, both on and off the field, would go on to influence many to this day.
“Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on earth.”
—Roberto Clemente