A new plaque on General Robinson Street on Pittsburgh’s North Shore marks the spot where second base once rested inside Three Rivers Stadium — the place where Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente stood after recording his 3,000th and final hit for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 30, 1972.
At a ceremony Thursday, Clemente’s son, Roberto Clemente Jr., who was 7 at the time, recreated his father’s historic pose, tipping his cap to fans.
The event took place about a week after Clemente Jr. called out the Pirates for mounting an ad near the right-field foul pole where his father’s No. 21 had been seen. The Pirates have since said they will restore the logo, and no mention of it was made Thursday.
Clemente got his first hit as a Pirate 70 years ago — on April 17, 1955 — at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.
“This date of my father’s first hit as a Pirate marks the beginning of a great relationship and love affair with the fans,” said Clemente Jr., who attended the unveiling with his wife and children.
The first Latin player to record 3,000 hits and the first Latino inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente died in a plane crash Dec. 31, 1972, delivering supplies to Nicaragua following an earthquake.
Clemente Jr. said many people know about Clemente the baseball player, but his real legacy, the one that continues to ripple across generations, is the story of Clemente the humanitarian.
“It was never just about the game,” said Clemente Jr., who threw out the honorary first pitch Thursday afternoon before the Pirates defeated the Washington Nationals, 1-0, at PNC Park. “It was about connecting, about love, about dignity, humility, leadership, compassion and an unwavering faith.
“I often say he was an angel who just happened to play baseball, and that angel’s mission continues through our family and the Roberto Clemente Foundation. Today, we gather on sacred ground. This moment … it means everything.”
The day included the unveiling of the locations of home plate, second base and the pitcher’s mound adjacent to Gold Lot 1A.
“These markers tell the tales of our past,” Pirates President Travis Williams said.
Former Pirates pitcher and former broadcaster Steve Blass said every great player probably has a great legacy, but “nobody, nobody has a legacy like Roberto Clemente.”
“What a beautiful day to commemorate all the things that happened here … the championships … the memories … the stuff you dream about,” Blass said. “I look at this place, and this is truly sacred ground.”
The second base marker is near another historic monument, the one that commemorates Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception.
“Think about two of the most iconic moments in the history of Pittsburgh sports — the Immaculate Reception and Roberto Clemente standing at second base after that double,” said Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown. “Clemente’s majestic royal pose, batting helmet in hand, acknowledging the crowd and conveying that sense of pride that he felt, that everyone felt at that remarkable achievement.”
“We are living in a time, society and culture where there are people who want to erase history,” said state Rep. Aerion Abney, D-Allegheny County. “Individuals across this region, people who probably never saw themselves as being advocates for anything, saw what happened at the stadium and fought for Roberto Clemente. That speaks a lot to his character.”