Fans tab Clemente as Hometown Hero

Hall of Famer is one Pittsburgh's most beloved athletes

By Ed Eagle / MLB.com
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com

• Clemente's career stats
• Pirates history
• Get a Clemente jersey

PITTSBURGH -- Roberto Clemente was a hero to millions, and one of Pittsburgh's most beloved athletes.

It's perhaps only fitting, then, that Clemente was selected as the greatest Pirates player of all time in the Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes promotion, presented by DHL.

After two months of balloting, it was announced Wednesday that Clemente had garnered more than 400,000 votes to top fellow Pirates Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Willie Stargell, Ralph Kiner and Bill Mazeroski in the voting.

In 19 big-league seasons, all with Pittsburgh, Clemente batted .317 with 240 home runs and 1,305 RBIs. He won four National League batting titles, earned 12 Gold Gloves for his tremendous defense in right field and was selected to 12 NL All-Star teams. Clemente was named the NL MVP in 1966 and the World Series MVP in 1971, when he rallied the Pirates' come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Clemente's accomplishments, however, go far beyond his contributions on the baseball diamond.
Just months after collecting his 3,000th and final career hit, Clemente's life was cut short prematurely when his plane, which was filled with relief aid for victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua, crashed shortly after takeoff on Dec. 31, 1972. Soon after his death, the normal five-year waiting period was waived and the native of Puerto Rico was honored as the first Latin American player to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

In honor of the contributions made by Clemente, Major League Baseball has presented an award in Clemente's name each year since 1972. The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who combines outstanding skills on the baseball field with devoted work in the community.

The Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes balloting lasted from July 18 through Sept. 17, during which time more than 17 million votes were cast. Fans were able to cast their ballots in all Major League ballparks, online at MLB.com, via cell phone and at any of the 1,600 participating DHL Authorized Shipping Centers around the country.

The winners from 10 teams were announced Tuesday and Wednesday nights on ESPN. The final 10 winners will be announced Friday night, also on ESPN.

Ed Eagle is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs