Roberto Clemente was more than just one of the best baseball players—he was a humanitarian, an icon of Puerto Rican pride, and a principled man who had a far-reaching impact long before his precious time on this earth came to an end. Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico in 1934, Clemente displayed his athleticism early in his life.

His professional baseball career took off when he began (in his native Puerto Rico) playing for the Santurce Crabbers at the age of 17. By 1955, Clemente's talent was unstoppable, and he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and played during the 1955 season in Major League Baseball (MLB). During the next 18 years, Clemente developed a Hall of Fame career with a lifetime batting average of .317, 3,000 hits, 15 All-Star appearances, 12 Golden Gloves, and two World Series wins.

While these accomplishments would certainly define any athlete's career, what I believe makes Clemente unique is his extreme pride his heritage, and his unapologetic craving for justice. At a time when Latin American and Black players were facing racism and lacked representation in the big leagues, Clemente wanted to be treated with dignity. He did his interviews in Spanish, and challenged journalists by asking them to pronounce his name correctly, while using his platform as an athlete to give back to the disenfranchised communities he belonged to.

Tragically, Clemente died on December 31, 1972 when a plane he boarded to deliver relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua crashed into the ocean off the coast of Puerto Rico, once the plane weighed too much to fly. While his body was never discovered, his spirit lives on through fans that wear jersey #21 or athletes that speak out on behalf of others for justice. Every September 15, MLB honors Clemente with Roberto Clemente Day. His legacy serves as a reminder that