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ROBERTO CLEMENTE
August 18, 1934 - December 31, 1972

"AN MVP ON AND OFF THE FIELD"

   •Athlete
   •Humanitarian

Four-time Batting Champion, National League

Most Valuable Player (MVP), National League -- 1966

Twelve-time winner, Golden Glove for Fielding Proficiency

MVP, World Series -- 1971

Eleventh player to achive 3,000 hits in his major-league career

As a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, Roberto Clemente racked up a list of super statistics. But if that's all you know about him, you don't really know what makes Roberto Clemente a hero. It's more than MVP honors. It's the quality of his life and his giving.

Raised in a loving family, he learned important values as a child that would guide him for the rest of his life. Work hard. Do the very best you can. Be humble. Always care about others.

And Clemente did care about others. For many years, even after becoming one of baseball's great players, he would spend the off-season helping others with his time and energy as well as his money. When a terrible earthquake destroyed much of the city of Managua in the Central American country of Nicaragua, he wanted to help. He organized relief efforts to take food and medical supplies there. When he heard that supplies were being stolen and weren't reaching those who needed them, he was outraged. He decided to deliver the provisions personally, insisting, "They will not dare to steal from Roberto Clemente."

On New Year's Eve, he boarded a rickety old DC-7 cargo plane and took off on his mission. Moments after takeoff, the plane went down, killing everyone on board. Clemente's body was never found.

Days later, the Baseball Writers of America elected Roberto Clemnte to the Hall of Fame, waiving the requirement that a player must be retired for five years. What a tribute to his achievements on and off the playing field.

EXPLORE!

Only a few people can become MVPs in the sports world, but every one of us can be an MVP in life by helping other people like Roberto Clemente did. Read his Power Words. He's telling us to make things better in our world. Kind of makes you feel embarrassed if you don't do something, doesn't it?

We're not necessarily talking about finding a cure for cancer or filling a plane with supplies for the poor. We're talking about the little things you can do every day -- at school, at home, with your frinds, whatever. For example, when was the last time you did an extra chore at home without being asked? Without complaining? Check your conscience. Look around you at school. Any way to make things better there?

What you do to "make thiings better" is up to you. You might collect food for a food bank... teach your little brother how to tie his shoes... play checkers with the old man who lives next door... empty the dishwasher... send a card to your grandmother... you can figure it out!

Need a little inspiration? Read Clemente's biography, or visit the official Roberto Clemente web site at: www.robertoclemente21.com. Find out about the Roberto Clemente Foundation, which funds recreational and educational programs for inner-city kids in Pittsburgh. Read about Roberto Clemente Sports City in Puerto Rico, where children play sports and take part in other activities. Make the time. Make the commitment. Make it happen.