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Puerto Rican Migration to the US
An article celebrating the achievements of Puerto Rican baseball star Roberto Clemente, May 28, 1960.

An article celebrating the achievements of Puerto Rican baseball star Roberto Clemente, May 28, 1960.

Roberto Clemente was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where he began playing baseball professionally at age 17. In 1955, Clemente signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for the next seventeen years.

Transcript:

Pittsburgh Pirates' Sensation Roberto Clemente Is Often Compared With Willie Mays

By RUDY CERNKOVICPITTSBURGH —(UPI)

—Roberto Clemente is often compared with Willie Mays, but the Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder insists he has developed his own style. "Many people tell me I wanna play like Weelie," the excitable Roberto said. "I no play like Mays. From little boy up I always play like thees. I always wanna run fast, to throw long and heet far."

The Puerto Rican native, who learned to play baseball by swatting a tennis ball with a broomstick, is one of the most exciting players in the game today.

Clemente was waiting to take his turn at batting practice at Forbes Field Friday night when Mays strolled by.

PLAYERS TALK

"Hiya, Chico," Mays greeted Clemente.

"I feel good," Weelie," he replied.

Someone asked Mays what he though of Clemente. Willie grinned. "Watta ya want me to say, man, that he's not good? He sure is good."

Giant manager Bill Rigney was polled next.

"Clemente is terrific," he said. Did Rigney think Clemente could Willie?

"Nobody compares with Willie," Rigney replied.

CLEMENTE DISPLACES MAYS

Mayes came into Pittsburgh as the National League batting leader Friday night, but a couple of hours later he was displaced by Clemente, whose two-out single in the 12th gave Pittsburgh a 5-4 victory.

Sunday, Clemente scored a run on Hal Smith's bases-loaded single in the 11th to make Pittsburgh an 8-7 winner.

Mays got only one single in 13 times at bat during the three game series while Clemente went 7 for 15 and now paces the majors with an average of .382, His 34 runs-bat- ted-in are also tops in both loops. Clemente" was a track and Held stars in high school, excelling in the javelin throw, and the hop- skip-jump event.

AIMED FOR OLYMPICS

"I only 17 when I throw javelin 185 feet," Robert said proudly. "I was pretty fast in 440 too and I think I make Olympics someday. Clemente's skill with the javelin probably accounts for one of the best throwing arms in baseball. . . ..Against the Cardinals last week Clemente threw from deep right field to Dick Groat, who tagged out Ken Boyer sliding into second. "I just keep marvelling at Ro- berto's great arm and his speed," Groat said.

Roughly translated, Clemente's surname means clemency or mercy. But Roberto does not show that virtue when he is at the plate and on the basepaths.

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Citation Information
“Memphis World: Pittsburgh Pirates' Sensation Roberto Clemente Is Often Compared With Willie Mays,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/29f94f05a27aa2c1c3b06d8cc103437a.
Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.
Courtesy of Rhodes College Crossroads to Freedom via Tennessee Digital Library.

Tips for Students

For this source, consider:

  • the author's point of view
  • the author's purpose
  • historical context
  • audience

Item 15 of 15 in the Primary Source Set Puerto Rican Migration to the US

Previous Item
A map of Puerto Rico, including graphics about agriculture and economy, from World Geo-Graphic Atlas, 1953.
An airline map of the United States and Puerto Rico showing principal non-stop routes, 1965.
A photograph of Luis Muñoz Marín, governor of Puerto Rico from 1949 to 1965, speaking at the Governors Conference in San Juan, 1959.
A report titled Puerto Rican Farm Workers in Florida, published by the US Department of Labor in 1954.
A statement, “The Puerto Rican Farm Labor Program,” delivered by Clarence Senior before the National Advisory Committee on Farm Labor, 1959.
A photograph of Puerto Rican girls, New York City, 1950s-1960s.
Excerpts from a 1956 report by the New York City Board of Education, “Who are the Puerto Rican pupils in the New York City public schools?”.
A 1964 article from Memphis World titled “Number of Non-Whites in NYC Colleges Told.”
A 1962 article from Memphis World titled “Union policies restrict minority earning.”
A postcard from 1986 depicting Lolita Lebrón escorted from the US Capitol after opening fire from the House of Representatives gallery.
A poster of “Lolita Lebrón, Puerto Rican Freedom Fighter” by Marcos Dimas, 1971.
A photograph of the actress Rita Moreno performing “America” in the 1961 film production of West Side Story.
A set of timbales belonging to Tito Puente, a Puerto Rican musician from New York City who popularized Latin jazz, mambo, and salsa, 1990s.
A photograph of Tito Puente and Felipe Luciano, ca. 1970s.
An article celebrating the achievements of Puerto Rican baseball star Roberto Clemente, May 28, 1960.

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