I am a huge Clemente fan but I wanted to here some stories from you older guys.
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spent a lot of time in my youth at connie mack stadium. I saw all the legends clemente being one. Could run throw his arm was exceptional and hit. Mays Banks Aaron Richie Allen. Saw Koufax pitch a no hitter. Never saw a curve ball like that and still dont. well i am showing my age better sign off.
Baseballbum,
As a young kid - I practically lived at Shea Stadium. I got to see Roberto Clemente many mnay times - and to me - he was the most exciting baseball player I had ever seen.
A cannon for an arm - and when he ran the bases - he looked like the Tasmanian devil.
A side note - my eldest son had the priveledge of being on the Roberto Clemente All-Stars - and playing throughout Puerto Rico for two summers.
In fact - one of his teammates was Andrew McCutcheon (a high draft pick this last year).
Frequently - Vera Clemente (and her sons) would be at the games. A wonderful family that carries on - to this day - the tradition of a great player - and a great man.
IMO - He was really something special.
As a young kid - I practically lived at Shea Stadium. I got to see Roberto Clemente many mnay times - and to me - he was the most exciting baseball player I had ever seen.
A cannon for an arm - and when he ran the bases - he looked like the Tasmanian devil.
A side note - my eldest son had the priveledge of being on the Roberto Clemente All-Stars - and playing throughout Puerto Rico for two summers.
In fact - one of his teammates was Andrew McCutcheon (a high draft pick this last year).
Frequently - Vera Clemente (and her sons) would be at the games. A wonderful family that carries on - to this day - the tradition of a great player - and a great man.
IMO - He was really something special.
Baseballbum;
In 1964 in the locker room at Dodger Stadium, Billy O'Dell, a Pirate LHP and a personal friend introduced me to Roberto.
He was the "most perfect" physical profile of an athlete. Waist 32", shoulders fit into size 46 jacket, long arms almost to the knees
and the "eyes" which could count the stitches on a 90 mph fast ball.
In 1955, I played in an exhibition game against Mays, Banks, Aaron, however the brief meeting with Roberto in the Pirates locker room, I will never forget.
Bob Williams
In 1964 in the locker room at Dodger Stadium, Billy O'Dell, a Pirate LHP and a personal friend introduced me to Roberto.
He was the "most perfect" physical profile of an athlete. Waist 32", shoulders fit into size 46 jacket, long arms almost to the knees
and the "eyes" which could count the stitches on a 90 mph fast ball.
In 1955, I played in an exhibition game against Mays, Banks, Aaron, however the brief meeting with Roberto in the Pirates locker room, I will never forget.
Bob Williams
I have Willie and Roberto at the top of my ALL TIME favorites
Not only two of the best to play the game but along with Jackie Robinson probably the three most exciting players to ever play the game--talk about 5 tool players
Not only two of the best to play the game but along with Jackie Robinson probably the three most exciting players to ever play the game--talk about 5 tool players
I used to go to Milwaukee County stadium to watch the Braves with my grandpa in the mid-60's. I now wish I was just a little more cognizant of their place in the history, in order to appreciate that era of ballplayers.
While we had Aaron, Clemente, Mays, Kofax, and others to idolize, my sons generation has Sosa, Palarmo, McGuirre, and their crew.
What end of the stick would you rather hold?
In my mind the '62 or '63 "Bob" Clemente card still ranks as the one of the best cards of all time when defining "the look" of a ballplayer. There's a lot of sincere passion for the game in those eyes
While we had Aaron, Clemente, Mays, Kofax, and others to idolize, my sons generation has Sosa, Palarmo, McGuirre, and their crew.
What end of the stick would you rather hold?
In my mind the '62 or '63 "Bob" Clemente card still ranks as the one of the best cards of all time when defining "the look" of a ballplayer. There's a lot of sincere passion for the game in those eyes
IITG - I like your reference to Tas - I was thinking Whirling Dervish.
Man!! He was all arms and legs flailing - going every which way, and like a runaway freight train - that was a perfect clip they showed the other night of him running the bases. I think if I was playing 3rd and he was coming around second, with all that body action, I would have messed my drawers - He certainly let it all hang out!!
Man!! He was all arms and legs flailing - going every which way, and like a runaway freight train - that was a perfect clip they showed the other night of him running the bases. I think if I was playing 3rd and he was coming around second, with all that body action, I would have messed my drawers - He certainly let it all hang out!!
I fell in love with Roberto in the 1971 World Series when I was 11 years old. Someone please confirm this for me, but I believe he picked up a ball at the fence in right center and through a guy out at the plate on the fly in that series. Even as a kid you could tell he could do things that other players could not. He had tremendous baseball charisma as many of the great stars do.
The Mick, Willie and Roberto were a thrill to watch in person or on TV.
Yaz and Kaline were everyman...they didn't have the special skills of the fellow's listed above, but their work ethic put them only 1 rung below.
Yaz and Kaline were everyman...they didn't have the special skills of the fellow's listed above, but their work ethic put them only 1 rung below.
Grew up in Pittsburgh and had the opportunity to go to the old Forbes Field games with the local YMCA .. 50 cents to get in to the "knot hole" games.
Clemente was there but unfortunately I was just too young and baseball ignorant to understand who I was seeing in person.
Clemente was there but unfortunately I was just too young and baseball ignorant to understand who I was seeing in person.
I grew up not far from Pittsburg and remember going to Forbes Field at least twice a month with my grandfather. I can still remember the smell of the grass coming up the ramp. Roberto was one of a kind and had an absolute hose for an harm.
O42
O42
Yep. Watched him in the Dome (Astrodome that is).
Liked Joe Morgan MUCH better as a player than as a commentator.
Koufax & Drysdale were favorites.
Liked Joe Morgan MUCH better as a player than as a commentator.
Koufax & Drysdale were favorites.
My Moms side was from Pittsburg (Carnegie)and during the summer we always spent a week or two down there with the family. When Three Rivers stadium was new that was a big deal and my cousins and I would always argue who was a better ball player Al Kaline or Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargel was alos a force to be reckened with.
I can remember watching Clementes arm in right field. That was rea;lly impressive to a young kid from Detroit.
I can remember watching Clementes arm in right field. That was rea;lly impressive to a young kid from Detroit.
I lived within walking distance of Milwaukee County Stadium and a bunch of us would go to games regularly (Bleachers for 50 cents).
Got to see a lot of the greats from that era, only we were too young to realize the significance is what we were seeing.
We were also too young to realize that just a few short years earlier it was an all white league.
Got to see a lot of the greats from that era, only we were too young to realize the significance is what we were seeing.
We were also too young to realize that just a few short years earlier it was an all white league.
I did not have the luxury of being close to the MLB fields but I will still take my experiences anytime. Back in the semi-pro days I had the pleasure of being around a player that later made it into Chicago as a Cubs pitcher and team mate of Ferguson Jenkins and thirty years later I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Mr. Jenkins in a store and talking to him about Ray Burris. I have had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Jenkins on several occassions since then and each time is as memorable as the first. By the way I recall him being a pretty decent pitcher.
bbscout ....
Thanks ... just wish it were longer. Looking at it in slow motion, watching his front foot, etc, am wondering if he read all the books and checked out all the batting gurus before he started to play ...
Thanks ... just wish it were longer. Looking at it in slow motion, watching his front foot, etc, am wondering if he read all the books and checked out all the batting gurus before he started to play ...