I think it should because he is one of the greats. And is one of baseballs hero's. (not to take away anything from Jackie
2006-12-03 13:00:31 · 10 answers · asked by Mr. E 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Thats a tough one. Roberto not only was a great player, but a great humaitarian as well. One argument is that he was to Latin American players what Jackie Robinson was to African American players. Clemente helped bridge the gap between himself and his white teammates, and helped many latin american players understand that they didnt have to fear coming to America to play baseball. I recently read the Clemente biography by David Maraniss ( a GREAT read, by the way) and I learned a lot more about how Roberto dealt with the problems he faced when he first came to the Major leagues. I think that what he did for civil rights is sometimes overlooked. While he wasnt the first latin american to play major league baseball, he might be the most influential. The name Roberto Clemente is still revered by Pirate fans and baseball fans alike, and I think it would be a deserving honor if the number 21 was retired throughout the league.
2006-12-04 00:13:45 · answer #1 · answered by Xax Haus 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely not.
A lot of players were great, and a lot have died in tragic circumstance. This is not grounds to retire his number from every major league team.
Jackie Robinson's number was retired not because he was a great player (which he was), but because he made an impact on America and society as a whole that can NEVER be duplicated. He is an example of bravery and class that no one before or since has ever lived up to in any professional sport.
Roberto Clemente was a great player, and died in an attempt to do a noble deed, but his life should in no way be looked upon as equal to the life that Jackie Robinson led.
2006-12-04 00:59:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
some years in the past, somebody proposed the belief of retiring Jackie Robinson's huge style, with the execption of a million participant. That participant may well be chosen by employing followers, gamers, Writers, to positioned on Robinson's huge style as a living tribute to Jackie. He might encompass all of Robinson's characteristics/characteristics, and wearing the huge style may well be an honor. the belief did no longer bypass by using, yet i'm keen to point the comparable concept for Clemente's huge style. only a million participant in the full league wearing that a million huge style, very effective photograph.
2016-10-13 23:00:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no that whole idea is just rediculous.no disrespect intended but it was only done for jackie robinson as a way for baseball to get some positive press with the african american population.each team should decide for itself what numbers should be retired.clemente was a great player so the pirates should be the only ones with that right.
2006-12-04 03:13:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No he was great ballplayer but so was Ruth .Do you want to retire # 3 ?You claim he was a hero What did he actually do that was heroic ? As a rule athletes actually do not perform heroic deeds .An heroic deed by it's very definition requires the very significant possibility of getting killed while in the act of doing performing it. Fireman peform heroic deeds. Police officers perform heroic deeeds. Athtletes do not.
An everyday act like flying on a commercial aircraft , however noble the reason, doesn't qualify as an heroic deed.
Why not retire Ted Williams number who flew in combat in Korea or Yogi Berra's who served on an LST during the Normandy invasion or the countless other members of MLB who put themselves in harms way for their country ?
Was Clemente a great ballplayer ? Was he a hero? No
2006-12-03 16:28:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't think so. Let's not be retiring numbers left and right - Jackie's stands for a monumental breakthrough in not only sports in America, but society.
Roberto was a great player but no.
2006-12-03 19:45:26 · answer #6 · answered by iwasnotanazipolka 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes he should be. He was a true team leader. He should be voted in because of his leadership and his stats. Not because he was the greatest player from his country or because he was a great humanitarian. Which he was.
2006-12-04 04:48:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It should. He was a great player and loved his country more then anything.
2006-12-03 13:14:04 · answer #8 · answered by MOSS 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I'll just second what Bill said above me. He said exactly what I was thinking.
2006-12-04 02:46:01 · answer #9 · answered by Craig S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think his number should be b/c he was a great player off and on the field and a amzing person so i think his # should be retired
2006-12-03 13:59:47 · answer #10 · answered by Janet ♥(YFFL) 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋