2007-04-20 04:48:37 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Roberto Clemente.
2007-04-20 04:50:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It has already been answered, but the player to finish his career w/ exactly 3000 hits is the great Roberto Clemente. He was an amazing five tool player, but added something extra to his game with his unparalled arm. Read any account of his World Series performances and you'll see he is possibly the greatest World Series player ever. He might not have the power numbers of some of his contemporaries, but Forbes Field is also one cavernous ballpark. Pops Stargell probably would have had 500 homeruns had he not had to play in Forbes for part of his career. Hammerin Hank has said that Roberto had a tougher time with bigotry because he had two strikes against him; black and hispanic. Clemente was the first hispanic in the HoF, and is also the only player other than Lou Gehrig to be inducted without the waiting period. Not bad company to be in.
But what REALLY made 21 special was his humanitarianism. It's tragic that he died how he did, but I think he is one of the few people who ever got to die doing what he loved: helping others.
2007-04-20 05:26:21 · answer #2 · answered by Jimi L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roberto Clemente
2007-04-20 07:20:32 · answer #3 · answered by BigSnake 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roberto Clemente
2007-04-20 04:51:47 · answer #4 · answered by WolverLini 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Roberto Clemente
2007-04-20 04:51:38 · answer #5 · answered by Quiet Storm 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He didn't retire. He was killed in a plane crash, December 31, 1972, while taking emergency supplies to Nicaragua after a bad earthquake just before Christmas .
His 3000 hits, in addition to his overall excellent play, would have put him in the HOF 5 years after he retired. But he didn't get the chance to retire. The HOF changed their rules to acknowledge this, and now, if an active player dies, they are on the first ballot following their untimely death. That's how he was inducted to the HOF in 1973. Yes, that was a rule change. Lou Gehrig was inducted in 1939, 2 years before his death, but in the infancy of the HOF, when they were honouring the best former players.
Roberto Clemente
2007-04-20 06:26:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roberto Clemente died after reaching 3,000 hits. More amazing is the fact that Sam Rice actually retired in 1935 with 2,987 hits. Can you imagine anyone doing that today?
2007-04-20 05:13:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer you're looking for is Roberto Clemente but he never retired - he had indicated that he intended to play the following year but died in the off-season.
2007-04-20 05:05:28 · answer #8 · answered by JerH1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Roberto Clemente! Best right fielder in the history of the game! Cannon for a arm!
2007-04-20 09:56:56 · answer #9 · answered by G.W. loves winter! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roberto didnt retire....he passed on. But Ithink Clemente is the answer your looking for. One of the greatest.
2007-04-20 04:52:04 · answer #10 · answered by caddy79_lover 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋