Res. No. 10
Resolution calling upon the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, to retire number 21 in recognition of Roberto Clemente, a great baseball player and humanitarian.
By Council Members Mark-Viverito, Arroyo, Barron, Brewer, Ferreras, James, Lander, Palma and Williams.
Whereas, Roberto Clemente was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on August 18, 1934, and was a legendary baseball figure, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972; and
Whereas, According to the Major League Baseball (MLB) organization, Roberto Clemente was an all-around superstar, winning four national batting titles and 12 Gold Gloves for fielding excellence, and was instrumental in the Pirates' victories in both the1960 and 1971 World Series; and
Whereas, Roberto Clemente was not only an exemplary baseball player, but was also a humanitarian, dedicating himself to improving the quality of life in the city of Pittsburgh, his native country of Puerto Rico, and communities throughout Latin America, through charitable activities and baseball clinics; and
Whereas, Roberto Clemente also served as a trailblazer for future Latino baseball players by advocating for the acceptance of Latinos in baseball, and, because of his efforts, he is credited with opening doors and breaking barriers for many Latino players; and
Whereas, One of Roberto Clemente's most notable humanitarian efforts was establishing, in 1972, the Roberto Clemente Sports City in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to help disadvantaged children develop athletic skills and to prevent drug abuse; and
Whereas, Roberto Clemente tragically died on New Year's Eve in 1972, in a plane crash on his way to deliver relief supplies to earthquake victims in Managua, Nicaragua; and
Whereas, Roberto Clemente was the first Latino inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, and various awards have been named in his honor to commemorate his contributions to baseball and humanitarianism; and
Whereas, Over 1 million people of Puerto Rican descent are living in New York State, of whom approximately 786,000 live in New York City ; and
Whereas, The New York State Department of Parks and Recreation honored Roberto Clemente by renaming a state park in the Bronx after the famed athlete and holding annual festivities in his name; and
Whereas, Several public schools in New York City have be renamed after Roberto Clemente in recognition of his importance to the Hispanic community in the City; and
Whereas, Many grassroots activists and baseball fans have lobbied the MLB to retire Roberto Clemente's uniform number from all teams, an honor given to date to only one baseball player, Jackie Robinson; and
Whereas, Organizations like Latino Sports and Hispanics Across America have launched campaigns to collect signatures in support of retiring Roberto Clemente's number 21, to be presented to the Commissioner of the MLB, Bud Selig; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, to retire number 21 in recognition of Roberto Clemente, a great baseball player and humanitarian.
RC
Res. No. 503/06
1/13/10