WHEREAS:
Sept. 30, 2022, marks the 50th anniversary of the 3,000th hit of Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente Walker; and
WHEREAS:
Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker (Aug. 18, 1934 - Dec. 31, 1972) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player. He played in the right field position and spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). Among Clemente’s many achievements in the major leagues is that he was part of the 1960 and 1971 World Series champion teams and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1971 Series. In 1966, he was named the most valuable player in the National League and was considered the best baseball player in 1967; and
WHEREAS:
On Sept. 30, 1972, Puerto Rican baseball player and star Roberto Clemente managed to join the exclusive baseball club with 3,000 hits or more, three months before his fateful plane crash, when he was on a trip to bring supplies to the country of Nicaragua that had gone through a natural disaster; and
WHEREAS:
The figure of Roberto Clemente has achieved the highest honors in Puerto Rico, the United States and Nicaragua that includes being a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Citizens in 1973, the Gold Medal of Congress in 1973 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003. In 1973, Roberto Clemente became the first Puerto Rican and Hispanic to be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Clemente reached 3,000 hits in his 18th season in the majors, all with the Pittsburgh Pirates; and
WHEREAS:
Although Roberto Clemente lived in an era where racial discrimination was widespread, he had great successes in sport, which represents a great contribution and triumph for Afrodescendants and Latin Americans.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
AFSCME members adopt this resolution with the purpose of supporting any resolutions of the federal, state or local governments or any mandate or order of Major League Baseball to retire the number 21 from the uniforms of all MLB teams in honor of Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente Walker; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
A copy of this resolution may be sent to MLB.
SUBMITTED BY:
Jose Ramirez, International Vice President
Puerto Rico