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Roberto Clemente

171 quotes

• “Everybody started cheering but I didn't know why. I didn't know what was going on until I looked at the scoreboard and saw the message. When I singled in the first inning, the second base umpire told me, "If you get another hit it looks like I'll have to give you the ball." I wondered what he was talking about. I have so much bad press in Pittsburgh. Whatever I have done, I have done myself, and with the help of the fans. When somebody like Richie Hebner hits a home run, the press gives him a big build-up. All they say about me is that I am hard-headed and don't get along with anybody.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Clemente Ties Wagner; Heads Toward 3,000 Hits", in Jet (September 21, 1972)

• “First base is not for me. I think a man shortens his career there instead of prolonging it. I keep my legs in good shape by running back and forth from the outfield to the dugout.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Sidelight on Sports: Conversation Pieces" by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Friday, September 29, 1972), p. 18

• “I dedicate this hit to the fans in Pittsburgh. They have been wonderful. And to the people back in Puerto Rico, but especially to the fellow who pushed me to play baseball, Roberto Marin. He made me play. He carried me around looking for the man to sign me. [...] I dedicate that hit to the person I owe most to in professional baseball, Roberto Marin.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speaking with reporters, and later on the radio, about his 3,000th hit; as quoted, respectively, in "Roberto Gets 3,000th, Will Rest Till Playoffs" by Bob Smizik, in The Pittsburgh Press (Sunday, October 1, 1972), p. D-…

• “No, no. Bill should play two or three more years. Talk to him. Tell him he can get in shape. I know he can play better second base than anybody. He is two years younger than I am. He is the greatest second baseman of all time, a real super star. But people forget too fast what he has done for the Pirates. Nobody I ever saw could field with him. He won the World Series with his home run against the Yankees. I don't like to see him retire.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Sidelights on Sports: Monday Morning's Sports Wash" by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Monday, October 2, 1972), p. 24

• “My body is old and tired, but I'll bounce back. I think Mazeroski can do the same if he takes off a few pounds and gives them to me. I need them.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: On being informed that Mazeroski had claimed he wouldn't be retiring if he had Clemente's body; as quoted in "Sidelights on Sports: Monday Morning's Sports Wash" by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Monday, Oct…

• “Willie Mays is the greatest ball player I've ever seen. I never saw Joe DiMaggio play, but if Joe DiMaggio was better than Willie Mays, he belongs in Heaven.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "For Clemente After 3,000ː Saturday Cheers Linger" by Charley Feeney, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Monday, October 2, 1972), p. 24

• “The American League must be that fountain of youth they talk about. A lot of National League pitchers did pretty good in the American League this year.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "D.C. Money Will Talk" by Bob Addie, in The Washington Post (Wednesday, October 11, 1972), p. D4

• “When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a baseball player. This is something I think about. The more I think about it, I'm convinced that God wanted me to play baseball.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: From A Conversation with Clemente, hosted by Sam Nover (aired October 8, 1972 on WIIC-TV in Pittsburgh); reproduced in Roberto Clemente: A Video Tribute (1973)

• “The first hero that I have … I would say was Monte Irvin, when I was a kid. And I used to watch Monte Irvin play when I was a kid – I idolized him. I used to wait in front of the ballpark just for him to pass by so I could see him.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: From A Conversation with Clemente (aired October 8, 1972); this and other excerpts were reproduced in Roberto Clemente: The Great One (1998) by Bruce Markusen, p. 5

• “I was too aggressive. I should not have been so foolish. I am a craftsman in baseball. I look like rookie.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speaking after the 1972 NLCS, as quoted in "Puerto Rico Has Lost a Hero" by Bob Addie, in The Washington Post (Tuesday, January 2, 1973), p. D2

• “I tell you, I'd be lucky to hit .280 in New York. There are too many people in New York, and if you don't want to be a bad guy, you must go to all the dinners and meetings. How could I concentrate on baseball? I have so many good friends in New York that it is hard to turn them down. But it is that way every place on the road. I tell the hotel that I will not be disturb,[sic] but people find me anyway.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speaking after the 1972 NLCS, as quoted in "Puerto Rico Has Lost a Hero

• “It's a shame he couldn't play in the majors due to the color barrier. I've always insisted Pancho would have been one of the best ever.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) said by 1972 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Pancho Coimbre Atiles", from Puerto Rico's Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball's Launching Pad (2004) by Thomas E. Van Hyning, p. 78

• “My name eet is Roberto Enricque Clemente Walker. I no use Enricque—spell him E–n–r–i–c–q–u–e —and I no use Walker. Him make too long for name. Just Roberto Clemente, thas all. This Enricque is middle name. Walker eet is my mother's name. In Puerto Rico, people she use father's and mother's name. I use Roberto Clemente in thees country.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1955 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Sidelight on Sports: A Baseball Star is Born" by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (June 7, 1955), p. 20

• “Roberto Clemente doesn't care too much for New York. Says there are too many people and everybody is in too much of a hurry. He had one ride on the subway with Felipe Montemayor as his guide and they got lost.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1955 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As paraphrased in "The Scoreboard: Thursday" by Les Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (Saturday, June 11, 1955), p. 6

• “Roberto's nickname of "Momen" comes from his cousin "For no reason.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1956 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As paraphrased and quoted in "Pittsburgh Pirate Personalities: Outfielder Roberto Clemente," The Daily Republican. April 9, 1956, p. 2

• “Som' co-lored people I understand saying "Clemente, he do not like co-lored people." This is not the truth at all. Look at me. Look at my skin. I am not of the white people. I hav' color the skin. That is the first theeing I straighten out. I like all the people, both co-lored and white; and since I am co-lored myself, I would be seely hate myself. Thees' people tell me I don't like colored people. Well, I use this time to tell deeferent. I like myself, so I also like the people who are like me.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted by Bill Nunn, Jr. in the New Pittsburgh Courier (June 25, 1960); reproduced in Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero (2006) by David Maraniss, p. 97

• “In Canada they no have much segregation. But one day I am signing autographs and talking to white man and his wife outside park, and this other man say, "You not supposed to talk to white woman." I say, "No, I talk to the one I want. I talk to my friends. You believe in that stuff if you want. I don't do it.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "The Man in the Pirate Uniform: Clemente is Spectacular" by Myron Cope, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Tuesday, August 23, 1960), p. 29

• “Sometimes people stop me in the street and ask me eef I am Harry Belafonte. When I say no, they get mad and walk away.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Clemente Keeps Them On Their Toes" by Larry Klein, in Sport (October 1960), p. 96

• “The first thing the average white Latin American player does when he comes to the States is associate with other whites. He doesn't want to be seen with Latin Negroes, even from his own country, because he's afraid people might think he's colored.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1964 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in “Roberto Clementeː Pounder from Puerto Rico” by John Devaney, in Baseball Stars of 1964 (1964), edited by Ray Robinson, p. 150

• “The more sleep and rest you get, the prettier you become. Like me.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1965 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted by in "Roberto Clemente: Bucs' Houdini" by Arnold Hano, in Baseball Stars of 1965 (March 1965), edited by Ray Robinson, p. 40

• “I like to work with kids. I'd like to work with kids all the time, if I live long enough.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1966 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Aches and Pains and Three Batting Titles" by Myron Cope, in Sports Illustrated (March 7, 1966), p. 40

• “I learned the right way to live from my parents. I never heard any hate in my house. I never heard my father say a mean word to my mother, or my mother to my father, either. During the war, when food was hard to get, my parents fed their children first and they ate what was left. They always thought of us.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1966 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Clemente, 32, Pays Tribute to Parents" by Les Biederman, in The Sporting News (September 3, 1966), p. 12

• “I owe a lot to the opportunities I have had. I think we have a great country, and the day that all people of all races have equal opportunity to be useful to their community, we're going to have a better country.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Tech, Pirates Share Man of Year Honors; Jaycees Cite Carnegie Chief Dr. Stever, Give Clemente Sports, Lawrence Awards" by Robert Johnson, in The Pittsburgh Press (Tuesday, January 24, 1967), p. 20

• “I'm no fighter. Besides, Willie is too big. And he is a real nice man. All those big fellows—Ted Kluszewski, Gil Hodges, Frank Howard—they're nice fellows. I saw Howard get mad only once. He picked up an umpire by his ears and held him like a puppy!”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Responding to a fellow diner's tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Clemente turn to boxing, with teammate Willie Stargell as his first opponent; as quoted in "Sidelights on Sports: Whirl Around the World of Sports" by Al Ab…

• “Everything is so new in Puerto Rico. I wanted to build something the way Puerto Rico started, something from the old land.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Discussing his recently opened restaurant, El Carretero (roughly translated as "one who leads the ox-drawn cart"), as quoted in "Roberto Clemente Baseball's Brightest Superstar" by Arnold Hano, in Boy's Life (March 1968…

• “There was no use for me to say yes because I am not a politician. Say, for example, I was elected and a situation came up where I was told I had to compromise. I could never do that; I can't compromise.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1969 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Roberto Clemente for Mayor?" by Milton Richman, in The New Castle News (Tuesday, July 8, 1969), p. 17

• “I've had two lives: the first one when I was born in Puerto Rico in 1935 [sic] and the second when I came to Pittsburgh to play baseball in 1955. I have been very lucky and I feel gifted to be able to play well.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Addressing fans at Three Rivers Stadium on Roberto Clemente Day, as quoted in "Pirates, Puerto Rico Pay Clemente Honors" by Vito Stellino (UPI), in The El Paso Herald-Post (July 25, 1970)

• “A lot of my countrymen are here tonight, and I don't really know whether I love you more or them more, but I do know this: you people in Pittsburgh are the greatest fans in the world!”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Addressing fans at Three Rivers Stadium on Roberto Clemente Day, as quoted in "Bear-ly Speaking: World's Greatest Fans Thanked by Clemente" by Sam 'Bear' Bechtel, in The Indiana Gazette (July 25, 1970)

• “I have had two lives: when I was born in Puerto Rico in 1935 [sic] and when I came to play baseball in Pittsburgh in 1955. I have two loves: my family – my mother, my father and my wife and three sons – and my fans.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Addressing reporters at post-game press conference on Roberto Clemente Day, as quoted in "Roberto Clemente's a Man of 2 Lives ... and 2 Loves" by the Associated Press, in The Sarasota Herald-Tribune (July 26, 1970)

• “We are on the field doing what we love to do. They have to work in the mill or other places eight hours a day, and work much harder than us and they pay their way in.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Explaining to reporters why it's the players who should pay the fans, and not vice versa; at post-game press conference on Roberto Clemente Day, as quoted in "Roberto Clemente's a Man of 2 Lives ... and 2 Loves" by the …

• “I really don't know if I cried. If I did, it was tears not of pain, but of the sentiments my people are made of.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Addressing reporters at post-game press conference on Roberto Clemente Day, as quoted in "Roberto Clemente's a Man of 2 Lives ... and 2 Loves" by the Associated Press, in The Sarasota Herald-Tribune (July 26, 1970)

• “I am a very proud person. Baseball has helped send my brothers and nephews to school. But more than that, baseball has become my whole life. Accomplishment is something you cannot buy. If you have a chance and don’t make the most of it, you are wasting your time on this earth. It is not what you do in baseball or sports, but how hard you try. Win or lose, I try my best.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Clemente's oft-cited "wasting your time on this earth" admonition, but in a context quite distinct from that of its ubiquitous counterpart (which is likewise contained in this speech—see below); from the opening of his …

• “We must all live together and work together no matter what race or nationality. If you have an opportunity to accomplish something that will make things better for someone coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Another excerpt from the Tris Speaker speech – featuring a much more familiar version of the "wasting your time" warning – as quoted in "Standing Cheer for Roberto" by Houston Chronicle sportswriter John Wilson, in The …

• “Anytime I feel something is wrong I'm gonna say something. Baseball has changed in many ways since I first came to the big leagues. Ballplayers feel they can speak up much more now than they did then. I spoke up even then. [...] I didn't like some of the things the white players said to Roberts so I said some things to them that they didn't like.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Sports Parade" by Milton Richman, in The Hendersonville Times-News (Wednesday, April 21, 1971), p. 9

• “When I came here, you seldom saw a black player get together with a white player and go someplace together after a ball game. Now it is more common. Yes, there has been improvement but some things still remain the way they were. I cannot, for example, go up to a white player and say to him, "Are you for real?" or "Are you concerned with me at all?" But now, once in a while, they will come to you and ask you about it. They don't turn their backs on you like they used to.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) said by 1972 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “My greatest satisfaction comes from helping to erase the old opinion about Latin American and black ballplayers. People had the wrong opinion. They never questioned our ability but they considered us inferior in our station of life. Simply because many of us were poor, we were thought to be low class. Even our integrity was questioned. I don't blame the fans for that; I blame the writers. They made it look like we were something different entirely from the white players. We're not. We're the same.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) said by 1972 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “Quien Soy? (Who Am I?)I am a small point in the eye of the full moon. I only need one ray of the sun to warm my face. I need only one breeze from the Alisios to refresh my soul. What else can I ask if I know that my sons love really love me?.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Written on Father's Day at Three Rivers Stadium, 1971 or 1972, reproduced in "A Rematch With the Machine" from Roberto Clemente: The Great One (1998) by Bruce Markusen, p. 302

• “I would like to be remembered as a player who gave all he had to give. I am no idol, but America needs idols. And don't talk 'Latin America' to me because I was born in Puerto Rico and that is America.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) said by 1972 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “I had a couple of endorsements but they never came to nothing. I don't want any. I don't need them. If the people who give them don't think Latins are good enough, I don't think they are good enough. The hell with them. I make endorsements in Spanish countries, and give the money to charity.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Nobody Does Anything Better Than Me in Baseball,' Says Roberto Clemente....Well, He's Right," by Roy Blount, Jr. (as C.R. Ways), in The New York Times Magazine (April 9, 1972), p. 42; reprinted as "Clement…

• “They call my people 'Spics' in New York. These are poor people struggling to make a living and should be treated like people and not animals.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Interviewed in September 1972, as quoted in "Clemente Legend Growing" by Bob Addie, in The Washington Post (Wednesday, May 23, 1973), p. E5

• “I felt kind of bashful when the fans cheered. I'm a very quiet, shy person, although you writers might not believe it because I shout sometimes.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speaking with reporters on October 1, recalling the previous day's fan response to his 3,000th hit; as quoted in "Saturday Cheers Linger (For Clemente After 3,000)" by Charley Feeney, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Oct…

• “I sent eleven people there. All of them have families in Puerto Rico. The least I can do is be with them tonight.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speaking on New Year's Eve, 1972; as quoted by Ruth Fernández in Clemente! (1973) by Kal Wagenheim, p. 242

• “Four years ago he was playing amateur softball in Puerto Rico. "I peetch and play shortstop," he said of his early days. "I no play outfield until pro ball." Roberto turned pro in 1952 with Santurce and last year played winter ball for that team with Willie Mays. Herman Franks, Giant coach, was the manager. "Wee-lee May and Herm Frank help me," he answered when I asked him if he had been given special instruction in the game by anyone. "May show me how to field and throw," he added. Did Mays or anyone show him how to hit? "No," he replied, pride in his voice. "I learn to heet myself. Nobody show me.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1955 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As paraphrased and quoted in "Sidelight on Sports: A Baseball Star is Born" by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Tuesday, June 7, 1955), p. 20

• “No, I don't learn the basket catch from Mays," Roberto protested in his marked Puerto Rican accent. "It was Luis Olmo and Herman Franks who teach me when I in Dodger chain. That back in 1954 Winter league. Before that, I miss fly ball many time 'cause I try to catch too high. But now no drop one ball since I use basket catch." Clemente said Olmo and Franks instructed him to catch the ball about chest high instead of holding his hands outstretched. Later, he said, It became more natural for him to drop his hands even lower, below his waistline. "It work good for me and I juss keep doing it," he said. "It make it more easy for me to throw too, after I make catch.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1957 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted and paraphrased in "Perfect Record With 'Basket Catch' Says Bob Clemente" by John Carroll (UP), in The Connellsville Daily Courier (Tuesday, May 7, 1957), p. 8

• “You all wrong. You try to hit home run every time but you no can do. No man can do. I wish you try to hit ball like you did when you joined team last July. Then you just try to meet ball because you want to make good showing after coming from minors. You swing easy and ball goes into centerfield seats. Next day, you swing easy again and ball goes over left field wall. Now you swing too hard. Try to hit home run every swing. You wrong. You have no timing, you miss ball. Please, for me, just try to meet ball when we open season. You have so much power, you just meet ball and whoosh—it goes over fence. Stu, with my brains, if I have your power, I make $200,000 in baseball.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1959 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Advice given to teammate Dick Stuart on April 7, 1959, as quoted in "The Scoreboard: Meet Ball, Homers Will Come, Clemente Assures Stuart" by Les Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (Wednesday, April 8, 1959), p. 43

• “The Yankees aren't going to frighten this club. Except for power, we are a better all-round club than the Yankees and this is going to pay off in a world championship for Pittsburgh in six games." Clemente [...] isn't worried about the Pirates being affected by Series jitters. "We don't have that kind of a club. We've been a relaxed team all season and I expect us to be the same in the Series. Pressure didn't get us down during the National League race. We fought off Milwaukee, St. Louis and Los Angeles without cracking. Now that we have come this far, we aren't going to look back now. As a team I would have to rate the Braves over the Yankees. If the Braves had won the pennant, I believe they would have been good enough to beat the Yankees, too. We have a better field club and better pitching than they do. We'll get our share of runs, too." Clemente, who played in Yankee Stadium during the All-Star Game, admitted the late afternoon shadows in the New York park could be a disadvantage to the Pirates outfielders. "The ball is hard to follow and it may give us some trouble. I really don't think it will make a difference in the outcome of the Series though.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "World Series Prediction: 'Pirates in Six Games,' Says Clemente" by Bill Nunn, Jr. in The New Pittsburgh Courier (October 8, 1960), p. 25

• “Sometimes I get mad at people. But only once here in Pittsburgh. That when I was hurt and everyone call me Jake. I don't like that. I want to play but my back hurt lots of times and I can't play. Then that year in St. Paul when I throw the ball in exhibition game the elbow started to puff up. That when some people write that I was in fight with Face in St. Louis. You know that not right. You can still feel bone chip in my elbow. That's why I throw the ball underhand sometimes. That way it don't hurt my arm. If I throw real hard lots of times overhand in game, the elbow hurts and swells up. The back is okay too. Sometime it hurt me when I run. But I find out it is bad disc. If it goes out on the right side I can push it back in easy. But if it hurts on the other side, sometimes I have to work long time to get it back in place.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1961 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Roamin' Around: Look Out, Joe Brown" by Jack Hernon, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Sunday, August 13, 1961), p. D3

• “I was just a youngster and believed everything everybody told me. The Dodgers told me a big bonus was no good and they said other players would resent it. Better for me to take small amount and work my way use [sic]. So my father signed for me. Next day, the Braves offer me $27, 500 and I say, "Where were you yesterday?" In the workout with the Dodgers, I hit 10 balls over the fence and I go back to 400-foot mark and throw to the plate. The Dodgers hid me as Montreal in 1954 and I seldom played. Maybe the late innings. Once I started and before I could bat in first inning they take me out for pinch-hitter.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1962 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "The Scoreboard: Hitting in Daylight" (.411 Vs. .302) Best For Clemente; Roberto 'Feels Good' In Sunshine; Chicago's Wrigley Field His Favorite; Clemente Can Hit to All Field; Pirates Paid Only $4,000 For H…

• “I know more about Virdon than any other player because we're so close in the outfield and I think it would be a big mistake to trade him. Virdon is an underrated outfielder. I know. He doesn’t get the headlines because he makes everything look so easy. He would be a hard man to replace. Many times I look up on a tough chance and there’s Virdon near me in case something goes wrong. He is always backing me up on the one side and Bob Skinner on the other. If you don’t want to take my word for it how valuable Virdon is, ask some of our pitchers. Virdon has kept quite a few in the big leagues with his fielding. That's how good he is.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1962 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Virdon Would Be Difficult to Replace" by Les Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (August 20, 1962)

• “I am tired of playing in a shadow Everything I do they compare to Paul Waner. I am not Paul Waner's shadow. I try not to let it bother me, but I get tired of the things some people say. They call me a showboat because I make basket catches. They don't call Willie Mays a showboat, do they? They say I'm a hypochondriac, too. When I have trouble with my back, they say it's in my mind. In Houston last year, right before the end of the season, I was still in the race for the batting title and Murtaugh told me to do everything possible to win it. One time I was being intentionally walked and I swung at one of the pitches. Then I wasn't a team player any more. People said I was out for myself.”

  Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1964 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: As quoted in "Roberto's Not Happy; Clemente in Waner's Shadow" by Sandy Padwe (NEA), in The Indiana Gazette (July 2, 1964), p. 16

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