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Roberto Clemente: 340 quotes21 likes

“Thank you. I guess a fellow like me has to die to get voted in by the writers.”

Roberto Clemente

In Cooperstown, New York, July 22, 1968, for the annual Hall of Fame Game; replying to a fellow Museum patron (who, upon seeing him photographing various exhibits, had informed Clemente, "Some day they will be taking pictures of your shrine here"), as quoted in "Sidelight on Sports: I Remember Roberto" by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Tuesday, January 2, 1973), p. 14
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>, <big>1968</big>

“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

As quoted in &quot;&#x27;Nobody Does Anything Better Than Me in Baseball,&#x27; Says Roberto Clemente....Well, He&#x27;s Right,&quot; by Roy Blount, Jr. (as C.R. Ways), in The New York Times Magazine (April 9, 1972), p. 42; reprinted as &quot;Clemente&#x27;s Time of Honor Has Come&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1qNhAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=xGwDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7369%2C3839734 in The Pittsburgh Press (Tuesday, April 25, 1972), p. 31 <br class="br">Other, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1970s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1972&lt;/big&gt;

“Sure, sure I wanted out of this game. But I don't care what these writers say. My neck was wrenched about two weeks ago and I aggravated it when I continued to play. But I didn't want to miss any games when we are trying to win the pennant. We caught the Mets and we came here tonight leading them, and I think I had something to do with it. Like I say, I don't care what these writers think. They never believe me when I say I hurt. One time before, they wrote so much about me just imagining my back was hurting me that the manager decided to have me checked over by a specialist. I never did see the report, but Danny said he had been assured my complaint was legitimate, and that he was sorry there had been a misunderstanding. I couldn't know what he meant, but after that he never failed to ask about my back before he put my name in the lineup for the second game of doubleheaders.”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in "All-Star Case of Roberto Clemente" by Sam Lacy, in The Baltimore Afro-American (July 21, 1970)
Baseball-related, <big><big>1970s</big></big>, <big>1970</big>

“It is my greatest year, but my biggest disappointment.”

Roberto Clemente

Assessing his 1967 season, as quoted in &quot;Roberto Clemente—Baseball&#x27;s Brightest Superstar&quot; https://books.google.com/books?id=7LsdgvCy-S4C&amp;pg=PA24 by Arnold Hano, in Boy&#x27;s Life (March 1968), pp. 25 and 54 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1968&lt;/big&gt;

“This is my ball park. Every game is played in daylight and I can see the ball good. And I can reach the stands in any direction. I hope I'm never traded but if I am, I wish it would be to the Cubs. I know I do well there in 77 games.”

Roberto Clemente

Discussing Wrigley Field (where he was currently hitting .693 for the season, with 9 hits in 13 AB, with 3 home runs and 9 RBI); as quoted in &quot;Feast Then Famine For Pirates: Split Means Lost Ground In Race&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o2scAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=Fk8EAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=4554%2C1706304 by Lester J. Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (Friday, July 7, 1961), p. 26. To access article, drag image from right to left, bringing relevant headline immediately into view, displayed on its side; continue dragging until you reach the fifth paragraph from the end. <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1961&lt;/big&gt;

“I think the fans in Pittsburgh are the best in baseball. They've always been on my side, even when I'm going bad. I've made plenty of friends and I would not trade these people for anybody, anywhere.”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in "Change of Pace"
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>, <big>1963</big>

“To hit in, it's okay; for power, it's not. If you get a line drive in this park, you're in good shape. It's best to hit to right field in this park because of the wall." He explained that balls bounding off and around the right field wall produce more extra base hits. He also said that he doesn't try for the home run. "If I tried hard, I might hit 20 to 25 homers a year. But if you hit for a high average, you will help the ball club more.”

Roberto Clemente

On hitting at Forbes Field; as quoted and paraphrased in "Clemente Unorthodox?" Well, He Gets Results"
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>

“If I don't have trouble with my stomach I think I can be up among the leading hitters in the league again this year. When I am bothered with my stomach, it leaves me weak. Then instead of just swinging to meet the ball I begin over-swinging and it messes me up. Funny thing, I am bothered more when I go home than when I'm in the States. I'm seriously thinking about spending the next winter in Pittsburgh.”

Roberto Clemente

Speaking with reporters at the annual Dapper Dan banquet on February 4, 1962, as quoted in "CHANGE OF PACE: Clemente Holds His Own as a Speaker'")
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>, <big>1962</big>

“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

Addressing reporters at post-game press conference on Roberto Clemente Day, as quoted in &quot;Roberto Clemente&#x27;s a Man of 2 Lives ... and 2 Loves&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zbYcAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=NWYEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=2327%2C2876682 by the Associated Press, in The Sarasota Herald-Tribune (July 26, 1970) <br class="br">Other, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1970s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1970&lt;/big&gt;

“Bragan and Walker talked to me the most. The fellow who helped me most of all was Buck Clarkson. I think he lives in Donora. He managed me in the Puerto Rican League when I was a boy. He used to see me throw a ball from the outfield 400 feet on the line, most of the time wild. And I hit good. Buck Clarkson used to tell me I am as good as anybody in big leagues. That helped me a lot.”

Roberto Clemente

Evaluating previous managers, as quoted in &quot;Sidelight on Sports: Roberto Remembers&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6KNhAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=22wDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7371%2C4597940 by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Friday, March 31, 1972), p. 10 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1970s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1972&lt;/big&gt;

“I feel better now than I did at any time last season; the shoulder really hurt me bad last year. The left shoulder still gives me some trouble. It makes me swing differently. I have to adjust. Sometimes I find I'm over-cutting the ball. That is not my natural style. I used to swing and I just knew I could hit the ball hard. I knew when I could hit to right field, when I could pull. Now it's different. I have to force myself more than I ever did. Maybe it's because I'm getting old. Maybe.”

Roberto Clemente

Discussing two separate pre-season shoulder injuries, sustained, respectively, in February 1968 to the right shoulder, and in March 1969 to the left; as quoted in &quot;A Sounder Clemente Has New Outlook; Buc Super Star May Play On and On&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JFAOAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=4H0DAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7168,1534716 by Charley Feeney, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Tuesday, August 12, 1969), p. 18 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1969&lt;/big&gt;

“These were great fans when I first play here, and they are still great. These fans never boo. They become frustrated because the Dodgers used to bring up some of the better minor-league players from here, but they never boo. Now, they are happy to have a big league team, and they are willing to wait five years, like the Mets' fans did, for the team to begin winning. But the thing that amazes me more than the players not being booed is the umpires. They never hear it from the fans, either, no matter if it does seem to be a bad call.”

Roberto Clemente

On revisiting Montreal, 15 years later; as quoted in &quot;Sports Beat: Expo Fans OK -- Clemente&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mc8yAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=DZYEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7275%2C865101 by Bill Christine, in The Pittsburgh Press (Friday, July 18, 1969), p. 22 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1969&lt;/big&gt;

“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

As quoted in &quot;Roberto&#x27;s Not Happy; Clemente in Waner&#x27;s Shadow&quot; https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/15674492/ by Sandy Padwe (NEA), in The Indiana Gazette (July 2, 1964), p. 16 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1964&lt;/big&gt;

“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

As quoted in &quot;Sidelight on Sports: A Baseball Star is Born&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d5dRAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=52sDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=1293%2C4057980 by Al Abrams, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (June 7, 1955), p. 20 <br class="br">Comment: 1994 interview with Vera Clemente https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&amp;tbm=bks&amp;q=%22Roberto+Enrique+Clemente%22+intitle:Remember+intitle:Roberto&amp;num=10 confirms that Enrique was Clemente&#x27;s middle name; the discrepancy in spelling is presumably due to a misunderstanding by the non-Spanish-speaking Abrams, mistaking the word &quot;Si&quot; for the letter c. <br class="br">Other, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1950s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1955&lt;/big&gt;

“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

Speaking on New Year's Eve, 1972; as quoted by Ruth Fernández in Clemente! (1973) by Kal Wagenheim, p. 242
Other, <big><big>1970s</big></big>, <big>1972</big>

“I give you bastards four minutes to get outside. They are honoring the greatest second baseman the game has ever known and anyone not out there in four minutes will have to fight me.”

Roberto Clemente

Addressing unnamed cards-playing teammates on June 14, 1969, Bill Mazeroski Day https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P3kfAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=EVAEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7484%2C5218474; as quoted in Reflections on Roberto (1994) by Phil Musick, p. 29 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1969&lt;/big&gt;

“blockquote>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

Written on Father&#x27;s Day at Three Rivers Stadium, 1971 or 1972, reproduced in &quot;A Rematch With the Machine&quot; https://books.google.com/books?id=03XsO25A3I8C&amp;pg=PA302 from Roberto Clemente: The Great One (1998) by Bruce Markusen, p. 302 <br class="br">Other, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1970s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1971&lt;/big&gt;

“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

From A Conversation with Clemente (aired October 8, 1972); this and other excerpts were reproduced in Roberto Clemente: The Great One https://books.google.com/books?id=03XsO25A3I8C&amp;pg=PA5 (1998) by Bruce Markusen, p. 5 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1970s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1972&lt;/big&gt;

“Writers used to say, "You don't drive in 100 runs," burt they forget I played for the worst team in baseball from 1955 to 1960. I didn't drive in runs because there was no one to drive in.”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in &quot;Clemente Changes Batting Title Tune&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d9weAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=OVAEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7121,5291429 by Phil Musick, in The Pittsburgh Press (Thursday, August 14, 1969), p. 38 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1969&lt;/big&gt;

“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

As quoted in &quot;Sports Parade&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OkAaAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=mSQEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=6377%2C3858585 by Milton Richman, in The Hendersonville Times-News (Wednesday, April 21, 1971), p. 9 <br class="br">Other, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1970s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1971&lt;/big&gt;