Roberto Clemente: Trending quotes

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Roberto Clemente: 340 quotes21 likes

“I was not trying to be smart when I did that. I was trying to tell them that they could do whatever they want. The fans of Pittsburgh have cheered me a lot through the years. There’s always a first time for booing. But I don’t say to hell with the fans because of this. I am not swinging the bat the way I should. It is just one of those things. I am not the way I should be. I do not feel sure when I swing. I am trying to adjust so that I will swing well even though my shoulder still hurts. If a player doesn’t try hard, he deserves to be booed. I try hard. Maybe I was booed today because I have not played that bad before.”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in “Clemente Still Loves Pirate Fans” https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kWwqAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=VlAEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=3630%2C5689009 by Bill Christine, in The Pittsburgh Press (Monday, April 14, 1969), p. 32 <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;

“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

As quoted in &quot;Pancho Coimbre Atiles&quot; https://books.google.com/books?id=ce8wlREHG_0C&amp;pg=PA78&amp;dq=%22Pancho+Coimbre+Atiles%22&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0CBcQ6AEwAWoVChMI0cne8vqBxwIVSKkeCh0OKAbb#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false, from Puerto Rico&#x27;s Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball&#x27;s Launching Pad (2004) by Thomas E. Van Hyning, p. 78 <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;

“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

As paraphrased in &quot;The Scoreboard: Thursday&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b0EqAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=000EAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=4340%2C3027303 by Les Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (Saturday, June 11, 1955), p. 6 <br class="br">Other, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1950s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1955&lt;/big&gt;

“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

As quoted in &quot;Roberto Clemente for Mayor?&quot; http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/72498032/ by Milton Richman, in The New Castle News (Tuesday, July 8, 1969), p. 17 <br class="br">Other, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1969&lt;/big&gt;

“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

As quoted in &quot;Clemente Ties Wagner; Heads Toward 3,000 Hits&quot; https://books.google.com/books?id=FXQDAAAAMBAJ&amp;pg=PA49, in Jet (September 21, 1972) <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;

“They pay for their ticket, let them do what they want to do. I get mad. One of these days, I’ll leave my uniform on the field and keep on walking. If I don’t hustle or something like that, I’d say that it would be good for me to be booed. The problem with me is hitting. You hit.280, it’s a pretty good average. But I used to hit.350, so.280 is not good enough. A lot of times in my career, I play when I shouldn’t play. I say as long as I can run and swing a bat, I play. That was my biggest mistake. One time I play with a shoulder – it hurts so bad, I can’t lift it. I hit into a double play. Then they hit a ball to the outfield and I can’t bend down to pick it up, so they boo me. The season start, I hurt my finger the last weekend of spring training. I couldn’t grip the bat right and I was trying to pull everything. They would like for you to start every year from the beginning, right on top, boom, boom, boom. Now I start a season a little bit slowly, so they boo.”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in &quot;.280 Not Good Enough: Clemente&#x27;s Bat Answers Boos&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TpcuAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=kKEFAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=2309%2C1919830 by Ian McDonald, in The Montreal Gazette (Friday, May 21, 1971), p. 17 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1970s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1971&lt;/big&gt;

“I believe I can hit with anybody in baseball. Maybe I can’t hit with the power of a Mays or a Frank Robinson or a Hank Aaron, but I can hit. As long as I play in Forbes Field, I can’t go for home runs. Line drives, yes, but not home runs.”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in “Clouter Clemente: Popular Buc; Rifle-Armed Flyhawk Aims At Second Bat Crown” by Les Biederman, in The Sporting News (September 5, 1964)
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>

“They pick us for sixth and seventh place. But if we fight, we are going to make it to the top. Myself, when I think I can do one thing and some one else thinks the opposite, I have to prove to the world that I can.”

Roberto Clemente

Addressing the Fraternal Order of Eagles&#x27; Welcome Home Dinner, held on April 9, 1962 at Pittsburgh&#x27;s Penn Sheraton; as quoted in &quot;&#x27;62 Pirates Expect to Be Contender&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lYEkAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=v04EAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=5981%2C3901542 by Vince Leonard, in The Pittsburgh Press (Tuesday, April 10, 1962), p. 37 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;

“In other years, we talk pennant with mouth, do nothing on field. This year we do our talking on field, keep mouths closed about pennant.”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in "The Scoreboard" by Les Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (August 13, 1960), p. 6
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>

“Once upon a time I never believed I could get tired of baseball. I played baseball from morning to night. But today it isn't as it once was. I just never seem to get enough rest. And if I can't play at my best all the time, why play?”

Roberto Clemente

As quoted in &quot;Clemente: Happy 33, With 3 Years to Go&quot; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83638719/the-pittsburgh-press/ by Les Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (August 17, 1967), p. 39 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;