“I can't think of average. I have to go for the long ball. We have only Stargell to hit homers. You need more than one man. We have the best leadoff man in baseball in Matty Alou. He will get on base. We have to get the long hits.”

—  Roberto Clemente

As quoted in "'Give Us Strollers, Not Swingers,' Shouts Shepard" by Charley Feeney, in The Sporting News (July 12, 1969), p. 23
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>, <big>1969</big>

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Roberto Clemente170
Puerto Rican baseball player 1934–1972

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“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.”

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As quoted in &quot;Clemente Voted Most Valuable In National League&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kRQhAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=GIwEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7374%2C2380506&amp;dq=beginning-sea-son-told-wanted by the Associated Press, in The Sarasota Journal (Wednesday, November 16, 1966), p. 20 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1966&lt;/big&gt;

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Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) Puerto Rican baseball player

As paraphrased and quoted in &quot;Clemente Back, Lashes Out at Writers; Buc Explodes Over &#x27;Team Player&#x27; Image&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJxRAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=02wDAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=7083%2C4907609 <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; <br class="br">Context: The 100 grand right fielder revealed that Danny Murtaugh once fined him $650 when he did not run after hitting a ball to the shortstop. He never explained how Murtaugh reached the $650 figure. &quot;I hit the ball and I slip at home plate and they fine me $650. First time up I hit a homer one-handed. I just limped around the bases.&quot;

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English translation of pep talk given on August 21, 1971, after Hernandez&#x27; 6th-inning miscue—scored as a hit—had contributed significantly to Cincinnati&#x27;s 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Pittsburgh http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1971/B08210CIN1971.htm, as quoted in &quot;Playing Games: Bad Day in Cincy&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iG8mAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=Bm0DAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=5765%2C1664013&amp;dq=clemente-began-talk-spanish by Charley Feeney, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Tuesday, September 28, 1971), p. 23 <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;

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“I have more respect for this man than any of my previous managers, and I played for Fred Haney, Danny Murtaugh and Bobby Bragan. This fellow makes me feel that he really appreciates what I do. When he has something to tell you, he tells you in front of everybody. You don’t hear it from some newspaperman. I don’t see why people say he has a big mouth. He knows this business real good and he is doing a great job. He works with the players and he gives them more confidence. Matty Alou never did anything until he came to this man. Donn Clendenon is having his best year and also Willie Stargell. And me, too. That is the reason I want to win so bad. I never played with a club that put out 100 percent like this one. If somebody gets down he comes and talks to the others. No matter what happens, we get together and solve everything. I don’t even think we tried this hard to win in 1960 when they won the pennant and the World Series.”

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As quoted in &quot;Walker, Clemente Bury Hatchet, Spread Praise&quot; https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SnQsAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=wssEAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=3539%2C4912308 by the Associated Press, in The Spartanburg Herald (Wednesday, September 28, 1966), p. 12 <br class="br">Baseball-related, &lt;big&gt;&lt;big&gt;1960s&lt;/big&gt;&lt;/big&gt;, &lt;big&gt;1966&lt;/big&gt;

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