Roberto Clemente

Fascinating Biographies of Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees with Information That Will Never Go Out of Date This new series brings to life the men behind the statistics, all of whom are inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, who helped make major league baseball the diverse game it is today. Predating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente burst through the major league color barrier to show fans that baseball should and could be a game about talent. Record-breaking pitcher Sandy Koufax faced national scrutiny when he stood up for his right to put his Jewish traditions ahead of his baseball schedule. Nolan Ryan wowed the world with pitches that were too fast to hit, while Yogi Berra broke the mold for pitching greatness and continues to charm the world with his wit and wisdom. Roberto Clemente, National League batting champion in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967, broke into the major leagues at a time when few men of color--and every fewer Hispanics--played the game. Clemente faced discrimination, racism, humiliation, and insult because of the color of his skin and the place where he was born But this young man from Puerto Rico gradually won over the fans in Pittsburgh with his scrappy play and his love of the game. Readers will be inspired by Clemente triumphs and saddened by his untimely death.