Senate Resolution No. 2104
BY: Senator SEPULVEDA
CALLING on the United States Secretary of the
Interior to add Roberto Clemente's place of death in
Loiza, Puerto Rico to the National Register of
Historical Places
WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente Walker, born August 18, 1934, in Carolina,
Puerto Rico, was an American baseball legend who played 18 seasons for
the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in Major League Baseball
(MLB); and
WHEREAS, Over his 18-year career, Roberto Clemente amassed numerous
notable awards and achievements, including two World Series
Championships, one World Series Most Valuable Player Award, one National
League Most Valuable Player Award, 12 All-Star selections, 12
consecutive Gold Glove Awards, 3,000 career hits, and the only walk-off
inside-the-park grand slam in professional baseball history; and
WHEREAS, Outside of baseball, Roberto Clemente embodied the values
of a model citizen through his service to the United States and
humanitarian efforts throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, Rather than play baseball in his native Puerto Rico during
the 1958-59 MLB off-season, Clemente enlisted in the United States
Marine Corps Reserve and served for six years as an infantryman; and
WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente's various charitable and humanitarian
efforts included hosting free baseball clinics for underprivileged
youth, working tirelessly to promote greater accessibility and equality
for Latino-Americans, and delivering significant financial aid to people
in Puerto Rico and other countries in Latin America; and
WHEREAS, On December 31, 1972, Roberto Clemente tragically died at
the age of 38 when a plane he chartered to bring food and relief
supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua crashed near Pinones, in Loiza,
Puerto Rico shortly after takeoff; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, after the mandatory five-year waiting period was
waived to posthumously honor Roberto Clemente, he became the first
Puerto Rican and first Latino inducted into the National Baseball Hall
of Fame; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, the "Commissioner's Award," given annually to the
MLB player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship,
community involvement, and the individual's contribution to his team,"
was renamed the "Roberto Clemente Award" in honor of Clemente's
significant contributions on and off the baseball field; and
WHEREAS, Roberto Clemente was posthumously awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, Presidential Citizens Medal, and the Congressional
Gold Medal for his civic and charitable contributions; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York has taken an active role in honoring
the contributions of Roberto Clemente by dedicating various places in
his honor, including the Roberto Clemente State Park; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of the Interior administers
the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official list of
the United States' historic places worthy of preservation; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that Roberto Clemente's place of
death in Loiza, Puerto Rico, be added to the National Register of
Historic Places, to honor and preserve the memory of an American
baseball legend and humanitarian; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
call on the United States Secretary of the Interior to add Roberto
Clemente's place of death in Loiza, Puerto Rico to the National Register
of Historical Places; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the United States Secretary of the Interior.
