On September 15, Major League Baseball will honor the legacy of Roberto Clemente in a number of ways. The league will wear No. 21 on that day to commemorate the late Hall of Famer who wore the number throughout his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and died in a plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
The mlb roberto clemente day 2024 is for the MLB to honor Roberto Clemente on September 15th.
On Sept. 15, all Puerto Rican players in Major League Baseball will be permitted to wear No. 21 in front of fans once again to commemorate Roberto Clemente.
For the 20th annual Roberto Clemente Day, MLB has extended the honor to all uniformed personnel of Puerto Rican ancestry. According to ESPN, all 2024 Roberto Clemente Award candidates, as well as the six current Roberto Clemente Award winners, are eligible to wear the No. 21.
After the Clemente family approved its usage, MLB let all Puerto Rican players to wear the No. 21 to commemorate the late Pittsburgh Pirates great during the pandemic-shortened 2024 season, when clubs played in empty ballparks.
It was also the first time the Pirates, with whom Clemente spent his entire Hall of Fame career, honored the life and legacy of “The Great One” by having every player wear No. 21 on their jerseys.
This year, any player, regardless of ethnicity or birthplace, will be able to request to wear No. 21, as long as the club is given enough time to prepare the jersey.
Last season, the Pirates, with whom Roberto Clemente spent his entire career, wore his No. 21 for the first time. To honor Clemente’s legacy, all MLB players, managers, and coaches will wear a No. 21 patch. On the bases and official dugout lineup cards, the Clemente Day emblem will be imprinted.
According to ESPN, Sept. 15 will be declared as the official day to honor Roberto Clemente Day in perpetuity, according to a league source. It has traditionally been observed in baseball from early to mid-September.
Yadier Molina, the longest-tenured active Puerto Rican-born big league catcher, described wearing No. 21 as a “amazing honor” and “a source of tremendous pleasure” last year.
“Clemente is the source of inspiration we need to move forward and pursue our dreams and be an example to others on and off the field,” Molina told ESPN. “For all of us Latinos who have played Major League Baseball and have had to deal with so many obstacles, difficulties, and challenges, Clemente is the source of inspiration we need to move forward and pursue our dreams and be an example to others on and off the field.” “We hope that this day continues to honor No. 21’s illustrious history.”
Carlos Delgado, who played for the Blue Jays, Marlins, and Mets, was the last Puerto Rican-born player to wear No. 21 for the most of his career. Until last season, no Pirates player has worn No. 21 since Clemente’s death.
Clemente, who was born in Puerto Rico and was the first Latin American player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, was a revered personality both on and off the field. He was a 15-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner, 3,000-hit club member, four-time batting champ, and National League and World Series MVP.
On New Year’s Eve 1972, Clemente perished in an aircraft accident while escorting a cargo jet out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an effort to provide humanitarian assistance to Nicaraguans devastated by a catastrophic earthquake. Clemente became just the second player in MLB history to have the obligatory five-year waiting period for Hall of Fame induction lifted only months after his death.
The number of Puerto Rican-born players on Opening Day rosters was 18 in 2024, the second-highest number since 20 in 2011.
Javier Baez (Mets); Jose Berroa (Twins); Vctor Caratini (Padres); Willi Castro (Tigers); Carlos Correa (Astros); Edwin Daz (Mets); Enrique Hernandez (Red Sox); Joe Jimenez (Tigers); Francisco Lindor (Mets); Jorge Lopez (Orioles); Martin Maldonado (Astros); Molina (Cardinals); Michael Perez (Pirates (Red Sox). Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox, Charlie Montoyo of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Dave Martinez of the Washington Nationals are three managers of Puerto Rican ancestry in Major League Baseball.
“The most prestigious individual award for big leaguers,” according to MLB, the Roberto Clemente Award is given to players who “represent the game by outstanding character, community engagement, charity, and positive achievements, both on and off the field.”
Last year’s winner, Adam Wainwright (Cardinals), Carlos Carrasco (Mets), Molina, Anthony Rizzo (Yankees), Andrew McCutchen (Phillies), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), and Albert Pujols are among the current Roberto Clemente Award recipients (Dodgers).
MLB will reveal all 30 candidates for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2024 on Tuesday. The Orioles’ Trey Mancini, the Cubs’ Jason Heyward, the Reds’ Joey Votto, the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, the Royals’ Salvador Pérez, the Angels’ Mike Trout, the Rays’ Nelson Cruz, and the Mets’ Pete Alonso are among others on the list.
The is number 21 retired from baseball is a question that is frequently asked. The MLB has expanded the list of players who can wear No. 21 to honor Roberto Clemente on Sept. 15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some MLB players wearing 21?
There are many reasons why players choose to wear the number 21. Some of these reasons include that they were born on September 21st, or because it is the age at which Jesus was crucified.
Who wore number 21 for the Pirates?
David Freese wore number 21 for the Pirates.
Why are the Pirates wearing 21?
The Pirates are wearing 21 because that is the number of letters in the word pirates.
