I Am Roberto Clemente
By:Jim Gigliotti
The book “I Am Roberto Clemente” was written by Jim
Gigliotti. Roberto Clemente was a famous baseball player
for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberto Clemente was an
important role model. He learned to appreciate the value
of hard work and giving back at an early age. In Roberto’s
career he had 12 consecutive gold glove awards for right
field excellence. Clemente ended his career with exactly
3,000 hits. He had 240 home runs in his career and his
batting average was always high. Roberto Clemente was
the first Latin American to be inducted into to the National
Baseball Hall of Fame.

Clemente was always a kind, loving, caring person,

but there are many other reasons that made him famous.
Roberto died trying to deliver supplies to Nicaragua after
an earthquake. He died in a plane crash over the ocean
right after take off. Clemente helped the Pirates win the
World Series twice in his career. He helped other people
whenever he got the chance. The Pirates held Roberto
Clemente Night in Three Rivers Stadium.

Roberto was a kind and compassionate man. He was

always willing to help and talk to people in need whenever
he could. Clemente’s parents taught him how to be
generous, kind, and caring. Roberto cared for other
people, and never gave up, even at points when he
wanted to. He stood up when he was faced with the
injustices of racism. On the field he was all business and
played hard for his team.

Roberto Clemente helped people in need in the USA

and Puerto Rico. He held free baseball clinics in Latin
America for kids. Roberto dreamed of building “Sports
City” in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He wanted it to be a place
for kids to play sports and learn important life lessons.
Clemente went through every piece of fan mail that he
received. When he received letters from children in the
hospital Roberto would try his best to deliver as many
letters as he could to those children. When a devastating
earthquake hit Nicaragua, Roberto headed a relief effort to
help the quarter million victims left without food, water, and
shelter. Sadly, Roberto and the relief plane did not make it
to Nicaragua. It crashed shortly after take off on New
Year’s Eve, 1972.

I admire Roberto Clemente for all that he stands for.

He understood the value of hard work and determination.
Growing up Roberto was poor. Later, when he was an
adult he gave back to those who were less fortunate.
Roberto was committed and dedicated to baseball and his
teammates. Any time Roberto saw injustice or people
being treated unfairly he would try to help. Roberto said,
“Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in
this world and you don’t do it, you are wasting your time
on this earth.” I think Roberto is a good role model for kids.