This story, by correspondent Charley Feeney, first appeared in the Jan. 20, 1973, issue of The Sporting News, under the headline, “‘Roberto Died as He Lived — Caring’ ." It’s an interesting piece, in that after it discusses the Pirates after Clemente’s death and what he meant to them, it moves on at the end — perhaps as Clemente himself would’ve liked — to on-the-field offseason notes about the team, closing with a nod to play-by-play broadcaster Bob Prince and the recent touchdown catch by the Steelers’ Franco Harris, what became known as the “Immaculate Reception.”
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Will the Pirates be the same? The answer is simple, no.
The loss of Roberto Clemente reduces the Pirates in efficiency in many, many ways.
The line is not original, but it is fitting. You can substitute, but you can't replace.
The Pirates never will replace Clemente, who had a .317 lifetime average during his 18-year career. They won't replace his leadership on the field. They won't replace the little things he did that helped make them winners.
Pirate relief ace Dave Giusti saw many sides of Clemente. He saw him publicly rap sportswriters. He heard him complain that official scorers deprived him of two batting titles. But most of all, Giusti saw Clemente in the clubhouse every day during the baseball season.
"I'VE BEEN around other super stars," Giusti said, "but I never saw any of them have as much compassion for his teammates as Clemente did. He would treat a rookie like Willie Stargell. I can still see him now ... joking in the clubhouse ... being happy. I think he was happiest when he was around baseball people."
Others spoke other words, but they all pointed to Roberto Clemente as a super star who was a super human being without the knowledge of many.
Steve Blass said it this way: "Maybe we, as teammates, didn't know him as well as we could have. But I think we knew him better than some of the fans. There were so many things beyond his pure ability."
Said Manager Bill Virdon: “Baseball won’t be the same in Pittsburgh without Clemente. When you think of baseball in Pittsburgh, you think of Clemente. There’s no way to replace him. We will just fill the spot.”
AND WHO WILL fill the spot? Maybe Rennie Stennett … maybe Richie Zisk … maybe Gene Clines … maybe Manny Sanguillen?
Bill Mazeroski, Clemente’s teammate since 1956, said he really got to know Clemente in recent years. “He had a comical side,” Max said. “He could keep you laughing in the clubhouse for an hour. I can’t believe it happened it is going to be a sad year.”
Said Willie Stargell: “Clemente’s work with relief effort was typical. Roberto was always trying to help someone."
Pirates General Manager Joe Brown may have summed up Clemente’s tragic ending best when he said: “He died caring.”
IT ONCE SEEMED that Roberto Clemente, a four-time batting champion, belonged only to Pittsburgh. In death, the tributes paid to him proved he belonged to every sports-minded person in the world. He lived with the hope that he could help youngsters growing up in his native Puerto Rico.
He was a man of many moods and he was the first to admit it. Once he said: "I'm two people. I'm a ballplayer and I'm a family man. They are not one and the same."
Pittburghers: There is a drive underway to have the name of the Pirates' home park, Three Rivers, changed to Robert Clemente Stadium. ... Memorial services were held in many Pittsburgh churches for Clemente. … Several Pirate players and wives flew to Puerto Rico on January 4 to pay their last respects to Clemente and his family.
One of the Pirates' players is slugging the ball and another has returned home from winter ball. The slugger is Richie Zisk, who is batting close to .350 with San Juan. He leads the Puerto Rican League with 45 RBIs and is second with a dozen homers. ... Milt May, failing to hit .200 at San Juan, returned for military reserve duty, then decided not to go back to the Islands. ... Joe Brown sent out the 1973 contracts and it's doubtful that anybody was asked to take a pay cut. How can you slice a member of a division winner? ... Broadcaster Bob Prince blew it again. He missed Bill Mazeroski's World Series homer in 1960 when he rushed to the Pirates' dressing room and he ran for the press elevator at Three Rivers Stadium on December 23, moments before the Steelers pulled their miracle finish against Oakland.