Roberto Clemente became a baseball icon because of his talent and compassion, and how he overcame prejudices.
He was drafted from Puerto Rico, where he spoke Spanish, when he was just eighteen. At first fans laughed at his Spanish accent and some even disliked him for the color of his skin.
Roberto worked hard to learn English and improve his baseball skills. He became one of the game's greatest hitters while he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He was the first Latin American player to have 3,000 hits and his legacy of kindness and record breaking continues to inspire players.
