Rod Carew,All-Star Game
July 14, 2010
Rod Carew,All-Star Game,Rod Carew was disbelief the first time he met Roberto Clemente.
He said that “Life is like a dream” when he met and played with his childhood hero in baseball’s 1967 All-Star game in Anaheim, five years before Clemente died in a plane crash while trying to assist earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Their names were back together Tuesday, as they were enshrined as the 47 th and 48 th players Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame in baseball’s All-Star FanFest, as well as in Anaheim.
“Roberto is a source of inspiration for all Catholics,” said Carew. “I had the opportunity to play against him, a young guy, and I was flattered.
Carew was attached to the small stage Clemente’s widow, Vera, and some great baseball, including Orlando Cepeda, Manny Mota and Juan Marichal.
“He was always, until his death, trying to help the Latin players are better and more responsible,” Vera Clemente said of her late husband. “He wanted to achieve the highest possible level, as they could.
“He died as he lived. When he was a little boy, he helped people. I know that people will never forget how he died, and how he lived.”
Clemente, who played right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was the first player to win Rookie of the Year Latin name, the first league most valuable player, and first World Series most valuable player.
He also was the first Latin player named baseball’s Hall of Fame, and is the only player, 5 waiting period waiver since its inception in 1954.
Like many Latin players of his time, he not only faced with obstacles on the basis of his color, but also addresses the language barrier.
“Whenever we’re together, we’re talking about the time and struggle, we went to get here,” said Carew. “And we persevered.”
Carew is the only player to be introduced in the Panamanian baseball Hall of Fame. He is a career .328 batting average and had 3053 hits and 1015 runs batted in.
These types of numbers are not common, but because of the hard work of players like Carew and Clemente, Latin players became much more common in Major League Baseball.
“Previously, if you have not played every day, as Latin player, you do not want to play in the Major League,” said Carew.
Latin players now make up about 30% of the players the league, and many of them in the lead role for their clubs.
It all started with Clemente, and the hand, which he lent to players like Carew.
“If we can not tolerate other males do, and hard, and let them see what they can do what they want to make my life,” said Carew, “and then it all worth it.”
