Everyone who takes the field at Tuesday night MLB games will have a patch no. 21 on their jersey.
That’s because September 15 is Roberto Clemente Day, a day of remembrance for Pittsburgh Pirates legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and his charitable contributions, a legacy that lives on through the Roberto Clemente Foundation.
As for the right-hander’s success on the field, Clemente, who wore the number 21, was a force to be reckoned with. Here is his MLB career (1955-72) by the numbers:
1A: Clemente is first in Pirates history with 3,000 hits, 4,492 total bases and 2,154 singles.
1B: On that note, he is one of 33 players to have 3,000 hits.
2A: Clemente was part of the Pirates’ World Series triumphs in 1960 and 1971.
2B: Clemente led the National League in hitting twice: in 1964 and 1967.
2C: His 95 career hits above replacement are second in Pirates history and 37th in MLB all-time.
3: Clemente is third in Pirates history with 1,416 runs scored, 1,305 RBIs, 440 doubles and 166 triples.
4: He led the NL in batting average in four seasons: 1961, 1964, 1965 and 1967.
8.2: Clemente led NL position players with 8.2 wins above replacement in 1968.
10: Clemente recorded double-digit triples in 10 seasons, including leading the NL with 12 triples in 1969.
12: The number of Gold Gloves he won.
15: The number of All-Star nods he received.
18: Each of Clemente’s 18 seasons in the sport came with the Pirates.
200: He recorded over 200 hits in four seasons: 1961, 1964, 1966 and 1967.
240: The number of home runs hit Clemente.
300: Clemente finished with a .300 batting average or higher in 13 of his 18 seasons in the sport.
317: Clemente was a .317 career regular season hitter, tied with Joe Harris for 66th in MLB history.
318: He was a career .318 postseason hitter in 113 plate appearances.
1966: Clemente won the 1966 NL MVP award.
1971: Clemente was the MVP of the 1971 World Series, totaling 12 hits, two home runs and four RBI while posting a .414/.452/.759 slash line in the seven-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
1973: MLB named the “Commissioner’s Award” in “Roberto Clemente Award” in 1973, which is an award “given annually to a player who demonstrates the values that Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente displayed in his commitment to the community and understanding the value of helping others.” Each of MLB’s 30 teams has a nominee for the award, with the league office naming a recipient of the honor during that particular year’s World Series.
2,305: Clemente is first in MLB history with 2,305 plate appearances in right field.
2,433: Clemente and Honus Wagner are tied for first in Pirates history with 2,433 games played.