35 Notable Quotes By Roberto Clemente, The Author Of The Infinity Torch
Roberto Clemente was the first Latin American and Caribbean player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame soon after his untimely death in 1972. He used to involve himself in charity work in Latin American and Caribbean countries during off-seasons, and had decided to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua himself after learning that the previous three flights had been diverted by corrupt government officials. The ill-fated flight that he was on was overloaded and understaffed, and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean soon after takeoff. We have gathered some of his remarkable quotes delivered during interviews and award acceptance speeches. He mostly talked about his obsession about baseball and his intention to do good for people.
. ){kind=small}
Nobody does anything better than me in baseball (said before the 1971 World Series).
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a baseball player. This is something I think about. The more I think about it, I'm convinced that God wanted me to play baseball.
I would be lost without baseball. I don't think I could stand being away from it as long as I was alive.
If I would be happy, I would be a very bad ball player. With me, when I get mad, it puts energy in my body.
A country without idols is nothing.
When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth.
There's no difference between me and you. You need something, a glove, a place to live, you let me know.
Why does everyone talk about the past? All that counts is tomorrow's game.
In a way, I was born twice. I was born in 1934 and again in 1955 when I came to Pittsburgh. I am thankful to say that I lived two lives.
A nation without heroes is nothing.
I wasn't ready for the majors when I joined the Pirates in 1955. I was too young and didn't know my way around.
The Dodgers told me a big bonus was no good, and they said other players would resent it. Better for me to take a small amount of money and work my way.
I used to watch Monte Irvin play when I was a kid. I idolized him. I used to wait in front of the ballpark just for him to pass by so I could see him.
I would like to get 3,000 hits.
After I failed to win the Most Valuable Player Award in 1960, I made up my mind I'd win the batting title in 1961 for the first time.
I am more valuable to my team hitting .330 then swinging for home runs.
I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to play many hours every day.
Baseball has been very good to me.
But some people act like they think I live in the jungle someplace.
I was born to play baseball.
Look at my skin - I am not of the white people.
They said you'd really have to be something to be like Babe Ruth. But Babe Ruth was an American player. What we needed was a Puerto Rican player they could say that about, someone to look up to and try to equal.
It's not a bad ball if I can hit it.
Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball.
Brooklyn was a famous team. I wanted to play for the Dodgers.
My mother has the same kind of an arm, even today at 74. She could throw a ball from second base to home plate with something on it. I got my arm from my mother.
I am convinced that God wanted me to be a baseball player.
I couldn't ask for better teammates, and the Pirate fans are the greatest in baseball.
To the people here, we are outsiders. Foreigners.
The farther away you writers stay, the better I like it. You know why? Because you're trying to create a bad image of me... you do it because I'm black and Puerto Rican, but I'm proud to be Puerto Rican.
