All About Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente was drafted from Puerto Rico by the New York Dodgers when he was just eighteen, and would later become one baseballs most popular players while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even though Roberto could not speak English and was dark skinned, he proved himself by the way he played the game. And because of Robertos success, baseball team owners were willing to draft more players from Latin America.

On an island called Puerto Rico, there lived a little boy who wanted only to play baseball. Although he had no money, Roberto Clemente practiced and practiced until--eventually--he made it to the Major Leagues. America! As a right-fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he fought tough opponents--and even tougher racism--but with his unreal catches and swift feet, he earned his nickname, "The Great One." He led the Pirates to two World Series, hit 3,000 hits, and was the first Latino to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But it wasn't just baseball that made Clemente legendary--he was was also a humanitarian dedicated to improving the lives of others.

Growing up the youngest of seven children in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente had a talent for baseball. His incredible skill soon got him drafted into the big leagues where he spent 18 seasons playing right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who Was Roberto Clemente? tells the story of this remarkable athlete: a twelve-time All-Star, World Series MVP, and the first Latin American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

One of the first Latin Americans to play Major League Baseball, Roberto Clemente was a true trailblazer. Historic photos and easy-to-read text take readers into the athlete’s life. Zoom in even deeper with quick stats, a timeline, and bolded glossary terms. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Abdo Zoom is a division of ABDO.

Roberto Clemente’s passion for baseball took him from the sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico to two World Series championships with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was baseball’s first Latino superstar and among the best that ever played the game. But he was much more than that. His passion carried over outside the ballpark, where he fought prejudice, helped the poor and sick, and dreamed of a Sport City to help Puerto Rican youth overcome drugs and gangs. He was just 38 when he died, in a plane taking supplies to victims of an earthquake. No one will ever forget the passion, the excellence, and the character of Roberto Clemente. He was a true American hero.

Wilfred Santiago’s instant classic 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente is a human drama of courage, faith, and dignity, inspired by the life of the acclaimed Pittsburgh Pirates baseball star who died too young. 21chronicles Clemente’s life from his early days growing up, through the highlights of his career, capturing the grit of his rise from an impoverished Puerto Rican childhood to the majesty of his performance on the field, and to his fundamental decency off of it. Santiago’s inviting style combines realistic attention to detail and expressive cartooning to great effect.

A biography of the baseball superstar from Puerto Rico who, before his untimely death in a 1972 airplane crash, was noted for his achievements on and off the baseball field.

The award-winning team of Perdomo and Collier ("Visiting Langston") joins forces once again for this tribute to baseball's beloved Roberto Clemente. Full color.

Each book in 8143--TIME For Kids Nonfiction Readers: Fluent Plus Kit is available in a set of six.For add-on purchases, each 6-pack includes 6 copies of this title and a lesson plan, packaged in a self-sealing vinyl bag.Word Count: 1263TCM (Teacher Created Materials) Level: 3.9Guided Reading Level: QEarly Intervention Level: 23DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) Level: 40

Twenty-five years ago, Roberto Clemente made baseball history when he became the first Latin American to enter the Hall of Fame. Roberto Clemente: The Great One explores one of the game's most dynamic players and perhaps its most selfless humanitarian. From modest beginnings in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to a legendary career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, to his tragically premature death in a plane crash, The Great One details the story of one of baseball's most compelling characters. Interviews with teammates Willie Stargell and Al Oliver, former major league commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and dose friends of Clemente lend insight into his character and contributions. The Great One fully examines Clemente's legacy, at a time of unprecedented success for Latin American players.