Major League Baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates will honor Roberto Clemente’s life and legacy by recognizing his No. 21 in an unprecedented manner.
When MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day on Sept. 9, all Pirates players and coaches will wear No. 21 on their jerseys. Since Clemente’s death, no Pirates player has worn No. 21 on the field of play. The Pirates play the Chicago White Sox that night at PNC Park.
“Our staff and players are excited to wear the number 21 with pride as we constantly search for ways to not only honor Roberto’s legacy but to keep his memory alive through our community actions,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a release Wednesday. “We recognize what this moment represents for all of us within the organization, the Clemente Family, our fans and the people of Puerto Rico. We take great pride in representing such a great ambassador of the game.”
A fitting tribute for The Great One.
Pirates announce we will wear the jersey number 21 on Roberto Clemente Day.
READ: https://t.co/gzcTKgmG0c pic.twitter.com/sGTfZDmITD
— Pirates (@Pirates) September 2, 2020
The first Roberto Clemente Day was observed by MLB in 2002, and it has been celebrated annually across baseball each September since then. MLB also honors players who best represent Clemente’s spirit with the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes their humanitarian endeavors as much as on their on-field performance.
Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com
Want More From Sports Gossip?
For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
