"Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente" opens at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, where it will remain on view through Feb. 28, 2008, before continuing on a 20-city national tour through 2012.
"Any time you have the opportunity to make a difference in this world, and you don't do it, you are wasting your time on this earth." — Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker (1934-1972) remains a legendary figure in sports, in philanthropy and in the hearts of millions of Puerto Ricans and Americans. With a cannon arm and lightning speed, he was an outstanding baseball player; nevertheless, the Puerto Rico native's legend reaches beyond the diamond. A new Smithsonian traveling exhibition honors this sports hero and dedicated humanitarian.
"Beyond Baseball" was developed by the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico with the Carimar Design and Research Studio and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It is complemented by a downloadable bilingual (English and Spanish) podcast (launching in November) and an interactive Web site—www.robertoclemente.si.edu—with a virtual exhibition, children's activities, lesson plans, biographical highlights and historic photographs. The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the Smithsonian Latino Center.
In his 18 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente earned 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, won four batting crowns and amassed 3,000 hits. He was an integral part of the Pirates' World Series victories in 1960 and 1971. Clemente's precise and powerful throwing arm earned him acclaim as "the greatest right fielder of all time" by broadcaster Tim McCarver. He also was honored as the National League MVP in 1966 and elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously—the first Latino American to be inducted.
While Clemente rose to stardom with his accomplishments on the field, he never forgot his heritage and the prejudice he had faced. He fought for the recognition of his fellow Latino baseball players; helped people in need across the United States and Central America; and held free baseball clinics for children in his homeland. His charitable work led to the creation of Sports City, an athletic complex in his hometown of Carolina, Puerto Rico, designed to help disadvantaged youth develop athletic skills and prevent illegal drug use.
Tragically, Clemente's life ended at age 38 in a plane crash; he was flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. In memory of Clemente, the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award was established to recognize baseball players who combine outstanding skills on the field with devoted work in the community.
The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, a Smithsonian Affiliate, celebrates Puerto Rico's centuries-old artistic traditions of painting, sculpture, graphics, ceramics, folk art, photography and contemporary media. The San Juan museum collects, interprets and presents Puerto Rican art in permanent and temporary exhibitions, while fostering awareness of other art traditions from Latin America and the rest of the world.
The Smithsonian Latino Center is dedicated to ensuring that Latino contributions to arts, sciences and the humanities are highlighted, understood and advanced through the development and support of public programs, scholarly research, museum collections and educational opportunities at the Smithsonian Institution and its affiliated organizations across the United States. -- www.si.edu
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