Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

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  • OSUG1
    MVP
    • Apr 2005
    • 3332

    #1

    Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

    http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9184814

    NEW YORK -- The daughter of Jackie Robinson thinks Major League Baseball should not retire Roberto Clemente's No. 21, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

    The Hispanics Across America advocacy group wants Clemente's number set aside the way the late Robinson's No. 42 was nine years ago. But Sharon Robinson said that honor should remain for her father only.

    "To my understanding, the purpose of retiring my father's number is that what he did changed all of baseball, not only for African-Americans but also for Latinos, so I think that purpose has been met," Robinson told the newspaper at a birthday celebration for her father in Times Square. "When you start retiring numbers across the board, for all different groups, you're kind of diluting the original purpose."

    In September, Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson made similar comments, saying baseball should find another way to honor Clemente.

    "Jackie Robinson was a very unique situation and historical," Robinson said. Clemente did an awful lot of good things and was a terrific ballplayer, but I don't think it's the same type of situation as Jackie Robinson. And if you do it for him, where do you go? Where do you stop? Then you neglect someone and create some big controversy."

    Major League Baseball has taken the effort to retire the late Clemente's number under advisement.

    Sharon Robinson said she is close to the Clemente family and acknowledged that the Hall of Famer is an inspiration to Hispanic athletes.

    "I totally think that Roberto's accomplishments should continue to be spotlighted and highlighted as a major part of baseball, and American culture -- as well as Puerto Rico's culture," she told the newspaper.

    Clemente, a 12-time All-Star who had 3,000 hits for the Pittsburgh Pirates, died in 1972 at age 38 in a plane crash. He was taking relief supplies to victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake.

    Baseball retired Jackie Robinson's number in 1997, the 50th anniversary of his debut as the first black player in the major leagues.
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  • glucklich
    Banned
    • Jun 2004
    • 4272

    #2
    Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

    I dont have a problem with retiring Clemente's number anymore than I did Jackie Robinson's but his daughter raises a fair point. In actuality though, I would have preferred that they not do this for anyone but its not something I feel so passionately about.

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    • SPTO
      binging
      • Feb 2003
      • 68046

      #3
      Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

      Jackie's daughter makes a great point. I personally wouldn't retire Clemente's number but one can make an argument that he signaled the arrival of the hispanic/latin influence in MLB.
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      • ExtremeGamer
        Extra Life 11/3/18
        • Jul 2002
        • 35299

        #4
        Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

        In my opinion, no number should be retired across all teams. Jackie's #42 should be only retired on the Dodgers, as Clemente's 21 should only be retired for Pittsburgh. I mean this for all sports as well. I understand the retiring of both numbers, but just stating my opinion of it.

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        • jLp_vAkEr0
          MVP
          • Sep 2002
          • 1506

          #5
          Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

          As a Puertorican, it would be an honor to see Clemente's number retired.

          But I do see Ms. Rodinson's point.

          Like she said, maybe baseball should find another way to honor Clemente.

          At the same time, if they ever do retire his number, I won't mind at all and all Puerto Ricans and latinos should feel proud about something like that.

          Comment

          • ehh
            Hall Of Fame
            • Mar 2003
            • 28962

            #6
            Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

            I don't think Clemente's number should be retired either.

            A) Socially/racially he didn't accomplish anywhere near the feats that Jackie Robinson did.

            B) This wouldn't even be a discussion if not for his tragic death.

            C) If he does get his number retired across all of baseball, then this will start an ugly trend of EVERYONE trying to get certain numbers retired.


            Hell, Lou Gehrig's #4 should be retired across all of baseball before Clemente's should, IMO.
            Last edited by ehh; 01-25-2006, 09:15 AM.
            "You make your name in the regular season, and your fame in the postseason." - Clyde Frazier

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            • SoMiss2000
              Hall Of Fame
              • Oct 2002
              • 20499

              #7
              Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

              Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier for ALL other races to play in the majors....end of story. That's why his number deserves the honor that it has.
              "Never trust a big butt and a smile."-Ricky Bell
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              • mjb2124
                Hall Of Fame
                • Aug 2002
                • 13649

                #8
                Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                I'm pretty torn as Clemente is one of my favorite all-time players.

                On one hand he was a great baseball player who died way too young trying to deliver much needed supplies to the less fortunate. That's pretty heroic in my book and something that is severly lacking in today's society. It's obviously different than what Jackie Robinson did, but should not be put on a different level in terms of impact. I'm sure the starving and those that had no clothing that Clemente was trying to help would agree with that.

                However, I'm also of the belief that NO player should have his number retired across the game. Not Clemente, not Jackie Robinson. If the teams a player plays on wants to retire the number, so be it. However, I don't really like the idea of retiring numbers across the board.

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                • mjb2124
                  Hall Of Fame
                  • Aug 2002
                  • 13649

                  #9
                  Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                  Originally posted by ehh
                  Hell, Lou Gehrig's #4 should be retired across all of baseball before Clemente's should, IMO.
                  Just curious, why? Gehrig didn't do anything more than Clemente did in terms of social impact and helping others.

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                  • glucklich
                    Banned
                    • Jun 2004
                    • 4272

                    #10
                    Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                    Originally posted by joeboo
                    I'm pretty torn as Clemente is one of my favorite all-time players.

                    On one hand he was a great baseball player who died way too young trying to deliver much needed supplies to the less fortunate. That's pretty heroic in my book and something that is severly lacking in today's society. It's obviously different than what Jackie Robinson did, but should not be put on a different level in terms of impact. I'm sure the starving and those that had no clothing that Clemente was trying to help would agree with that.

                    However, I'm also of the belief that NO player should have his number retired across the game. Not Clemente, not Jackie Robinson. If the teams a player plays on wants to retire the number, so be it. However, I don't really like the idea of retiring numbers across the board.
                    I agree. Its hard to quantify what Jackie lived through verse, say, what Clemente died for. It's hard to put one over the other. And I also agree they shouldnt retire one players number across the board. I guess one ironic backdrop to this though is that, while Jackie's number is retired, fewer blacks are playing baseball and there are fewer blacks in MLB to the extent that MLB is making this a focus. On the other hand, there is no shortage of hispanic ball players, many of which hold Clemente in the highest regard.

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                    • daflyboys
                      Banned
                      • May 2003
                      • 18238

                      #11
                      Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                      Maybe they could change the MLB logo to have an outline of Clemente from some picture (as the NBA does of Jerry West) as an honor?

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                      • Birdsonbat
                        MVP
                        • Feb 2003
                        • 1003

                        #12
                        Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                        Don't remember if it was "When It Was Game" I or II, but one of the guys said something to the effect of "The only number that should be retired across baseball is the no. 3." I agree with this statement.

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                        • USF11
                          C*rr*ntly *n L*f* T*lt
                          • Jun 2003
                          • 4245

                          #13
                          Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                          Well, I know won thing the Player's Association should push to have Curt Flood's # retired. Without him they wouldnt be making the bank.
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                          • ehh
                            Hall Of Fame
                            • Mar 2003
                            • 28962

                            #14
                            Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                            Originally posted by joeboo
                            It's obviously different than what Jackie Robinson did, but should not be put on a different level in terms of impact.

                            I'm sorry but I have to disagree with that. What Jackie Robinson did was a once-in-a-history event that changed the landscape of professional sports (and arguably more) in America forever. The effects were seen back then, they are seen today, they will be seen a hundred years from now.

                            What Clemente did was certainly noble and should be recognized, but there are hundreds of pro athletes that help the poor, starving, etc. Just look at all the contributions after Katrina. Granted he tragically died doing so which puts him on another pedastle than other athletes who are philanthropists, but it's not even that close to what Robinson did, IMO.




                            And as for my Gehrig comment, I was just saying that Gehrig's death was just as tragic and he was a better ball player as well. Though I don't believe either should have their jersey retired.
                            "You make your name in the regular season, and your fame in the postseason." - Clyde Frazier

                            "Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren Buffet

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                            • Misfit
                              All Star
                              • Mar 2003
                              • 5766

                              #15
                              Re: Jackie Robinson's daughter: Don't retire Clemente's number

                              Jackie Robinson deserved to be recognized by all of baseball and having his number retired throughout the sport accomplished that. That's not to say that Clemente does not deserve some time of recognition (though there already is the Roberto Clemente Award) but if MLB decides they want to single him out for his deeds then they should do it in a different way that is unique to the memory of Roberto Clemente. No one else should ever have their number retired across all of baseball.

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