By The Star Staff
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 6751), a bipartisan initiative led by Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) that aims to commemorate the legendary Puerto Rican baseball player and humanitarian Roberto Clemente through the creation of a commemorative coin.
“As the only representative of Puerto Rico in Congress I feel proud that the House has honored one of our own by approving this law that assures us that the life and legacy of Clemente are recognized forever through this commemorative coin,” González Colón said in a written statement. “The income from this coin will benefit the Roberto Clemente Foundation and its important community work.”
Espaillat stressed the transcendence of Clemente not only as a baseball icon, but as a humanitarian committed to social justice. “From breaking barriers to giving help to the needy, the impact of Clemente goes much further than sports,” he said.
Clemente, who played 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, was the first Latino to enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. He was inducted in 1973, less than three months after losing his life in a plane crash off the coast of Carolina on Dec. 31, 1972, while attempting to deliver relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
He was the winner of the National League Most Valuable Player award (1966) the World Series MVP award (1971) and 12 consecutive Gold Gloves as a right fielder (1961-1972).
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