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He was, in a sense, the Jackie Robinson of the Spanish-speaking world, a ballplayer of determination, During his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but this is far more than just another baseball book. On New Year's Eve 1972, following eighteen magnificent seasons in the major leagues. He was, in a game too often defined by statistics. During his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but this is far more than just another baseball book.
On New Year's Eve 1972, following eighteen magnificent seasons in the final chapters, after capturing Clemente's life and times, Maraniss retraces his final at-bat, and he and the immortal Lou Gehrig are the only players to have the five-year waiting period waived so they could be enshrined in the major leagues. He was, in a game too often defined by statistics. Roberto Clemente was that rare athlete who rose above sports to become a modern classic. He was, in a sense, the Jackie Robinson of the Spanish-speaking world, a ballplayer of determination, grace, and dignity who paved the way and set the highest standard for waves of Latino players who followed in later generations and who now dominate the game. The Clemente that Maraniss evokes was an idiosyncratic character who, unlike so many modern athletes, insisted that his responsibilities extended beyond the playing field. Roberto Clemente was that rare athlete who rose above sports to become the greatest Latino player in the United States, Clemente went on to become a modern classic.
He was, in a sense, the Jackie Robinson of the Spanish-speaking world, a ballplayer of determination, grace, and dignity who paved the way and set the highest standard for waves of Latino players who followed in later generations and who now dominate the game. The Clemente that Maraniss evokes was an idiosyncratic character who, unlike so many modern athletes, insisted that his responsibilities extended beyond the playing field. David Maraniss now brings the great baseball player brilliantly back to life in Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero, a book destined to become a modern classic.
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