El Magnífico

It was the final game of the 1971 World Series. That’s the biggest baseball championship in the United States. The score was 0-0. The announcer boomed, “Number 21 . . . Roberto Clemente!”

Clemente stepped up to the plate. His team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, was expected to lose to the Baltimore Orioles. But Clemente had promised his teammates they would win.

He had beaten tough odds before. Clemente was a Black Latino baseball player from Puerto Rico. He faced discrimination throughout his career. His great talent was often overlooked. But Clemente was always proud of who he was and where he came from. Now he wanted to show the world that he was one of the best players.

Clemente raised his wooden bat over his shoulder and waited. The crowd held its breath. Then the pitcher wound up, and the ball whizzed through the air.

Clemente was born in a small town in Puerto Rico in 1934. As a kid, he loved playing baseball more than anything else. Each day after school—and sometimes all day on weekends—Clemente played with his friends and siblings. They didn’t have much money. So they carved bats from branches. They sewed gloves from coffee sacks. They made baseballs from old socks and string.

Clemente watched a lot of baseball too. His father would give him 25 cents for a ticket and bus fare to see his favorite team, the San Juan Senadores. Clemente dreamed of playing baseball professionally.

It wasn’t long before that dream came true. By the time he was in high school, Clemente could play better than many adult players. In 1952, when he was just 18, he joined a professional team in Puerto Rico.

Soon after that, the biggest baseball league in the U.S.—Major League Baseball—came calling.

Clemente was born in 1934 in a small town in Puerto Rico. That’s an island that’s part of the U.S. As a kid, he loved playing baseball. Each day after school, Clemente played with his friends and brothers and sisters. They didn’t have much money. So they carved bats from branches. They made baseballs from old socks and string.

Clemente watched a lot of baseball too. His father would give him 25 cents for a ticket and bus fare to go see his favorite team play. Clemente dreamed of playing professional baseball.

It wasn’t long before that dream came true. By high school, Clemente could play better than many adult players. In 1952, when he was just 18, he joined a professional team in Puerto Rico.

Soon after that, the biggest baseball league in the U.S.—Major League Baseball—wanted to hire him.

In 1955, Clemente joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was a big accomplishment. But Clemente’s career was taking off at a troubling time in U.S. history.

Racist laws and customs in the South—where the Pirates trained—kept Black people and White people separate. That meant Black players couldn’t stay at the same hotels or eat at the same restaurants as their White teammates.

Clemente had never experienced segregation before. He was shocked to learn that Black players had to wait on the team bus while White players ate at restaurants. After Clemente spoke up, the Pirates provided a car so Black players could drive to places that would serve them.

As one of the only Latino players on the Pirates, Clemente felt like even more of an outsider. His first language was Spanish. When he spoke English, sports reporters made fun of his accent. They pronounced his name wrong. Or they called him “Bob” or “Bobby,” which Clemente found insulting.

Baseball became his only joy. Clemente made impossible catches and lightning-fast throws. In 1960, he helped the Pirates win the World Series for the first time in more than 30 years. As he left the stadium, someone yelled, “There’s Clemente!” Cheering fans surrounded him.

Clemente had won over the people of Pittsburgh.

In 1955, Clemente joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as a right fielder. This was a big achievement. Clemente’s career was taking off. But it was a troubling time in U.S. history.

Racist laws and ways in the South—where the Pirates trained—kept Black people and White people separate. This was called segregation. That meant Black players couldn’t stay at the same hotels as their White teammates. They couldn’t eat at the same restaurants.

Clemente had never experienced segregation before. He was shocked to learn that Black players had to wait on the team bus while White players ate at restaurants. Clemente spoke up. Then the Pirates provided a car so Black players could drive to places that would serve them.

As one of the only Latino players on the Pirates, Clemente felt like an outsider. His first language was Spanish. When he spoke English, sports reporters made fun of his accent. They pronounced his name wrong. Or they called him “Bob” or “Bobby.” Clemente found this insulting.

Baseball became his only joy. Clemente made impossible catches and lightning-fast throws. In 1960, he helped the Pirates win the World Series. As he left the stadium, someone yelled, “There’s Clemente!” Cheering fans surrounded him.

Clemente had won over the people of Pittsburgh.

There was one group Clemente still couldn’t win over, though: sports reporters. After the World Series, they voted for a Most Valuable Player award. Clemente hoped to win. Instead, the reporters ranked him eighth. Clemente was deeply hurt. He felt the reporters had not voted for him because he was Black and his English wasn’t perfect.

Clemente channeled his anger into his work. His skills got even better. He began winning awards. During interviews, he continued to speak out against racism.

In 1971, Clemente led the Pirates back to the World Series. In the final game, the score was tied 0-0. Clemente stood at the plate as the ball flew toward him.

Crack! Clemente sent the ball soaring across the field. The crowd cheered wildly as the announcer cried, “A Clemente home run!”

The home run rallied the team. The Pirates beat the Orioles 2-1. They won the World Series!

Right after the game, Clemente was named Most Valuable Player. TV reporters interviewed him in the locker room. Clemente spoke to the world in Spanish. He said it was “el día mas grande de mi vida”—“the greatest day of my life.”

It was the first time anyone had spoken Spanish during a Major League Baseball game on live television. And it touched Spanish speakers around the world.

Soon, Clemente began to think about life after baseball. He wanted to help others. Already, he gave free baseball lessons to kids in Puerto Rico. He donated money to feed hungry people.

“Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on this Earth,” Clemente once said.

In December 1972, a massive earthquake hit a country in Central America called Nicaragua. Thousands died. Many more were left homeless. Clemente sprang into action.

He boarded a flight to deliver food and medicine. But right after takeoff, an engine failed. The plane dived into the Atlantic Ocean. No one survived the crash.

At just 38 years old, Clemente was gone.

People mourned Clemente. He was a hero, both on and off the field. Less than three months after his death, he became the first Latino player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Hundreds of schools, hospitals, and parks were named for Clemente. There’s even a Roberto Clemente Day every September. On that day in 2020, Puerto Rican baseball players wore Clemente’s number, 21, to honor him. “He represented all of us,” said Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets. “And now it’s our turn to represent him.”

Wesay Metoxen, 10, has been playing lacrosse since he was a little kid. But lacrosse is more than a sport to him. It’s a sacred tradition.

Wesay is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. His ancestors belonged to a group of Native American nations that’s been playing lacrosse for about 1,000 years. Early games could last for days. They could include hundreds of players. But lacrosse wasn’t just a sport. These nations played—and still play—to make communities stronger. Games are often part of ceremonies.

In the U.S., 770,000 kids of all backgrounds play the sport. It’s based on the early games that Native Americans played. But many don’t know the game’s Native roots. Here, Wesay talks about his love for lacrosse and the connections it has to his culture.

When did you start playing lacrosse?

I’ve always been around the game. Growing up, I watched my older brother, Lohatiyo, play lacrosse. He taught me how to shoot, catch, and throw—all the fundamentals of lacrosse. I’ve played and loved the game since I can remember.

How did you learn about the history of the sport?

Lacrosse comes from our tribe’s creation story, which is the story our tribe tells to explain how the world came to be. So I heard a lot about lacrosse at tribal school. Oneidas sometimes gather to play lacrosse traditionally, like our ancestors played it. We call it the “medicine game” because we play to heal and bring our community together.

When did you start playing lacrosse?

I’ve always been around the game. Growing up, I watched my older brother, Lohatiyo, play lacrosse. He taught me how to shoot, catch, and throw—all the fundamentals of lacrosse. I’ve played and loved the game since I can remember.

How did you learn about the history of the sport?

Lacrosse comes from our tribe’s creation story, which is the story our tribe tells to explain how the world came to be. So I heard a lot about lacrosse at tribal school. Oneidas sometimes gather to play lacrosse traditionally, like our ancestors played it. We call it the “medicine game” because we play to heal and bring our community together.

Have you ever played lacrosse traditionally? What is it like?

Yes! I’ve played it for ceremonies. When I first played, I felt scared because you can get hurt. There’s no padding, and the ball is made of wood instead of rubber or plastic. Also, at the beginning of the game, we do a loud yell together called a war whoop. It’s energizing to play—and I think it’s more fun than new lacrosse!

What do you want people to know about lacrosse?

I want people to know that Native Americans invented lacrosse and that we are still alive and playing today.

What’s your advice to kids who want to start playing lacrosse?

It’s hard when you start, but keep playing and don’t give up! Keep practicing and you will get better.

Have you ever played lacrosse traditionally? What is it like?

Yes! I’ve played it for ceremonies. When I first played, I felt scared because you can get hurt. There’s no padding, and the ball is made of wood instead of rubber or plastic. Also, at the beginning of the game, we do a loud yell together called a war whoop. It’s energizing to play—and I think it’s more fun than new lacrosse!

What do you want people to know about lacrosse?

I want people to know that Native Americans invented lacrosse and that we are still alive and playing today.

What’s your advice to kids who want to start playing lacrosse?

It’s hard when you start, but keep playing and don’t give up! Keep practicing and you will get better.