BRADENTON, Fla. – A section of the street in front of Pirate City, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training complex, was renamed “Roberto Clemente Memorial Way” on Wednesday in honor of the late Pirates great and Hall of Fame right fielder.
For Roberto Clemente Jr., the symbolism is as important as the sign because it illustrates how far the state has come from the days of segregation that his father endured in the 1950s and ‘60s.
“We have celebrated a lot of naming of streets but nothing this special,” Clemente Jr., joined by his brother Luis, said before the ceremony. “As the story goes, obviously we know what he went through in spring training in Florida, to the point that he asked to have a station wagon for the guys to be able to travel together because they couldn’t stay with team wherever they went to. So here, hence we are at Pirate City, the team decided to have a place where all of them to stay together. I think he was a big part of that story, to have Pirate City.”
Roberto Clemente Jr. talks about the section of the street in front of Pirate City being named in honor of his father, the Hall of Fame Pirates right fielder. pic.twitter.com/JAO1gie1Y8
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 21, 2024
For Clemente Jr., the Pirate City connection runs deep. It was where his father stayed while with the Pirates and where Roberto Jr. stayed while playing at Manatee Junior College.
“It was a home for him in spring training. It was a home for me in college,” Clemente Jr. said. “I was the first person — and only person — to stay in his room that he stayed in.”
Luis and Roberto Clemente Jr. at Pirate City today, chatting with Pirates manager Derek Shelton and owner Bob Nutting before the ceremony renaming a section of the street in front of the spring training facility in honor of their father. pic.twitter.com/j4JyKBYP6s
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 21, 2024
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved that the county-owned section of 27th Street East be named in honor of Clemente, who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while delivering humanitarian supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
“It’s a great, great emotional day, being the 21st of the month,” Clemente Jr. said. “So many reach out and celebrate the 21st of the month as an act of kindness. We’re celebrating a beautiful day. We’re very honored that they decided to do this main road here the Roberto Clemente (Way). We’re very honored. …
“It’s truly amazing that, after 51 years, his legacy continues to be so strong. Another namesake always grows every year. We’re talking about the U.S. Mint coin. We go down the whole list of things that are happening with his name and with him that is truly a blessing.”
