Roberto Clemente’s Puerto Rico Winter League Career, Part II

Click here to read Part I of this article on Roberto Clemente’s Puerto Rico winter league career.

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Roberto Clemente with San Juan in 1959. (Courtesy of Thomas Van Hyning.)

 

In August 1959, Roberto Clemente was traded from Caguas of the Puerto Rico Winter League to San Juan, with Canenita Allen and José “Palillo” Santiago for minor-league outfielders Herminio Cortés, Rafael Sálamo, and $30,000.1 Cortés played for York and Sálamo with Sioux City in the low minors. Allen insisted he was an “insurance policy” in case Clemente rested that winter.2 Caguas coveted Cortés; he led the 1958-59 San Juan Senators in batting average (.291) and homers (10).3 José M. Rivera, president of the San Juan club, officially accepted this trade via an August 15, 1959, letter to league President Carlos García de la Noceda.4 A month later, Clemente signed his San Juan contract for $800 per month plus $200 per month for expenses.5

DEVOTED SAN JUAN SENATORS AND MONTE IRVIN FAN

Clemente idolized Monte Irvin, San Juan’s superstar in 1945-47. He traveled from Carolina to Sixto Escobar Stadium by public transportation to see Irvin play. After 1945-46 early season games, Clemente waited for Irvin to come out of the ballpark so he could have a close glimpse of his favorite ballplayer.6 As the season progressed, Clemente made an impression on Irvin outside the ballpark before San Juan games. Irvin told M​LB.​com’s Tom Singer, “There’d be youngsters hanging around, and we’d let kids carry our bags to get in the park for free. Roberto and Orlando Cepeda, they were always there together.… Clemente always told me he developed a throwing arm like mine because he’d always admired the way I threw the ball.”7

Clemente once told Freddie Thon Jr. that he was “a big fan of my dad (Freddie Thon Sr.) and Monte Irvin, and always rooted for San Juan.”8 (Thon Sr. was San Juan’s right fielder in 1945-47 and a starting pitcher in 1940-42, during Irvin’s first two seasons with the Senators.) After a Clemente season with Pittsburgh, he would bring in a large amount of suits, pants, and shirts for cleaning at Freddie Thon Cleaners, located in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, before expanding to other locations.9

SPLENDID 1959-60 SEASON

A 25-year-old Clemente wore number 21 for the 1959-60 Senators, managed by Nino Escalera. They became close friends and developed a bond, which lasted until Clemente’s untimely passing.10 “Roberto and I were PRWL rivals in the 1950s but this changed when I managed him [1959-60] and was his San Juan teammate,” noted Escalera. “We thought alike when it came to baseball strategy and looked out for each other.… He was a younger brother to me.”11 (Palillo Santiago gave the author a ride to Escalera’s home and indicated that the 1959-60 San Juan team chemistry was outstanding.)12

Clemente’s .330 batting average in the 1959-60 season trailed Caguas’s Vic Power (.347) and Mayagüez’s Ramón Conde (.336). Power remembered Clemente playing with a bad back. “Even though he played hurt, Roberto toiled with pride and was a winner,” said Power. “Because of his bad back I wasn’t sure Roberto was going to be the superstar he became from 1960 on, but (I) felt he would always give his best effort.”13

Clemente’s hustle was evident; his six triples trailed Escalera’s league-leading seven, and surpassed the five hit by Mayagüez’s Ray Barker and San Juan teammate Carlos Bernier.14 San Juan games were broadcast on the radio in English and Spanish thanks to businessman Bob Leith Sr. Phil Rizzuto broadcast the games in English, while Luis Olmo did Spanish transmissions – the first time in Puerto Rico’s baseball history that radio broadcasts were carried in both languages.15 “It didn’t take Phil long to realize this was a hotbed of baseball down here,” said Leith. “Olmo did a great job, too, with the Spanish version.”16 Olmo added, “I enjoyed covering Roberto’s exploits from the booth. He was a more complete player than he was with Santurce, mid-1950s.”17

San Juan (41-23) edged Caguas (39-24) for the pennant and upended Mayagüez in a six-game semifinal series. Caguas bested Santurce and then knocked off San Juan, five games to one, to qualify for the February 1960 Caribbean Series in Panamá.

A 1960-61 TITLE AND INTER-AMERICAN SERIES IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA

Bob Leith Sr., San Juan’s new owner, forgot to send player contracts out by the deadline. All San Juan players were technically free agents, which drew the attention of the press and radio stations. Clemente, via Pittsburgh, came through like a true pro. Leith remembered their phone conversation. “Forget about it,” said Clemente. “I’ll sign for the same amount I made last year, $1,000 per month.”18 The contract was signed by all parties on December 15, 1960.19

Clemente was everybody’s hero in Puerto Rico after Pittsburgh won the 1960 World Series. He took the first half (32 games) off, before playing the second half, one where San Juan (23-9) qualified for the finals after a 16-16 first-half.20 The Senators and Caguas Criollos again faced off in a best-of-nine final. San Juan emerged victorious, winning five games and losing three.

In 29 games, Clemente went 31-for-109, a .284 batting average. Canenita Allen played right field in the first half. Luis Arroyo, Clemente’s friend, won 10 games and league MVP honors. Lefty hurler Jim Archer noticed Clemente’s leadership qualities. “Clemente drove us to win that second half,” Archer declared. “He was a superstar and set a positive example for all.”21 Horace Clarke, a San Juan utility infielder, remembered Clemente being “nice to all the young San Juan players.”22

Luman Harris, a Baltimore Orioles coach, managed San Juan. Lee MacPhail Jr., Baltimore’s GM/president, agreed to send Orioles prospects to San Juan, including Jerry Adair, Jack Fisher, and Wes Stock.23 Leith’s friendship with Rizzuto brought him in contact with MacPhail. Leith recalled how Brooks Robinson interrupted a meeting in Baltimore between Leith and MacPhail and tried to pass as a rookie. Robinson played in Colombia and Cuba from the mid- to late 1950s and enjoyed it.

In Game One of the finals, on February 1, 1961, Clemente, in right field, witnessed a 536-foot homer hit by Frank Howard off Jack Fisher at Sixto Escobar Stadium, which was shared by the Senators and Santurce. Howard’s homer was the second longest in PRWL history, after one estimated at 600 feet by Josh Gibson for Santurce on March 1, 1942.24

San Juan, reinforced by Orlando Cepeda and Juan Pizarro from Santurce, traveled to Caracas for a four-team Inter-American Series, arranged due to the political situation in Cuba. Clemente solved a tense situation when San Juan’s stateside imports wanted more money to play in Venezuela. “Clemente told me, ‘Bob, let me handle this,’” said Leith. “So he closed the door to our dressing room and reminded [the imports] that their contract said they get the same salary for playing in the Inter-American Series as they got in Puerto Rico.… If anyone refused to honor their contract, he would be the first one to call [Commissioner] Ford Frick.” Leith called this 10-minute episode the shortest strike in baseball history. No one argued with Clemente.25

San Juan was blanked twice by Bob Gibson of the Valencia Industrialists, series champs from Venezuela. The second was a 1-0 gem.26 Leith recalled Clemente’s reaction to seeing Gibson warming up before his first start versus San Juan. “Clemente says to me, ‘We’re in trouble. ‘I say, ‘Why?’ ‘You see that pitcher warming up [per Clemente]? Well, he throws aspirins!’”27

MEL STEINER RHUBARB, 1961-62

On October 23, 1961, Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, and Luis Arroyo were welcomed to the Governor’s Mansion (La Fortaleza) and recognized by Governor Luis Muñoz Marín for 1961 major-league accomplishments, including Clemente’s batting title.28 San Juan was languishing in fifth, at 23-33, in the 80-game season. Senators fans clamored for the 1961 National League batting champ to play. Canenita Allen did his best, but Clemente’s return helped San Juan win 18 of 24 contests to tie Arecibo for fourth. Clemente went 18-for-66, a .273 batting average.29

The one-game playoff was at Sixto Escobar Stadium on January 23, 1962, the final regular-season game there. (New Hiram Bithorn Stadium opened in 1962-63.) Clemente played some center field for San Juan. Prior to the one-game playoff, Arecibo beat San Juan thanks to a bases-loaded double by rookie Art López, who felt he “had a future in baseball” after this double – which Clemente could not catch – with key implications for his career.30

Arecibo’s Phil Niekro was removed early in the tiebreaker by skipper Luis Olmo. Clemente batted against Claude Raymond with the bases loaded in the second inning of a game tied, 3-3. Germán Rivera, Arecibo’s shortstop, recalled: “Roberto bounced one up the middle on a 3-and-2 pitch. We got the force and there was a close play at first base and umpire Mel Steiner called him out. Nino and Napoleón Reyes [San Juan’s manager] came up to Steiner and there were punches thrown. I intervened and tried to break up the fight.”31 In the mêlée, Steiner suffered torn ligaments in his left arm and a shoulder sprain. Escalera claimed Steiner had his hand up with the “out” sign before the ball reached first base. “I was willing to go back on the field when Steiner sarcastically told Reyes, our Cuban manager, to go back to Cuba. I told Reyes he should not take this and then it happened – Reyes bumped Steiner with his huge belly.…32

Arecibo won the game. According to Clemente’s version, made public several days later, Tommie Aaron did not tag him or have his foot on the base. “Steiner’s angle was not a good one. I argued the call, but my teammate Chico Ruiz grabbed me to keep Steiner from giving me the heave. If I had said something vulgar or even hit Steiner, he would have thumbed me out of the game.”33

A hearing was held, attended by game umpires Doug Harvey, Paul Pryor, and Steiner, and Clemente, Escalera, and Reyes. Escalera was fined $50 and suspended for the first 10 games of the 1962-63 season. Reyes got a $100 fine and a three-week suspension to start 1962-63. Clemente was exonerated.34 He managed the Rio Piedras Cardinals (Goya) Double-A amateur team in February 1963 due to his friendship with team official Caguitas Colón and compiled a 4-2 won-loss month.35

BATTING CHASE WITH TONY OLIVA (1963-64) AND NICARAGUA INTER-AMERICAN SERIES

Clemente’s .345 average (61-for-177) trailed Arecibo’s Tony Oliva (.365) and Ponce’s Walt Bond (.349).36 Arecibo’s Art López (.337) and San Juan’s Jerry McNertney (.333) finished fourth and fifth. San Juan, 15-22 on December 4, 1963,37 won 20 of its final 33 games. Les Moss replaced Joe Buzas and piloted the club to the title. San Juan had a Chicago White Sox flavor with catcher McNertney, infielders Don Buford, Deacon Jones, and Marv Staehle, and pitchers Joel Horlen and Fritz Ackley. Palillo Santiago opined that a good chemistry developed between these White Sox prospects, Clemente, and others, beyond a typical “working agreement” between Chicago and San Juan.38 McNertney saw a hitter in batting practice driving bullets into the outfield of Hiram Bithorn Stadium. He asked one teammate about the hitter, who was wearing uniform number 21. (McNertney had just replaced John Bateman on the roster.) “Clemente played every winter game hard – to win,” recalled McNertney. “He played 150-plus big-league games, plus spring training. It had to be tough for him even though it was in front of his home fans. To see him come there and work so hard was very impressive.39

Staehle noticed that San Juan fans lit matches one night during a postseason game. He looked over to Cocó Laboy, playing third, and asked him what was going on. Laboy replied, “A funeral. We’re burying them and they’re holding a funeral.”40 Staehle asserted that Clemente never forgot where he came from. “His people were first, and he played because of that. He didn’t need to play; he loved the people over there and that’s why he played. I speak proudly that I was a teammate of his.”41

Clemente made $700 a month in 1963-64, plus $200 a month for expenses.42 His highest PRWL salary was $1,000 a month, according to Table I, and $500 per month (1969-70) was his top compensation for travel, food, and related expenses.43

Third-place San Juan (35-35) disposed of second-place Ponce (36-34) four games to two in the semifinals and then beat fourth-place Mayagüez, in a five-game final.44 Palillo Santiago recalled Clemente’s best 1963-64 catch.

“In the finals against Mayagüez, I had a one-run lead with two outs in the ninth. Boog Powell was at the plate. I threw him a fastball. It was 420 feet to dead center in Mayagüez and quite dark. The lights weren’t too bright in that part of the stadium. Powell got hold of it, but Clemente was playing in center. He turned around, slid into the fence. It must have been dead quiet for five minutes, when he caught the ball with his back facing the infield. The game was over.”45

The Senators traveled to Managua, Nicaragua, for the February 1964 Inter-American Series. San Juan reinforced itself with Cepeda, Pizarro, José Pagán, Horace Clarke, and Conde, but split six games, losing twice to Cinco Estrellas (5-1 record), one of two Nicaraguan teams.

Clemente went 7-for-19 (.368 batting average) with three RBIs.46 He also lost a fly ball in the sun during one game and raced away from a native reptile in another when a fan in the bleachers threw a huge iguana toward Clemente, in right, and he bolted to the dugout. Palillo Santiago affirmed that Nicaraguan soldiers bearing rifles were stationed in the dugout for some games. Clemente, though, was a fan favorite and made a lot of friends. “What an irony,” noted Santiago. “This experience is transformed into a mission to help the people of Nicaragua and history tells us what Roberto Clemente did for that country.”47 Art López, who reinforced Cinco Estrellas, scored the winning run in the final game versus San Juan on a sacrifice fly by Leo Posada. “We did the little things to win,” said López. “I admired Clemente but felt vindicated after finding out the Puerto Rico sportswriters left me off the final All-Star Team in the PRWL.… Should have been on it with Clemente and Oliva.”48

 

 

PLAYER-MANAGER (1964-65)

San Juan (34-36) finished fourth under Cal Ermer, and player-manager Clemente. Ermer noted that San Juan’s brass wanted Clemente to manage so he would play on an everyday basis. He attended Clemente’s November 14, 1964, wedding, and liked him a lot. “Roberto had just started playing and we lost a tough doubleheader,” said Ermer. “The owners asked me to resign, but I told them, ‘I didn’t come here to resign, so put it in the paper and fire me.’ Clemente was always hustling and played hard just like in the States. The first game he managed, he got hurt.”49

Ermer was fired on December 21, 1964, by GM Pepe Seda.50 As manager, Clemente was 9-12.51 He played in 14 games and hit .385 (15-for-39), with three doubles, two triples, two homers, seven RBIs, and a .718 slugging percentage.52 His managerial debut against Mayagüez and star pitcher Dennis McLain featured two doubles and a pair of RBIs, but he twisted his left ankle on the second double and took himself out of the lineup for a few games. His first managerial win came on December 27 in game two of a twin bill against Arecibo. “I’m only doing this [managing] until they get someone else,” stated Clemente.53

A night was held in Clemente’s honor on December 30 when Ponce visited San Juan. He received trophies from the Senators’ board of directors and three Santurce fans. Ponce owner Yuyo González presented him with a plaque.54

Don Buford led San Juan regulars in hitting and developed a fine rapport with Clemente. Suffering from a bad knee, Buford accompanied Clemente on visits to a chiropractor. Buford remembered how managing responsibilities caused a little added pressure on Clemente, but he was very loose, in a sense, and did not interfere with his players. “A typical Clemente pep talk was, ‘You guys know how to play; stay fundamentally sound and we’ll be OK,’” said Buford. “It wasn’t like Clemente had the San Juan players do additional things.”55

 

 

Clemente inserted Canenita Allen in right while he recuperated from a lawn-mowing accident at his home after a sharp rock hit him on the thigh. Clemente felt better by January 6 and suited up for the Latin American team in the all-star game, and singled as a pinch-hitter for skipper Olmo, but his upper thigh ligament had been partially severed and was held together by a thin strand. After treatment, Clemente told a reporter, “The doctor told me that it will take some time for the injury to heal. Rest for now.…”56

In the semifinals, Santurce (41-28) upended San Juan in six games. Marv Staehle, now with Santurce, conversed with Clemente and recalled that Roberto and coach José “Pantalones” Santiago were focused, personable, and friendly.57 Rubén Gómez won the final game in relief when Tony Pérez drilled a three-run homer in the 10th. “I played against Roberto in Puerto Rico and the National League, and with him on [National League] All-Star teams, said Pérez. “That [1964-65] playoff homer for Santurce was special – Roberto was in the other dugout.”58

Tommie Sisk blanked Santurce in Game Two after refusing a $1,500 offer by Águilas Cibaeñas (Dominican Republic club) to pitch in a Caracas four-team tournament. He was impressed by Clemente’s courage, leadership ability, and playing skills. (Sisk’s locker was next to Clemente’s his six years in Pittsburgh.) “Bobby was very proud of being a Puerto Rican. He never did anything dishonorable to his country. We were very good friends.… He was the best ballplayer I ever saw. I was in Puerto Rico to work on certain things and don’t ever remember being as tired from playing the game on a year-round basis.”59

A TWO-YEAR SABBATICAL (1965-67)

Clemente had two pinch-hit at-bats for the 1965-66 Senators and did not play in 1966-67. Joe Hoerner, Clemente’s San Juan teammate in 1963-65, said the fifth-place Senators (31-39 in 1965-66) missed Roberto’s presence in the 1965-66 season. “We had Sam Bowens in right, Jesús Alou in center and Danny Cater in left. The White Sox sent Duane Josephson and Tommy John to our club.”60

(The author attended a Clemente baseball clinic at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in late 1966. Clemente illustrated hitting techniques and baserunning tips, and shared stories. Participants kept a certain distance from him when he took batting practice. The author’s father (Sam, economic adviser to the governor with FOMENTO) mentioned a 1966 Clemente visit to La Fortaleza, the governor’s mansion, related to him by island Governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella. Clemente was particularly interested in Puerto Rico’s vibrant economy.61 “Clemente was very intelligent,” recalled Sam J. Van Hyning. “Sánchez Vilella said that Clemente, then in his early 30s, covered technical topics and asked probing questions.”62

Sam and the author saw Clemente play a spring-training game for Pittsburgh vs. the New York Yankees at Bithorn Stadium on April 2, 1967. Juan Pizarro started for Pittsburgh, giving this game a Santurce-San Juan flavor.)

DON ZIMMER REUNION (1967-68)

In 1967-68, Clemente joined the Senators after Don Zimmer replaced Preston Gómez as San Juan’s skipper. Archrival Santurce, managed by Earl Weaver, had a working agreement with the Baltimore Orioles. Santurce (47-22) won the regular season over Caguas (43-27), San Juan (36-34), Ponce (34-36), Arecibo (28-41), and Mayagüez (21-49). Zimmer was fired by GM Tuto Saavedra on December 15, 1967, and replaced by coach Pantalones Santiago.63 Zimmer enjoyed living at the La Rada Hotel in the Condado section of Santurce and managing future Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Clemente. “I appreciated Roberto,” reminisced Zimmer. “We were [Santurce] teammates in the mid-1950s. The San Juan-Santurce rivalry was like the Red Sox-Yankees.”64 Clemente’s debut on December 3, 1967, was a four-hit effort, including a homer, vs. Arecibo.65 A week later, Pat Dobson fanned 21 Arecibo hitters to set a league nine-inning mark.66 Bench caught, and Clemente saw very little action in right.

Prior to a Caguas-San Juan contest at Bithorn Stadium, Pirates GM Joe L. Brown made a surprise visit to the visitors’ clubhouse. Brown introduced himself and told Caguas’s Art López about a potential incentive to join the Bucs organization at the Triple-A level in 1968. Per López, Brown said, “If you have a good year at Columbus, we split the Rule 5 Draft amount – half of $25,000 or $50,000 – if you are selected by another team.”67 López replied, “I appreciate you and Roberto [Clemente], but I’m going to Japan.” Brown shook López’s hand and left, but López “was forever grateful to him and Roberto – who must have put in a good word for me – for their kindness.”68

Clemente’s .382 batting average (26-for-68) and .629 slugging percentage69 placed him on the league all-star team, along with four teammates, Bench, Tony González, Lee May, and Tony Taylor, who spoke for his Cuban countrymen when he called Roberto “The Great One.”70 May emphasized that Clemente helped him in his baseball thinking. “I would try to apply some of Roberto’s ideas to my game,” he said. Clemente’s hospitality during the holidays made an impact on May as well. “They showed us a good time and I’ll always be thankful to Roberto and his wife [Vera].”71 Ted Savage, a Caguas outfielder, remembered Clemente as “the kind of guy who would take you home and feed you – a baseball player’s baseball player.”72

Caguas, managed by Nino Escalera, topped San Juan, four games to one, in the semifinals. Escalera managed Clemente in the January 1 all-star game, on the native team.73 From February 8 to 15, Clemente was in Caracas, for a weeklong exhibition series. The 18-player Puerto Rico contingent comprised 16 Puerto Ricans and two US Virgin Islanders (Joe Christopher and Elrod Hendricks), natives for PRWL purposes.74

COT DEAL MANAGES CLEMENTE (1969-70) AND SPECIAL WINTER MEETING

Clemente rested during the 1968-69 winter, while Sparky Anderson managed San Juan. Pedrín Zorrilla was introduced as San Juan’s 1969-70 GM at a March 13, 1969, press conference.75 Zorrilla signed Cot Deal, who played against Clemente in 1952-54, to manage the Senators. Deal cherished managing Clemente. “Roberto made a statement to a friend from Puerto Rico, stating, ‘I’ve never played for a manager that I enjoyed playing for more.’”76 San Juan (33-36) missed the postseason by one game. In 38 games, Clemente, was 40-for-135, a .296 batting average. Teammate Thurman Munson batted .333.77 Clemente told Munson, “If you hit under .280, it should be considered a bad season.”78

The December 13-14 annual winter meeting of the Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Board was held at the Sheraton Hotel in the Condado. Clemente represented Pittsburgh as the Pirates player rep – the first Latino/Caribbean native to be one. He showed his support for Curt Flood, a special guest.79 Luis R. Mayoral noted that Clemente “was an intellectual – could have had a track and field scholarship (javelin) at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus; had the know-how to do front-office work for a big-league club … but never had it in him to be a long-term manager.”80

CLEMENTE TAKES SAN JUAN’S REINS (1970-71)

“San Juan owner Mario ‘Mayito’ Nevárez asked Clemente to manage San Juan as a favor,” affirmed Mayoral.81 Nino Escalera was at home in July 1970 when Clemente called him from Pittsburgh, and asked his old friend to join San Juan as a coach, adding, “Escalera could have the position for 1971-72.”82 Clemente’s other coach was Clemente “Sungo” Carrera. During a preseason team workout, Escalera, complaining of severe back pains, was unable to do his coaching. Clemente gave Escalera a massage, one which completely solved this back problem the rest of Escalera’s life.83

Clemente and Frank Robinson, Santurce’s skipper, took their lineup cards to home plate just before the October 22, 1970, season opener at Bithorn Stadium. Bacardí Rum was the team’s corporate sponsor. Nearly 20,000 paying fans (full seating capacity was 19,979) were in the stands when a power failure delayed the game’s start for two hours. By the time San Juan’s Ken Brett threw the opening pitch, the crowd had swelled to roughly 25,000 rabid souls.84

Brett commented on Clemente: “We loved him. There were times he would get frustrated because we didn’t play at the level he expected us to play. I’ll never forget the time he decided to play to prove his points. He was a hero down there; the people went crazy and it helped attendance.”85 Brett (8-3, 3.00 ERA) was Clemente’s ace. Brett and Jim Lonborg (2-3, 4.93) were encouraged to pitch for San Juan by Palillo Santiago (5-1, 3.35). “Lonborg [and Brett] thought this was a good idea and so did Boston,” noted Santiago. “We shared some good times.… Lonborg wasn’t completely recovered from his (skiing) injury, but began showing signs of improvement.”86

Clemente counted on Pittsburgh prospects Dave Cash, Al Oliver, and Manny Sanguillén. All played well for Clemente, but Cash and Oliver returned to the States before the postseason. Shortstop Freddie Patek hit exceptionally well (.338, 136 at-bats) when Clemente informed Patek on December 2, 1970, that Pittsburgh had traded him to the Kansas City Royals.87 Patek returned to the States. Ken Singleton was Clemente’s most consistent hitter, with a .300 batting average, 6 home runs, and 38 RBIs.88 Singleton appreciated Clemente’s advice and hospitality.89 He elaborated: “Roberto Clemente was a true professional who gave me valuable advice on baseball and life within it. I’ll never forget his views on discipline, concentration, dedication, and setting high goals, and by season’s end, I would be pleasantly surprised by my accomplishments.”90

The January 6, 1971, all-star game pitted Clemente’s natives against Frank Robinson’s imports. Special guest Marvin Miller threw out the first pitch. The natives prevailed 4-1, giving Clemente a 1-0 managing record in these contests.91 On January 16 Clemente doubled off Mayagüez’s Juan Veintidós for his final PRWL regular-season hit and only one in 1970-71, in four at-bats.92

Second-place San Juan (37-30) faced off against third-place (37-32) Santurce in the semifinals, won by the Crabbers, four games to two. Clemente’s clutch two-run pinch-hit single helped San Juan win Game Three, on January 22.93 Game Five featured Clemente hitting third, on January 25. Juan Pizarro faced San Juan’s Jim Colborn. Santurce led 1-0 in the top of the fourth, when Clemente and Sanguillén singled, putting runners on first and third. Singleton flied to Reggie Jackson, the league home-run champion, in right. Jackson’s best throw of the season nailed Clemente at home, and kept San Juan from a big rally.94 Santurce won, 2-1.

Ken Brett, voted the left-handed pitcher on the final 1970-71 league all-star team, felt Clemente’s managing inexperience showed in terms of running a game. “He was a wonderful man and a great player, but as far as running a game, he didn’t do a great job. He had a very short temper at times about the way we played, because, let’s face it, he took it very seriously. It was his team, and he was going to get credit or the blame for how the team played. As a result of our lackluster play at times, he got very mad at us and the guys would put towels over their faces and kind of laugh a bit – not at him [but] as a reaction to what was happening.”95

Frank Robinson watched Clemente’s growth as a major leaguer from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s. “I really can’t judge him as a manager,” Robinson said. “But with some more experience [he] would have made an outstanding major-league manager.”96

Coincidentally, Santurce Crabbers fans rooted for Frank Robinson and the 1971 Baltimore Orioles in their World Series versus Pittsburgh. Puerto Rico’s baseball aficionados identified with their Winter League team, when following a big-league club. Santurce’s working agreement with Baltimore, 1966 to 1972, was the impetus behind Crabbers fans cheering for Baltimore. Conversely, San Juan Senators fans of the early 1970s closely followed Pittsburgh, due to Clemente and various Pirates who reinforced the Senators in that era. Historian Jorge Colón Delgado confirmed this: “Our fans [then] closely followed their favorite Winter League teams,” noted Colón Delgado. “Now, they follow MLB teams, with players from Puerto Rico on their roster.”97

With San Juan, Clemente played nine winter seasons, posting a .323 batting average (263 hits in 815 at-bats), 45 doubles, 12 triples, 18 homers, 139 RBIs, and a .466 slugging percentage. He scored 129 runs and stole 23 bases.98 Clemente’s lifetime .324 PRWL batting average (621-for-1,917) is fourth-best, behind Willard Brown (.350), Francisco “Pancho” Coímbre (.337), and Pedro “Perucho” Cepeda (.325).99 Clemente’s regular-season managing record with San Juan was 46-42, plus 4-8 in the postseason, or 50-50 overall.

BILL VIRDON AND JON MATLACK REMEMBER CLEMENTE FROM 1971-72

Bill Virdon managed the 39-30 Senators to a pennant and final series appearance versus Ponce. Virdon’s respect for Clemente never wavered: “I saw him quite often in Puerto Rico,” said Virdon. “Roberto would come to some of our games. He was an exceptional human being – very articulate, very sharp, very smart. I can’t say enough about Roberto as a teammate, someone who I coached and managed.”100

Jon Matlack, his wife, other San Juan imports, e.g., Bob Johnson, Bruce Kison, Milt May, Rennie Stennett, and Richie Zisk, were invited to Clemente’s Trujillo Alto home. Matlack had “vivid memories of the 1971-72 PRWL season and visit to the Clemente home.”101

1972 AMATEUR WORLD SERIES AND PRWL NAME CHANGE

Clemente managed Puerto Rico to a 9-6 record (sixth-place tie) in the 16-team XX Amateur World Series hosted by Managua, Nicaragua, November 15-December 5, 1972. Dennis Martínez, a 17-year-old hurler with Bronze Medal Nicaragua, noted: “Roberto Clemente has served as an inspiration to me since my days as an amateur baseball player in Nicaragua. He is the reason why I devote so much time and energy to charitable work for youth.”102

On May 18, 2012, the PRWL officially changed its name to Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente).103 Circling back to Clemente’s October 20, 1991, induction into the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, his widow, Vera, told the author: “Roberto played just as hard in Puerto Rico as in the majors. He felt very strongly about pleasing the local fans and did not want to let them down.”104

 

Acknowledgments

Grateful acknowledgment to Marcial “Canenita” Allen, Jim Archer, Luis “Tite” Arroyo, Ken Brett, Don Buford, Orlando Cepeda, Horace Clarke, Vera Clemente, José Crescioni Benítez, Cot Deal, Cal Ermer, Nino Escalera, Rubén Gómez, Bob Leith Sr., Art López, Jorge Fidel López Vélez, Jerry McNertney, Lee MacPhail Jr., Dennis Martínez, Jon Matlack, Lee May, Luis R. Mayoral, Luis R. Olmo, Tony Pérez, Juan “Terín” Pizarro, Vic Power, Raúl Ramos, Germán Rivera, Frank Robinson, José “Palillo” Santiago, Ted Savage, Ken Singleton, Tommie Sisk, Marv Staehle, Tony Taylor, Freddie Thon Jr., Bill Virdon and Don Zimmer, for phone/in-person interviews, text messages, Facebook messenger, and emails. Jorge Colón Delgado—Official Historian, Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League—provided Clemente’s PRWL stats and uncovered his final PRWL regular-season hit. Stew Thornley wrote Clemente’s SABR bio.

 

Notes

1 José “Palillo” Santiago in-person interview with Tom Van Hyning, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 30, 1992. All in-person interviews, letters, emails, Facebook messenger and phone calls cited are between the subjects and the author.

2 Marcial “Canenita” Allen in-person interview, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, December 15, 1991.

3 Roberto Inclán, Senadores de San Juan, 1938-39 al 1982-83 (San Juan, Puerto Rico: San Juan Baseball Club, 1983), 25.

4 Jorge Fidel López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua” (Colombia: Editorial Nomos S.A., 2019), 102.

5 López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua” (Colombia: Editorial Nomos S.A., 2019), 104-106.

6 Luis Rodríguez Mayoral, Roberto Clemente aún escucha las ovaciones (Hato Rey, Puerto Rico: Ramallo Brothers Printing, 1987), 64.

7 Bill Ladson, “Monte Irvin Was Close to Breaking Color Barrier,” m​lb.​com, April 29, 2020, h​ttps:​//www​.mlb.​com/n​ews/a​-look​-at-m​onte-​irv​in. Accessed September 19, 2021.

8 Freddie Thon Jr. via Facebook messenger, September 19, 2021.

9 Thon Jr. via Facebook messenger, September 19, 2021. Thon Cleaners was originally a partnership between Hiram Bithorn and Thon Sr. The latter bought out Virginia Bithorn after her husband died. The company once had a dozen vans and drivers who could do pickups at customers’ homes.

10 Tony Oliver, Nino Escalera SABR biography, h​ttps:​//sab​r.org​/biop​roj/p​erson​/nino​-esca​lera/. Accessed September 9, 2021.

11 Nino Escalera in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 30, 1992.

12 José “Palillo” Santiago conversation, en route to Escalera’s home, December 30, 1992.

13 Vic Power in-person interview, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, December 28, 1991.

14 José A. Crescioni Benítez, El Béisbol Profesional Boricua (San Juan, Puerto Rico: Aurora Comunicación Integral, September 1997), 99.

15 The Sporting News, October 21, 1959: 26.

16 Bob Leith Sr. in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 28, 1992.

17 Luis R. Olmo in-person interview, Santurce, Puerto Rico, December 1, 1993.

18 Leith in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 28, 1992. Leith mentioned a $1,500 figure, but the actual signed contract was for $1,000, including expenses.

19 López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua” (Colombia: Editorial Nomos S.A., 2019), 112-114.

20 Inclán, 27.

21 Jim Archer phone interview, October 27, 1992.

22 Horace Clarke phone interview, February 1, 1993.

23 Lee MacPhail Jr. letter, February 2, 2011. MacPhail was a high-school and Swarthmore College classmate of the author’s mother, Paula S. Van Hyning, and remembered her.

24 El Mundo, March 3, 1942; Thomas E. Van Hyning, The Santurce Crabbers: Sixty Seasons of Puerto Rican Winter League Baseball (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1999), 16. Freddie Thon Jr., father of Dickie Thon, witnessed this blast.

25 Bob Leith Sr. in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 28, 1992.

26 The Sporting News, February 22, 1961: 27.

27 Leith in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 28, 1992.

28 El Mundo, October 24, 1961.

29 h​ttps:​//www​.beis​bol10​1.com​/robe​rto-c​lemen​te-​3/. Accessed September 16, 2021.

30 Art López phone interview, April 15, 2021.

31 Germán Rivera in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 29, 1992.

32 Nino Escalera in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 30, 1992.

33 El Mundo, January 26, 1962.

34 San Juan Star, February 4, 1962.

35 Phone conversation with Jorge Fidel López Vélez, September 23, 2021.

36 José A. Crescioni Benítez, El Béisbol Profesional Boricua (San Juan, Puerto Rico: Aurora Comunicación Integral, September 1997), 107.

37 The Sporting News, December 14, 1963: 28.

38 José “Palillo” Santiago in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 30, 1992.

39 Jerry McNertney phone interview, November 14, 1991.

40 Marv Staehle phone interview, December 5, 1991.

41 Marv Staehle phone interview, December 5, 1991.

42 López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua” (Colombia: Editorial Nomos S.A., 2019), 133-135.

43 López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua,” 176-178.

44 Inclán, Senadores de San Juan, 1938-39 al 1982-83, 32.

45 José “Palillo” Santiago speech inducting Roberto Clemente into the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, Ponce, Puerto Rico, October 20, 1991. Santiago was the master of ceremonies.

46 López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua,” 142.

47 José “Palillo” Santiago conversation, en route to Nino Escalera’s home, December 30, 1992.

48 Art López phone interview, March 25, 2021. López received an offer from a colonel in the Nicaraguan Armed Forces, who flew to San Juan; and had López flown to Managua, Nicaragua. Tony Oliva reinforced the 1963-64 Licey Tigers, in the Dominican Republic, after the PRWL season ended. López, Oliva, and others could make extra money in other winter leagues. Clemente never opted to do this, when San Juan was eliminated from contention.

49 Cal Ermer phone interview, June 17, 1992.

50 The Sporting News, January 9, 1965: 24.

51 López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua,” 212.

52 h​ttps:​//www​.beis​bol10​1.com​/robe​rto-c​lemen​te-​3/. Accessed September 20, 2021.

53 The Sporting News, January 9, 1965: 27.

54 Thomas E. Van Hyning, Puerto Rico’s Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball’s Launching Pad (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1995), 67.

55 Don Buford in-person interview, Binghamton (New York) Municipal Stadium, April 1992.

56 Van Hyning, Puerto Rico’s Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball’s Launching Pad, 67.

57 Marv Staehle phone interview, December 5, 1991. San Juan-Santurce was an intense rivalry but players, coaches, and managers conversed with each other before and after the games.

58 Tony Pérez in-person interview, Lake City, Florida, March 1993.

59 Tommie Sisk phone interview, October 27, 1991.

60 Joe Hoerner phone interview, December 5, 1991.

61 FOMENTO was Puerto Rico’s lead economic development agency. Its mission was to attract a variety of companies and industries to build Puerto Rico’s economic base.

62 Sam J. Van Hyning Jr. conversation with the author, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, December 1966. FOMENTO formulated “Operation Bootstrap” to transform the Island’s economy from an agrarian to an industrial one. Puerto Rico’s economy in the mid- to late 1960s, included good-paying jobs in the petrochemical industry, and numerous manufacturing plants benefiting from federal tax exemption.

63 The Sporting News, December 30, 1967: 47.

64 Don Zimmer in-person interview, Winter Haven, Florida, March 1992.

65 Miguel Frau, “Clemente Signals Return with a Four-Hit Barrage,” The Sporting News, December 16, 1967: 47.

66 The Sporting News, December 23, 1967: 47.

67 Art López email, March 13, 2021. h​ttps:​//sab​r.org​/biop​roj/p​erson​/art-​lop​ez/. Accessed September 22, 2021.

68 Art López email, March 13, 2021. h​ttps:​//sab​r.org​/biop​roj/p​erson​/art-​lopez/. Accessed September 22, 2021.

69 h​ttps:​//www​.beis​bol10​1.com​/robe​rto-c​lemen​te-​3/. Accessed September 22, 2021.

70 Tony Taylor in-person interview, Cocoa Expo Stadium, Florida, March 1993.

71 Lee May in-person interview, Baseball City, Florida, March 1992.

72 Ted Savage phone interview, May 14, 1992.

73 Miguel Frau, “Cepeda, Clemente Go Native for Annual All-Star Contest,” The Sporting News, January 6, 1968: 53.

74 López Vélez, Roberto Clemente: “El astro boricua,” 172-173.

75 Jorge Colón Delgado, Pedrín Zorrilla: El Cangrejo Mayor (Colombia: OP Gráficas, 2011), 445.

76 Ellis “Cot” Deal phone interview, October 28, 1991.

77 Estadísticas de Béisbol Profesional, Temporada 1969 (San Juan, Puerto Rico: Palo Viejo, October 1970), 22.

78 Jimmy Keenan and Frank Russo, Thurman Munson SABR biography, h​ttps:​//sab​r.org​/biop​roj/p​erson​/thur​man-m​unson/. Accessed September 23, 2021.

79 David Maraniss, The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006), 230-233.

80 Luis R. Mayoral phone interview, September 2, 2021.

81 Luis R. Mayoral phone interview, September 2, 2021.

82 Nino Escalera in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 30, 1992.

83 Raúl Ramos phone conversation, September 22, 2021.

84 Van Hyning, The Santurce Crabbers: Sixty Seasons of Puerto Rican Winter League Baseball, 114.

85 Ken Brett phone interview, October 28, 1991.

86 José “Palillo” Santiago in-person interview, San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 30, 1992.

87 Jeff Barto, Freddie Patek SABR biography, h​ttps:​//sab​r.org​/biop​roj/p​erson​/fred​die-p​atek/. Accessed September 23, 2021.

88 Inclán, Senadores de San Juan, 1938-39 al 1982-83, 36.

89 Ken Singleton written responses to the author’s PRWL survey, November 1992.

90 Luis R. Mayoral, Ken Singleton: buen pelotero, gran narrador y mejor persona, October 3, 2021, h​ttps:​//www​.beis​bol10​1.com​/ken-​singl​eton-​buen-​pelot​ero-g​ran-n​arrad​or-y-​mejor​-per​sona/. Accessed October 7, 2021. Singleton received the 1982 Roberto Clemente Award, the one he cherishes the most, per this blog.

91 Van Hyning, The Santurce Crabbers: Sixty Seasons of Puerto Rican Winter League Baseball, 116.

92 h​ttps:​//www​.beis​bol10​1.com​/robe​rto-c​lemen​te-​3/. Accessed September 23, 2021.

93 Van Hyning, The Santurce Crabbers: Sixty Seasons of Puerto Rican Winter League Baseball, 117.

94 El Mundo, January 26, 1971.

95 Ken Brett phone interview, October 28, 1991.

96 Frank Robinson in-person interview, Camden Yards, Baltimore, August 4, 1993.

97 Jorge Colón Delgado phone conversation, October 5, 2021.

98 h​ttps:​//www​.beis​bol10​1.com​/robe​rto-c​lemen​te-​3/. Accessed September 23, 2021.

99 h​ttps:​//www​.beis​bol10​1.com​/lide​res-d​e-tod​os-lo​s-tie​mpos/. Accessed September 23, 2021.

100 Bill Virdon in-person interview, Bradenton, Florida, March 1993.

101 Luis R. Mayoral Facebook post, June 20, 2021.

102 XX Campeonato Mundial de Béisbol Amateur, Managua, Nicaragua (1972), January 21, 2017. h​ttps:​//dep​ortes​ciney​otros​.com/​2017/​01/01​/xx-c​ampeo​nato-​mundi​al-de​-beis​bol-a​mateu​r-man​agua-​nicar​agua-​1972/. Accessed September 23, 2021; Dennis Martínez interview, West Palm Beach, Florida, March 1992. Cuba won Gold and the United States got Silver. Martínez was 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA in the 1972 Amateur World Series. h​ttps:​//sab​r.org​/biop​roj/p​erson​/denn​is-ma​rti​nez/. Accessed September 28, 2021.

103 h​ttps:​//www​.prim​eraho​ra.co​m/dep​ortes​/beis​bol/n​otas/​nace-​la-li​ga-de​-beis​bol-p​rofes​ional​-robe​rto-c​lemen​te/. Accessed September 17, 2021.

104 Doña Vera viuda de Clemente in-person interview, Ponce, Puerto Rico, October 20, 1991.