‘He lived in a flash’: Roberto Clemente Jr. speaks with 4 The Record about his father’s legacy
New documentary “Clemente” will be debuting soon
ON. FOR THE RECORD, PITTSBURGH. THEY CALL HIM THE GREAT ONE. NUMBER 21. ROBERTO CLEMENTE CELEBRATING A LEGEND. HE LIVED IN A FLASH, BUT THAT FLASH WAS VERY IMPACTFUL. ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR TALKS ABOUT HIS FATHER’S LEGACY. HE DID THINGS DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT PEOPLE SHARE WITH ME THAT ARE AMAZING. THIS AS A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE LIFE OF ROBERTO CLEMENTE, IS SET TO DEBUT IN JUST A MATTER OF DAYS. DID HE KNOW HE LOOKED THAT COOL? HOW DID HE DO THAT? PLUS, IN JUST THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF TODAY’S SHOW, ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR SHARES AN HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT. I’M VERY EXCITED. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THAT DAY TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT IN THE BOOKS. FOR THE RECORD. STARTS NOW. WELCOME TO. FOR THE RECORD, I’M MICHELLE WRIGHT. TODAY CELEBRATING NUMBER 21 WITH A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE LIFE OF ROBERTO CLEMENTE, SET TO PREMIERE IN JUST A MATTER OF DAYS. I SIT DOWN WITH HIS SON, ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR, TO TALK ABOUT THE PIRATES LEGEND, WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT AT THE AGE OF 38. CLEMENTE JR SAT DOWN WITH ME AT THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER TO DISCUSS HIS FATHER’S LEGACY, AS WELL AS TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. TAKE A LOOK. ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR. JOINING US NOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MEETING WITH US. YOU HAVE A LOT GOING ON HONORING YOUR FATHER. CLEMENTE. THE DOCUMENTARY IS COMING OUT SOON, AND IT’S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BASEBALL CAREER, ALL THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, SOME RACISM YOUR FATHER FACED AT THE TIME. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR FATHER’S STORY IS STILL SO POWERFUL ALL THESE YEARS LATER? YOU KNOW, MICHEL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THE NAME CLEMENTE, BASEBALL SECONDARY, IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT THE HUMAN INTEREST STORY. AND THIS HAS BEEN CAPTIVATED, CAPTURED IN THIS DOCUMENTARY WHERE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE WENT THROUGH, THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY MOTIVATED HIM TO DO BETTER, AND THE THINGS THAT REALLY CHANGED THE OUTCOME OF HIS LIFE. SO WE’RE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE FANS. A LOT OF FANS KNOW ABOUT HIM, THE LITTLE THAT THEY KNOW. THEY’RE BIG FANS OF HIS. BUT THIS DOCUMENTARY IS GOING TO REALLY TEACH HIM A LOT ABOUT CLEMENTE. AND YOU BROUGHT THIS UP DURING HIS 18 SEASONS HERE. HE EARNED THE NICKNAME THE GREAT ONE, NOT ONLY FOR HIS BASEBALL, BUT ALSO FOR EVERYTHING HE DID OFF THE FIELD. HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO YOU TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE REMEMBER ALL HE DID IN TERMS OF HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS? IT TOOK 38 YEARS OF HIS LIFE. I MEAN, HE WAS GONE AT AGE 38. 53 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, THAT WE’RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT HE HAD IN OUR SOCIETY IN 38 YEARS. SO THAT KIND OF GOES TO SHOW YOU, I MEAN, HE LIVED IN A FLASH, BUT THAT FLASH WAS VERY IMPACTFUL. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE DOCUMENTARY. ARE WE GOING TO LEARN ANYTHING NEW ABOUT YOUR FATHER? I AM SURE I AM POSITIVE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN I’VE HAD SOME PEOPLE TALK TO ME ABOUT. THEY WATCHED IT, THEY CRIED, THEY LAUGHED, BUT THEY LEARNED SOMETHING NEW THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW. EVEN THOUGH THEY’RE VERY BIG FANS. DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING NEW? FOR ME, IT WAS MORE CONFIRMATION. CONFIRMATION OF WHO HE WAS. I EXPERIENCED A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF THE FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE DOCUMENTARY. HE WE WOULD BE IN THE CAR AND HE WOULD STOP THE CAR. HE SAW KIDS IN A IN A PLAY, YOU KNOW, A PLAYING BALL. HE WOULD STOP THE CAR, GET OUT OF THE CAR AND GO PLAY WITH THEM HERE IN PITTSBURGH, IN PITTSBURGH, PUERTO RICO, IT DIDN’T MATTER WHERE WE WERE. HE WOULD SEE A KID. AND THAT IS ACTUALLY CAPTURED IN THE DOCUMENTARY. WHAT A THRILL THAT WOULD BE TO BE JUST PLAYING BASEBALL AT A FIELD AND HAVE ROBERTO CLEMENTE JOIN YOU FOR YOUR GAME. HOW WAS IT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WATCHING THIS FILM? WOW. WE’RE VERY PROUD OF OF THE FINAL PRODUCT, BUT IT WAS A WORK OF LOVE. DAVID TORI YORGEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. I WAS A VERY TOUGH JOB TO HAVE SO MANY STORIES WITHIN THE STORY AND BE ABLE TO THREAD THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT IS VERY SPECIAL, SO WE’RE VERY PROUD. HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO YOU TO HAVE YOUR CHILDREN WATCH THE FILM ABOUT THEIR GRANDFATHER? YOU KNOW, THEY’RE GROWING UP, THEY’RE STILL YOUNG. THEY’RE THEY’RE BIG ONES, ARE ADULTS. THEY UNDERSTAND WHO WHO? YOU KNOW WHO HE IS BECAUSE HE’S STILL ALIVE FOR US. AND. THE THE YOUNG ONES ARE LEARNING MORE AND MORE. THEY’RE GETTING INVOLVED IN CHARITY WORK. BUT EVERY TIME THEY LOOK AT A PICTURE, THEY RECOGNIZE GRANDPA, BUT THEY’RE UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW PEOPLE REACT TO THE NAME BECAUSE OF HOW GOOD OF A HUMANITARIAN HE WAS. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT. YEAH. THEY MUST BE SO PROUD LEARNING ABOUT HIM. SO THIS ALL COORDINATES WITH ROBERTO CLEMENTE DAY. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU TO HAVE THAT DAY RECOGNIZED? WE ARE. I MEAN, WE’RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, SEPTEMBER 15TH NOW IS THE OFFICIAL CLEMENTE DAY, THE START OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL MADE IT OFFICIAL. SO THAT MADE US GAVE US A STANDING DATE THAT WE CAN LEAD INTO. IT, INTO THE LIKE WE’RE DOING THIS YEAR. WE ARE LEADING INTO CLEMENTE DAY THE 15TH, STARTING WITH THE 12TH, WITH THE AMBASSADOR’S DINNER FOR THE CLEMENTE FOUNDATION ON THE 13TH. WE HAVE A TOURNAMENT FOR THE LITTLE LEGENDS 21 THAT IT WILL BE VERY EXCITING TO ANNOUNCE. AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO PREPARE THOSE KIDS TO REALLY EMBRACE HOW TO BECOME A UNIT AS A TEAM MEMBER, BUT ALSO, IF YOU PLAN TO BRING A SIBLING OR A FRIEND TO THE TOURNAMENT, I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU THEY’LL BE SEPARATED, BECAUSE NOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU LEARN YOUR YOU MEET NEW PEOPLE IN YOUR IN YOUR CIRCLE AND BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO INTERACT WITH NEW PEOPLE AND BECOME A TEAM. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING NOW THAT’S BRAND NEW, THAT YOU ARE READY TO ANNOUNCE TO US ABOUT SOMETHING NEW. THE PIRATES ARE DOING FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU’VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOR YEARS. TELL US ABOUT THIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I ALWAYS SAY PITTSBURGH HAS BEEN A HOME FOR ME. VERY PROUD OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PIRATES. I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING, YES, FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS TO START THE SPANISH BROADCAST. THE PIRATES DON’T HAVE A SPANISH BROADCAST. UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE’S AN AUDIENCE OUT THERE THAT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, THEY LIKE TO HEAR IT IN SPANISH AND AND BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THEM. IT’S VERY SPECIAL. SO SEPTEMBER 15TH ON CLEMENTE DAY OUT OF PNC PARK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, THE PIRATES WILL HAVE THE BROADCAST DIRECTLY OUT OF PITTSBURGH IN SPANISH. SO FOR THAT DAY. SO THIS YEAR I’M VERY EXCITED. HOPEFULLY IT WE’RE GOING TO BE GROWING NEXT YEAR. BUT WE START ONE ONE DAY ON CLEMENTE DAY. WHAT A THRILL. AND YOU REALLY INITIATED THAT. HOW DOES THAT FEEL I MEAN I’M VERY EXCITED. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THAT DAY TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT IN THE BOOKS. IT’S SOMETHING THAT I’VE BEEN REALLY WANTING TO DO BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT IT DOES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT’S A SPECIAL MOMENT. I’M VERY PROUD AND EXCITED TO TO BE PART OF IT. AND STILL TO COME ON, FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS A DEAD SILENCE. IT SEEMED THE WHOLE ISLAND KIND OF STOPPED THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR TALKS ABOUT THAT FATEFUL NEW YEAR’S EVE MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, WHEN HIS FATHER’S LIFE WAS CUT SHORT IN AN INSTANT. WELCOME BACK TO FOR THE RECORD. AS WE CONTINUE MY CONVERSATION WITH ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR, WE TURN TO THE TRAGIC SUBJECT OF HIS FATHER’S SUDDEN DEATH. ROBERTO CLEMENTE, THE GREAT ONE KILLED IN A PLANE CRASH WHILE ON A HUMANITARIAN MISSION ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, 1972. LISTEN NOW TO WHAT CLEMENTE JR SAYS ABOUT THAT UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT. LET’S BRING UP SOMETHING THAT’S TOUGH AND THAT IS THE PLANE CRASH THAT TOOK YOUR FATHER’S LIFE WAY TOO SOON. HE WAS 38, I BELIEVE. TELL ME HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND THE IMPACT IT HAD ON YOUR FAMILY. MICHEL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WOKE UP THAT MORNING EXCITED. WE HAD A PARTY. WE HAD A NEW YEAR’S PARTY IN PUERTO RICO, AND WE HAD PEOPLE FLYING IN FROM PITTSBURGH, FROM ALLENTOWN, FROM PHILADELPHIA. AND WE WERE VERY EXCITED. SO I, YOU KNOW, EVERY MORNING WE SAY, BENDICION BLESS ME. AND I’M WALKING TOWARDS HIM AND I GET TO HIM AND I HAVE NO IDEA. HE HAD DECIDED TO FLY THAT DAY TO NICARAGUA. AND WHEN I APPROACHED HIM, IT JUST A MESSAGE CAME OUT, DON’T GET ON THAT PLANE BECAUSE THE PLANE TO HIM DON’T GET ON THAT PLANE. THE PLANE’S GOING TO CRASH. HOW OLD WERE YOU? SEVEN. I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. IT WAS A PREMONITION, I SAID I KNEW, I JUST FELT IT. IT JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. AND HE LOOKED AT ME. HE SAID, I’LL SEE YOU WHEN I COME BACK. I SAID, NO, THAT PLANE IS GOING TO CRASH. AND I KNEW THAT IN THE FROM FOR SOME REASON. I JUST KNEW IT. AND SO MY GRANDPARENTS HOUSE, A PHONE CALL CAME IN. I WAS IN MY MY WITH MY AUNT IN HER ROOM. EXCUSE ME. AND MY MOTHER HAD COME IN. SHE WAS STILL PICKING UP OUR FRIENDS AT THE AIRPORT AND CAME IN FOR A NAP. AND I HEARD A SCREAM. OUR PHONE CALL CAME IN. I HEARD HER SCREAM. I WENT AFTER I RAN OUT, I THEY HAD TAKEN HER OUT TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT FOR ME A LITTLE BIT? WHAT WAS IT LIKE THERE? OH, IT WAS DEAD SILENCE. IT SEEMED THE WHOLE ISLAND KIND OF STOPPED. I DIDN’T WE DIDN’T GO HOME FOR THREE DAYS. THEY TOOK US AWAY BECAUSE MOM WAS AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. 24 HOURS. WAS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE BODY. SO IT WAS IT WAS TOUGH. IT WAS THE SEA OF PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. I CAN RECALL. I MEAN, EVERY SCENE LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. SO IT WAS. IT WAS A VERY SURREAL FEELING. THAT AND KNOWING THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO SEE THAT AGAIN. WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY THERE IS TODAY, HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED TRYING TO RECOVER ANY OF THE PLANE? YOUR FATHER’S BODY WAS NEVER FOUND. ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THAT? MAYBE ONE DAY BRINGING THE PLANE BACK UP? OH, I’VE HAD PLENTY OF CONVERSATIONS, INCLUDING WITH THE GOVERNMENT, SOME TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE. AND THERE’S. THERE’S A BIG DECISION TO BE MADE. THE LOCATION OF THE PLANE WAS FOUND. ACTUALLY, THE. NOW, THE PROBLEM NOW, BECAUSE OF ALL THE YEARS THAT THE PLANE HAS BEEN UNDER WATER. BY TRYING TO BRING IT UP, BY THE TIME IT HITS AIR, THE AIR HITS IT. IT WILL DISINTEGRATE. SO IT IS NOW A NATURAL BURIAL SITE FOR FOR THE FOR DAD AND FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM THAT THAT WENT UP TO NICARAGUA. ARE YOU AT PEACE WITH THAT? I AM, I TRULY YOU KNOW, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET HERE. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO TO REALLY LIVE WITHOUT THE GUILT THAT I DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO STOP HIM FROM GETTING ON THAT PLANE. SO I KIND OF IT’S BEEN IT’S BEEN A TOUGH ONE. IT’S BEEN VERY TOUGH BECAUSE EVERY, EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE THAT I WALK OUT THE DOOR, I’M TALKING ABOUT HIM. I’VE MISSED HIM EVER SINCE THAT DAY. AND OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE WHERE I CAN, YOU KNOW, GO AND VISIT, WHICH WE DO, WE DO WE, WE GO AND VISIT THE, THE BEACH AND WHERE WHERE THE SITE IS. AND IT HAS NOW NAMED A HISTORIC SITE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO NOW IT’S WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD SOMETHING THERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND VISIT AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS. ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING SOMETHING BEING BUILT THERE RIGHT NOW? YES. ABSOLUTELY YES. WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE READY? WE’RE WE’RE IN CONVERSATIONS. THERE WAS A CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR TWO DAYS AGO IN PUERTO RICO. SO WE’RE WE’RE WE’RE IN THE MIDST WE’RE IN THE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW AND BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING. HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR TO WHERE WE CAN CELEBRATE AND HAVE PEOPLE COME OUT AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS. WHEN PEOPLE APPROACH YOU TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FATHER, I IMAGINE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN PITTSBURGH, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH YOUR DAD. WHAT KIND OF STORIES DO YOU HEAR FROM PITTSBURGHERS ABOUT YOUR DAD AND THE IMPACT HE HAD ON THEM? SO MANY FROM FROM PLAYING CATCH, STOPPING A CAR IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND GETTING OUT OF THE CAR TO A MAN WHO WAS ACTUALLY HIS CAR BROKE DOWN AND HE MET ME. HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS MAN JUST GAVE ME SOME MONEY TO FIX MY CAR TO DO THIS. AND THEN LATER ON, I FOUND OUT IT WAS YOUR FATHER. SO HE DID THINGS DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT PEOPLE SHARE WITH ME THAT ARE AMAZING. JUST LITTLE DETAILS, JUST LITTLE ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT GO A LONG WAY. AND I THINK THAT IN ITSELF, FOR US, IT’S IT’S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY AND BE ABLE TO REALLY. JUST STEP FORWARD TO A CALL OF ACTION TO TO BE ABLE TO BECOME A BETTER GLOBAL CITIZEN. STILL AHEAD, MORE ON ROBERTO CLEMENTE’S LEGACY AND THE PUSH TO CONTINUE TO KEEP IT ALIVE. MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AFTER HIS DEATH. WELCOME BACK TO, FOR THE RECORD. YOU SEE IT AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY GAME AT PNC PARK. FANS HOLDING UP SIGNS THAT READ RETIRE 21 A PUSH TO RETIRE THE NUMBER ONCE WORN BY THE GREAT ONE, ROBERTO CLEMENTE. THE CLEMENTE MUSEUM EVEN SELLS A T SHIRT DEDICATED TO THAT MESSAGE. FOR MORE ON THAT EFFORT AND A FURTHER LOOK AT STRUGGLES CLEMENTE FACED DURING HIS DAYS PLAYING BASEBALL, LET’S GO BACK TO MY INTERVIEW WITH HIS SON, ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR. LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RACISM THAT YOUR FATHER FACED. HE WAS IN BASEBALL AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR HIM. TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT. AND WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THAT TIME? YOU KNOW, JACKIE ROBINSON CAME IN IN 47. HE CAME UP IN 55. AND THE RACIAL TENSION WAS STILL THERE. IT WAS NOT EASY PICKING. AND FOR HIM, HE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT HE HAD TWO STRIKES AGAINST HIM BECAUSE NOT ONLY THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER AND THE CULTURAL BARRIER. THE THREE STRIKES REALLY. SO WHEN HE WENT TO THE HILL DISTRICT, BY THE WAY, AND SO HE FELT LIKE, WAIT A SECOND. SO ON THE WHITE SIDE, I’M BLACK, ON THE BLACK SIDE, I AM A FOREIGNER BECAUSE I DON’T SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE. I MAY LOOK LIKE THEM, BUT I AM AN OUTSIDER. SO HE WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NO MIDDLE RIGHT AND HE FELT. THAT HE NEEDED TO TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE HIS PLACE. AND THAT’S WHAT HE DID. I THINK THE THE MARINES HELPED HIM A LOT WHEN HE ACTUALLY WENT INTO BASIC TRAINING, NOT ONLY AS FOR THE ATHLETICISM AND STRENGTH, BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF THE DISCIPLINE AND BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH SITUATIONS THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH OUTSIDE OF THE GAME. JACKIE ROBINSON’S NUMBER WAS RETIRED. DO YOU THINK NUMBER 21 SHOULD ALSO BE RETIRED? YOU KNOW, I TRULY BELIEVE THERE’S A FANTASTIC HONOR THAT WILL BE UP TO THE COMMISSIONER. I’LL LEAVE THAT TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THAT OFFICE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF IT’S DESERVED. YES. I THINK, YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I WAS KIND OF PUSHING BACK BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I DIDN’T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION. BUT SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY OF THE FANS, AND THEY CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AND PUSHING AND ASKING. SO FOR ME, I MEAN, I LISTEN TO THEM AND I’M HONORED THAT THEY FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT NUMBER 21. AND FOR US, IT WILL BE A GREAT HONOR. HE’S BEING RECOGNIZED WITH CLEMENTE DAY, THE CLEMENTE AWARD. THERE’S A STUDIO FOR MLB NETWORK, WHICH IS STUDIO 21. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE’S SO MANY DIFFERENT ACCOLADES THAT ARE COMING NOT ONLY FROM THE SPORTS SIDE, BUT ALSO POLITICALLY. WE’RE PUSHING NOW FOR THE YEAR 2027 FOR THE US MINT COIN TO HAVE A CLEMENTE COIN. SO HOPEFULLY THIS DOCUMENTARY WILL HAVE A SCREENING IN CAPITOL HILL AND BE ABLE TO GET THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO VOTE FOR IT. AND WE’LL HAVE CLEMENTE COIN IN 2027. HOPEFULLY. SO MANY OF US HERE IN PITTSBURGH HAVE SHIRTS THAT SAY 21 ON IT PROUDLY. WE ALL WEAR THAT. BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT A NUMBER 21 THAT WAS IN THE OUTFIELD OF THE PNC PARK THAT WAS SUDDENLY REMOVED. HOW DID YOU REACT TO THAT? HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT WHAT THE PIRATES DID? AND THEY’VE SINCE RESTORED IT. BUT HOW DID ALL THAT PLAY OUT FOR YOU? OBVIOUSLY. I MEAN, I WAS AT, YOU KNOW, HOME OPENER. I DIDN’T I WAS RUNNING AROUND TALKING TO PEOPLE AND THEN I GO HOME. I THINK IT WAS THE NEXT DAY THAT KELLY, MY WIFE, SHE GOES TO SHARE THIS, THIS POST. AND WHEN I LOOKED AT IT AND I SAW THE SIGN, YOU KNOW, ON IT. ALL I SAID WAS, WOW. I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, MY REACTION WAS, WOW, RIGHT? SO I SAID, I JUST PUT WOW. AND IT KIND OF CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HAD NO CLUE THAT IT WAS A PLAN. IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT, AS THEY SAY. IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT TO SELL THAT SPACE ON THE WALL. OBVIOUSLY. PIRATE NATION REACTED. THERE WERE, WHAT, 4.5 MILLION REACTIONS TO TO TO THE POST. AND WE SAT DOWN. WE SPOKE ABOUT IT. THEY APOLOGIZED. WE DID NOT NEED TO DO THIS. SO WE’RE MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD. WE’RE LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO REALLY HONOR THAT AS WELL. AND I THINK THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS GONNA GET STRONGER BECAUSE OF IT. I THINK THEY GOT THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR FROM PIRATES FANS FOR SURE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMMENTING ON WHAT HAPPENED. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? NOT ONLY SUPPORTIVE, BUT LOVED. I THE LOVE AFFAIR THAT STARTED IN 1955 WITH MY FATHER IS STILL GOING STRONG. THE THE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT AND RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY HAVE WITH THAT IS STILL VERY STRONG. PEOPLE SHED TEARS WHEN THEY MEET ME, TELLING ME THEIR STORIES. SO FOR ME, I MEAN, PITTSBURGH IS IS A SPECIAL PLACE. IT’S A THE FAN BASE HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE. IT’S FAMILY. WE ARE FAMILY AND KEEP IT HERE. I’VE GOT ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR ROBERTO CLEMENTE JUNIOR WHEN FOR THE RECORD, RETURNS IN JUST TWO MINUTES. WELCOME BACK TO FOR THE RECORD. BEFORE WE GO, I HAD ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR. AND IT’S A QUESTION I’M SURE A LOT OF PIRATES FANS HAVE BEEN ASKING THEMSELVES. TAKE A LOOK. ONE MORE THING I WANTED TO ASK YOU IS THIS WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR FATHER WOULD THINK OF THE PIRATES AND THE. ORGANIZATION TODAY? THAT WAS VERY VOCAL. VERY VOCAL. HE WOULD NOT BE HAPPY AT ALL. IN WHAT WAY? I CAN TELL YOU. I MEAN, I CAN START BY SAYING THAT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE AND, YOU KNOW, I’M PROUD TO BE PUERTO RICAN, THAT WAS VERY PROUD. AND THAT WAS ALWAYS TELLING THE TEAM, THERE ARE SO MANY MORE PLAYERS THAT ARE LIKE ME OR BETTER THAN ME IN THE CARIBBEAN. GO OUT AND SEARCH FOR THEM BECAUSE. SO HE STARTED SCOUTING FOR FOR THE PIRATES, FOR EXAMPLE. AND I THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO TO INTERACT AND BE OUT THERE IN PUERTO RICO, THE DRAFT REALLY KILLED A LOT OF DREAMS FOR THOSE KIDS BECAUSE OF THE DRAFT. BUT SCOUTING IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND THE MISSION OF WINNING IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES IS SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED TO STRIVE TO BE A WINNING CULTURE FOR THE TEAM. AND I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE LOSING SEASONS LIKE THE PIRATES HAVE HAD, HE WOULD BE VERY VOCAL. THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE. WHAT DO WE NEED TO CHANGE? WE NEED TO CHANGE THINGS AROUND. SO FIGURING OUT HOW TO MANAGE AND HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HE WILL BE ON THE CASE. A LOT OF FANS ARE VERY FRUSTRATED. UNDERSTOOD? I MEAN, AND IF YOU’RE A BASEBALL FAN, YOU WANT TO WIN. THE PLAYERS ARE DOING THEIR THING. I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY COME INTO TO THE TO THE BALLPARK WITH THE MINDSET OF WINNING. IT’S NOT HAPPENING. SO WHILE WE NEED TO DO IS FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, I’M NOW IN PITTSBURGH. I DECIDED TO STAY IN PITTSBURGH AND WHATEVER I CAN DO IN MY POWER TO HELP, I WILL DO. AND BEFORE WE GO, I WANT TO THANK ROBERTO CLEMENTE JR FOR TAKING PART IN TODAY’S INTERVIEW AND ALSO THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER FOR HOSTING US. ALSO, I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF A STORY THAT WE BROUGHT YOU DURING PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR RECENTLY, THE ROBERTO CLEMENTE FOUNDATION, NOW REESTABLISHING THE ROBERTO CLEMENTE FUND TO HELP CHILDREN, HELPING PAY THE EXPENSES OF INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES COMING TO PITTSBURGH’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TO HAVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES. THEIR AMBASSADORS DINNER IS SET TO BE HELD AT THE HISTORY CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, AND THERE’S A LINK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT ON OUR WEBSITE. DOT COM. JUST CLICK THE STORY FOR THIS EPISODE OF FOR THE RECORD. AND THAT IS ALL FOR THIS WEEK. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY MORNING AT 11 A.M.
‘He lived in a flash’: Roberto Clemente Jr. speaks with 4 The Record about his father’s legacy
New documentary “Clemente” will be debuting soon
Updated: 11:00 AM EDT Sep 7, 2025
Ahead of the release of a new documentary about the life of legendary Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, 4 The Record host Michelle Wright sat down with his son, Robert Clemente Jr., to talk about the man who is often referred to as “The Great One.””When people hear the name Clemente, baseball’s secondary. It’s always about the human interest story,” Clemente Jr. said.The conversation included an announcement that, on Sept. 15, which is Clemente Day at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have a Spanish broadcast for the first time ever.”It’s something that I’ve been really wanting to do, because I understand the impact that it does to the community,” Clemente Jr. said.The conversation also included reflections on Roberto Clemente’s death in a plane crash at the age of 38.”I’ve missed him ever since that day,” Clemente Jr. said.He also said of his father, “He lived in a flash, but that flash was very impactful.”Clemente Jr. and Wright also discussed the Roberto Clemente Foundation giving back to Pittsburgh and focusing on giving to the Children’s Hospital with the Roberto Clemente Fund, which supports international families who travel to Pittsburgh for life-saving care.Click here to learn more about that fund.Meanwhile, the documentary “Clemente” will have a special screening at PNC Park on Sept. 14 and will premiere on The History Channel on Sept. 23.One of the owners of The History Channel is Hearst Communications.WTAE is operated by Hearst Television.
PITTSBURGH —
Ahead of the release of a new documentary about the life of legendary Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, 4 The Record host Michelle Wright sat down with his son, Robert Clemente Jr., to talk about the man who is often referred to as “The Great One.”
“When people hear the name Clemente, baseball’s secondary. It’s always about the human interest story,” Clemente Jr. said.
The conversation included an announcement that, on Sept. 15, which is Clemente Day at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have a Spanish broadcast for the first time ever.
“It’s something that I’ve been really wanting to do, because I understand the impact that it does to the community,” Clemente Jr. said.
The conversation also included reflections on Roberto Clemente’s death in a plane crash at the age of 38.
“I’ve missed him ever since that day,” Clemente Jr. said.
He also said of his father, “He lived in a flash, but that flash was very impactful.”
Clemente Jr. and Wright also discussed the Roberto Clemente Foundation giving back to Pittsburgh and focusing on giving to the Children’s Hospital with the Roberto Clemente Fund, which supports international families who travel to Pittsburgh for life-saving care.
Click here to learn more about that fund.
Meanwhile, the documentary “Clemente” will have a special screening at PNC Park on Sept. 14 and will premiere on The History Channel on Sept. 23.
One of the owners of The History Channel is Hearst Communications.
WTAE is operated by Hearst Television.