MLB honored the memory of Astro Boricua in New York

New York. The legend of Roberto Clemente continues.

Major League Baseball held a special ceremony yesterday at Citi Field in New York to celebrate Roberto Clemente Day in the company of the Astro Boricua family and 14 past winners of the Roberto Clemente award.

The ceremony was held highlighting that this is the year in which the 50th anniversary of Clemente’s 3,000th hit is celebrated, which occurred on September 30, 1972, and in turn commemorates half a century of his death, which occurred on December 31, 1972. In addition, the celebration of Clemente’s Day this Thursday was, curiously, the number 21 since it began in 2002.

This preceded the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. The members of the two teams wore Clemente’s number 21, including the Puerto Rican Mets, Francisco Lindor, Edwin ‘Sugar’ Díaz, Tomás Nido, Alex Claudio, Seth Lugo and coach Joey Cora.

There was a throwing ceremony of honor and this was performed by Clemente’s second son, Luis Roberto, and by Astro Boricua’s 4-year-old grandson, Roberto Clemente III, who is the son of the eldest son of the Hall of Fame member. Fame.

“I think it is important that the generations unite, and having Roberto Clemente III here, just 4 years old, it is important that this gene is present. As they say, when we are no longer with that name, it will continue, “said his father, Roberto Clemente, Jr.

They were at the reception Carlos Delgado y Curtis Grandersonboth former Mets players.

The ball that Luis Roberto threw had art designed by Clemente’s granddaughter, Raiza, who is the daughter of the youngest of the Clemente brothers, Roberto Enrique.

“I even had tears,” said Luis Roberto, “because that represents the integration of how the other generation sees the legacy and how they contribute. My son is a graphic artist and the t-shirts are his design, “he added, referring to another of his children.

the lareño singer, Joseph Feliciano, was in charge of singing La Borinqueña accompanied by his guitar while La Monoestrellada was on the stadium screens and the two teams were lined up in front of their dugouts. Feliciano also began to sing ‘En Mi Viejo San Juan’, but was interrupted by his son Johnny, since the other thing he had to present was the anthem of the United States, The Star Spangled Banner.

After another slip with which he began to sing again The Borinqueñafinally began to sing the American anthem.

While he sang, the cry of “Viva Puerto Rico Libre” was heard in the stands.

Among the public there were dozens of Puerto Ricans watching the ceremony, which began around 7:15 pm in a temperature of 71 degrees. There were Puerto Ricans with the Pirates jersey. Several wore the shirt of the Cangrejeros de Santurce. Some traveled from Puerto Rico. Others live in New York.

Among the guests were 14 past winners of the Roberto Clemente award, including Delgado and Carlos Beltrán, from Manati, on his first visit to Citi Field since he was discharged as manager of the Mets before the 2021 season began.

“Roberto is an influence on all of us. I heard so much of the story from him. MLB has kept her alive. In my case, it is an influence to follow in his footsteps, ”said Beltrán.

The government of Puerto Rico was represented by Governor Pedro Pierluisi, who was accompanied by the secretary of the Department of Recreation and Sports, Ray Quiñones.