Clemente, Roberto Walker (ruber'tō, klumen'tē Span. rōber'tō klāmen'tā) [key], 1934–72, Puerto Rican baseball player, b. Carolina, Puerto Rico. He played his entire major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1955–72) and was the mainspring of their successes for 18 years. He reached the 3,000-hit plateau in 1972. A right fielder, Clemente was capable of throwing out a runner from his knees. He had a lifetime batting average of .317 and hit 240 home runs. He died in an airplane crash while attempting to take food and medicine to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
