First published 2007
Pulitzer Prize winner David Maraniss chronicles the extraordinary life of Roberto Clemente, the Puerto Rican baseball legend who transcended sports to become a symbol of dignity and social responsibility. Born in rural Carolina, Puerto Rico in 1934, Clemente emerged as the greatest Latino player in major league history during his eighteen seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He won four batting titles, led Pittsburgh to World Series championships in 1960 and 1971, and achieved the milestone of 3,000 career hits. Maraniss captures both the athletic brilliance and the principled character of a man who insisted his responsibilities extended far beyond the baseball diamond. The biography reaches its tragic climax on New Year's Eve 1972, when Clemente died in a plane crash while delivering relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Using newly discovered documents, Maraniss reveals the corruption and negligence that led to the fatal mission, showing how an act of mercy became the final chapter in a heroic life.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, baseball
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: heroic-figure, social-justice
Setting: Carolina, Nicaragua, Pittsburgh, Puerto Rico
Period: 1934, 1960, 1971, 1972
416 pages · Paperback · Simon & Schuster