Roberto Clemente: The Great One

by Bruce Markusen

Thirty-five years ago, Roberto Clemente made baseball history when he became the first Latin American to enter the Hall of Fame. Roberto The Great One evaluates one of the game’s most dynamic players and perhaps its most selfless humanitarian. From modest beginnings in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to a legendary career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, to his tragically premature death in a plane crash, Roberto Clemente remains one of baseball’s most compelling characters. Interviews with teammates Willie Stargell and Al Oliver, former major league commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and close friends of Clemente lend insight into his character and contributions. Markusen successfully analyzes the cultural misunderstandings between Clemente and his audience as well as the struggles and hardships he and other Latin American players endured during that era. Regardless, he is a key example of how athletes can be more than just a source of entertainment. Undoubtedly, Clemente was never give the national exposure he deserved until the 1971 World Series, and subsequently his death in 1972 not only cut short a tremendous career but also deprived the world of more humanitarian efforts to those in need. The Great One fully examines Clemente’s legacy, which he developed at a time of unprecedented success for Latin American players.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, History, Biography

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Markusen's biography of "The Great One" focuses more on his baseball career, while David Maraniss' 2006 Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero provides more coverage of Clemente's off-field life. The two make a good bookend to the best right-fielder in Major League history. My "truth in reviewing" disclaimer: as a life-long Pirates fan, I may be slightly biased--but Clemente is still the best at his position anyway!

As I remarked in my review of the Maraniss book, Clemente was a strong individual with a strong, enigmatic, and sometimes misunderstood personality. He wore his Puerto Rican heritage proudly and sometimes on his sleeve, but as an early pioneer in the surge of Latin baseball players that now provides a strong percentage of Major League rosters, and rosters of All-star and playoff teams, it is easy to forget how instrumental Clemente was as the first Latin player elected to the Hall of Fame and as an outspoken champion of minority participation in sports and society. Markusen shows how this powerful pride both helped and hurt Clemente in his relations with teammates, managers, fans, and the media during his career.

Clemente was such a sweet player to watch at the peak of his game, as he was during the 1971 season and the Pirates drive to the 1971 World Series victory, capped by his continuation of his life-long streak of getting a hit in every World Series game he played in his career. Markusen's coverage of the 1971 season is the centerpiece of the book.

If you have only seen Clemente on paper in either of these books, find a video clip of his playing highlights. It will raise your appreciation of his amazing abilities at all facets of the game.

[Anna Denniston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon hearing my love of baseball, my cross country coach lent me this book. Now, I usually am not a fan of biographies (too many dates, not enough plot) but this one had practically NO dates and pretty much just consisted of story after story of the amazing baseball playing ability of Roberto Clemente. It started with his childhood and followed him (through all his game-saving catches and interviews by racist reporters) all the way to his death in a plane crash. I like that, however, the author didn't really spend that much time on Roberto's death. The book was remembering his honorable person and playing ability, not his death, which is nice. I remember there were a couple pages throughout the book where the author was describing a particularly exciting/close game, and I could just take in the words fast enough. I think everyone enjoys a book like that.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a chance to see Roberto Clemente play when I was a young baseball fan. After his death, I took time to get to know more about this special man. I So, when I ran across this book, I picked it up. Yes, there are other books about Roberto Clemente but I like this one best. It is heartfelt and delves into the world he lived in, the challenges he faced and the man he was in private and on the baseball playing field. This is more than a snapshot of a baseball player, it is a look into the heart of humble but talented man. Read this and you will come away with an appreciation for the great one (soul) that Clemente was when he was with us. Bravo!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stirring biography about and amazing man. A must for any Pirates fan.