In Vera Clemente's Death, Pittsburgh and MLB Have Lost the Extension of a Baseball Icon

For decades after the loss of Roberto Clemente, his memory was kept alive in the hearts of many, both literally and figuratively, by his wife Vera, who was a living extension of his charitable acts.

Dec. 31, 1972 is a day that will live in infamy for any baseball fan, as Roberto was taken from us far too soon in the process of an act of pure kindness. One look at the plane and the circumstances surrounding Clemente's relief trip to Nicaragua after an earthquake had struck the impoverished nation would lead to skepticism; the aircraft carrier was overcrowded with supplies. The pilot was late. All of these were bad omens, per Vera. But what made Roberto so special was just how far he was willing to go when others would rather, say, wait a day.

The story of Vera Clemente surely includes her duties as a devoted wife to Roberto and loving mother to their children, but it does not end there.

After her husband's death, Vera did not shy away from his efforts, instead keeping his memory alive for the rest of her life through her words and actions. She worked with Major League Baseball to create the Roberto Clemente Award, given each year to the player who “best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field,” a description Roberto would find fitting.

Roberto's relief efforts blazed an important trail during a time of consistent strife across Latin America. Vera's humanitarian response to her husband's death extended beyond that, picking up where Roberto left off and eventually building upon a legacy that -- because of her persistence alongside leaders in the baseball community -- has yet to diminish.

Vera, alongside Roberto, are icons to Latino baseball players even to this day, paired with the likes of Jackie Robinson for paving a path for people of color to not simply play the game they love professionally, but to master it at the highest level. The Clementes added to that path, whether it be through the numerous facilities built in impoverished nations or their acts of kindness (including boots on the ground) in times of need.

Even in Pittsburgh, a city Vera and Roberto always considered their second home, her giving ways will not be forgotten.

Vera donated countless artifacts of Roberto's to the Clemente Museum, which resides in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. The museum on Penn Ave. is a must-visit for any baseball aficionado, featuring not only classic gear from Roberto's baseball career, but also highlighting his aid work in Latin America and relationship with the Steel City as a whole.

Roberto Clemente was a baseball icon. Vera made his dreams a reality, and then some.