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Clemente: La pasiÃ³n y el carisma del Ãºltimo hÃ©roe del bÃ©isbol (The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero)

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Clemente: La pasiÃ³n y el carisma del Ãºltimo hÃ©roe del bÃ©isbol (The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero)

by David Maraniss (Goodreads Author), Vicente Echerri (Translator)

4.00 · rating details · 605 ratings · 98 reviews

On New Year's Eve 1972, following eighteen magnificent seasons in the major leagues, Roberto Clemente died a hero's death, killed in a plane crash as he attempted to deliver food and medical supplies to Nicaragua after a devastating earthquake. David Maraniss now brings the great baseball player brilliantly back to life in Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's...more
On New Year's Eve 1972, following eighteen magnificent seasons in the major leagues, Roberto Clemente died a hero's death, killed in a plane crash as he attempted to deliver food and medical supplies to Nicaragua after a devastating earthquake. David Maraniss now brings the great baseball player brilliantly back to life in Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero, a book destined to become a modern classic. Much like his acclaimed biography of Vince Lombardi, When Pride Still Mattered, Maraniss uses his narrative sweep and meticulous detail to capture the myth and a real man.

Anyone who saw Clemente, as he played with a beautiful fury, will never forget him. He was a work of art in a game too often defined by statistics. During his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he won four batting titles and led his team to championships in 1960 and 1971, getting a hit in all fourteen World Series games in which he played. His career ended with three-thousand hits, the magical three-thousandth coming in his final at-bat, and he and the immortal Lou Gehrig are the only players to have the five-year waiting period waived so they could be enshrined in the Hall of Fame immediately after their deaths.

There is delightful baseball here, including thrilling accounts of the two World Series victories of Clemente's underdog Pittsburgh Pirates, but this is far more than just another baseball book. Roberto Clemente was that rare athlete who rose above sports to become a symbol of larger themes. Born near the canebrakes of rural Carolina, Puerto Rico, on August 18, 1934, at a time when there were no blacks or Puerto Ricans playing organized ball in the United States, Clemente went on to become the greatest Latino player in the major leagues. He was, in a sense, the Jackie Robinson of the Spanish-speaking world, a ballplayer of determination, grace, and dignity who paved the way and set the highest standard for waves of Latino players who followed in later generations and who now dominate the game.

The Clemente that Maraniss evokes was an idiosyncratic character who, unlike so many modern athletes, insisted that his responsibilities extended beyond the playing field. In his final years, his motto was that if you have a chance to help others and fail to do so, you are wasting your time on this earth. Here, in the final chapters, after capturing Clemente's life and times, Maraniss retraces his final days, from the earthquake to the accident, using newly uncovered documents to reveal the corruption and negligence that led the unwitting hero on a mission of mercy toward his untimely death as an uninspected, overloaded plane plunged into the sea.

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Paperback, 464 pages

Published April 25th 2006 by Atria

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Sep 09, 2011

Taylor rated it

· review of another edition

Its refreshing to read a biography that doesn't simply canonize a legend that passed too soon. The author does a good job painting a picture of who Roberto Clemente was -faults and all. From his early days in Carolina, Puerto Rico up through his 3,000th hit in Pittsburgh during his last game, Clemente lived and played with a chip on his shoulder. His love-hate relationship with the media is not unlike that of Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio, however, it is rarely broached these days given the sa...more

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Jul 22, 2009

Richard rated it

· review of another edition

Roberto Clemente played professional baseball as well or better than many of his contemporaries who are today considered to be legends of the game. Many of those other legends were better known by the public at- large back then, partly because Clemente played for an underachieving team from the other, blue collar, Pennsylvania city with a pro ball club. For this reason, he never enjoyed the personal stardom or higher pay players were making in other markets. Nevertheless, as David Maraniss write...more

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Feb 05, 2009

Bookmarks Magazine added it · review of another edition

It's hard not to feel that Clemente, for all its virtues, is a bit of a letdown. With a Pulitzer Prize and notable biographies of Bill Clinton (First in His Class) and Vince Lombardi (When Pride Still Mattered) under his belt, David Maraniss sets high expectations. He mostly satisfies by revealing details about Clemente's tragic death and the compassionate instincts and dogged stubbornness that enabled it and by rightfully placing him alongside his generation's best players. But some critics not

...more

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Oct 16, 2010

Stevecrandell rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: biography, sports, grades-9-and-up

Baseball's last hero - that's a far-reaching claim, and Roberto Clemente deserves the title.

Clemente is my favorite sports hero. A hero in any field has to have the combined talent, opportunity, and determination to make a lasting difference. For pro athletes, the talent is a given, and this book does very well to devote much more attention to Clemente's contribution to Latin American pride and achievement. Maraniss also shares stories to help establish Clemente's weaknesses. He made ...more

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Sep 29, 2009

David Bales rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 52-books-in-52-weeks

Poignant, sad, moving story of the greatest right fielder of his generation, Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican national hero and star player of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972. Clemente struggled with being overlooked by the national media due to his small-market team and the assumption that Latin players were gold-bricks. Typically they quoted him in broken English or called him "dramatic" or "emotional". Great descriptions of the 1960 and 1971 World Series', which ...more

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Nov 16, 2010

Kay rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: biography, sports

There were parts of this book that didn't interest me and I found myself easily laying it down and reading something else. It took me over 2 weeks to finish because until the last third I didn't have that urge to know what happened next. I found the baseball part a little boring and enjoyed the personal stuff. Those who know me will be shocked to know I found anything about baseball boring. Perhaps it was because he played for the Pirates which is one of my least favorite team or perhaps it ...more

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Feb 19, 2011

Gene rated it

· review of another edition

Maraniss did a great job of bringing my earliest baseball memories back to life for me. It felt great just reading the names that I had read hundreds of times in my youth when going through our baseball cards. The book really shines when it describes the World Series games that Clemente was a part of. I was reminded that baseball really is a great game and filled with suspense and tension, even though I have come to find cricket a better game. I see I was not mistaken to be so in love with b...moreMaraniss did a great job of bringing my earliest baseball memories back to life for me. It felt great just reading the names that I had read hundreds of times in my youth when going through our baseball cards. The book really shines when it describes the World Series games that Clemente was a part of. I was reminded that baseball really is a great game and filled with suspense and tension, even though I have come to find cricket a better game. I see I was not mistaken to be so in love with baseball as a child.

Another strong part of the book is the description of the struggles that Black and Latin American players had in making their way to the majors as well as how life was so hard for them because of the discrimination that they faced, especially in the South. It was good for me to have a fresh reminder of that.

And then there was Clemente himself and the chance to really get to know him again. Perhaps, better to say, get to know him for the first time. The only other book I had read about him was written for youth and was more of a hagiography. This biography brought him to life as a real person with character flaws as well as genuine charm.

The book veered off track significantly in the end when Maraniss vents his hatred for Nixon, the Somaza family, and Howard Hughes. I think he's written so much about politics in his lifetime that he couldn't resist tying these evil characters into the plot. I'm no fan of any of them, and I'm not defending them or saying they should not be criticized. I'm only saying that a book about Clemente doesn't seem to be the place to do so.

Another more minor irritant is the way the book seems to reintroduce certain people over and over again, as if for the first time. I wonder how many times I have to be told who Vic Powers is and what his relationship to Clemente was.

And I'm proud to have this be the first book ever given to me by my son, William. He knew #21 has always been my favorite and that I've always considered Clemente to be the finest baseball player ever. It takes nerve to purchase a book for a book lover, but that he dared to do so and also was able to make a good choice shows how close we still are, even though he lives halfway around the world from me.(less)

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Mar 29, 2009

Darren rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: audio, non-fiction

Before listening to this book, I admit my knowledge of Roberto Clemente was pretty limited: Clemente was a great right-fielder for the Pirates who had 3,000 hits when he died in a plane crash. This book, along with filling in the normal biographical details, described his struggle for respect as a player and as a person in the 50s and 60s. Reading a book knowing the main subject dies in the end, I didn't expect to have an emotional reaction, but hearing the details of the incompetence and neglig...more

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Jul 25, 2010

Gypsy Lady marked it as to-read · review of another edition

"The Clemente that Maraniss evokes was an

idiosyncratic character who, unlike so many modern athletes, insisted that his responsibilities extended beyond the playing field. In his final years, his motto was that if you have a chance to help others and fail to do so, you are wasting your time on this earth. Here, in the final chapters, after capturing Clemente's life and times, Maraniss retraces his final days, from the earthquake to the accident, using newly uncovered documents ...more

· see review

Jul 12, 2010

Al rated it

· review of another edition

The story of the first great latino star in the major leagues which are now filled with latino stars. In addition to the purely baseball part of the story, the author details all of the issues Clemente faced which were very similar to those experienced by Jackie Robinson when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. The book also provides insight into the very human side of Clemente who died at age 38 when his plane crashed on New Year's Eve 1973 as he was personally ferrying humanitarian aid to the vi...more

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Oct 21, 2009

Justin rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: baseball

Along with this year's Satchel bio, one of the best books of its kind I've read. It's a pretty balanced look at a complicated person. The writing surrounding Clemente's death is not only moving, but it's very well researched, making the final chapters as insightful as they are moving. The author skips a few years of baseball, which I found perplexing at first, but it does make for a better, more productive read. When he does get into the play on the field, it's lively exciting writing, particula...more

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Jan 07, 2010

Michael Kjeldsen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: english-1

This story is a non fiction book about Roberto Clemente who was a baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente changed the face of baseball because he was Puerto rican and there were not many of Puerto Ricans in baseball at the time. He proves to everyone that he deserved to be in the major leagues. He was also a very charitable person donating his time and money to foundations.

The story was told through the passion of Roberto Clemente and how he overcomes the racism of the b...more

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Dec 11, 2011

William Guzman rated it

· review of another edition

Did not learn much about the man in this book except to perhaps confirm, based on what someone had told me many years ago, that the man "was not above temptation". Writing about someone who has passed on is always difficult since there may be so many people saying different stories, but this has some ring of truth in it.

A proud man like he was is, in my humble opinion, not a saint. But if he had things going outside of his marriage, the "great one" was definitel...more

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Feb 05, 2011

Jim rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: baseball, biography

This story is true to the book's subtitle "The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero." It is well researched and the portrait it paints shows he lived as a devoted family man, world class athlete and a compassionate humanitarian, but was a proud man who found it difficult to suffer criticism. Clemente was a man who maximized his potential in all of it's many facets.

He made a deep impression on his teammates. Steve Blass said, "The rest of us were just players. ...more

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Mar 09, 2011

Darryl rated it

· review of another edition

Roberto Clemente (1934-1972), the first Latino superstar of professional baseball played in the United States, was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame soon after his tragic death in a dangerous and overloaded airplane on the last day of the year, en route to bringing earthquake relief supplies from Puerto Rico to Nicaragua. Clemente died as he lived, a man who passionately loved his countrymen and fellow Latinos regardless of their skin color, particularly those who didn't have the...moreRoberto Clemente (1934-1972), the first Latino superstar of professional baseball played in the United States, was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame soon after his tragic death in a dangerous and overloaded airplane on the last day of the year, en route to bringing earthquake relief supplies from Puerto Rico to Nicaragua. Clemente died as he lived, a man who passionately loved his countrymen and fellow Latinos regardless of their skin color, particularly those who didn't have the opportunities he did.

He was in the twilight of his career at the end of the 1972 season, having collected his 3,000th hit on his last at bat as a Pittsburgh Pirate, an accomplishment that only 10 other men had achieved before him. He was finally at peace with himself, after suffering innumerable slights and insults throughout his career, by managers and fellow players who didn't understand or appreciate him, racial segregation and deplorable living conditions during spring training in Florida, and sportswriters who twisted and phoneticized his Spanish-flavored words in demeaning and hurtful articles. He led the Pirates to two World Series, and was respected and feared as one of the most dangerous clutch hitters in baseball, who ran as if he was being chased by demons and threw out runners regularly from his right field position due to a strong and deadly accurate arm. A complex man who wore his emotions on his sleeves, he would regularly berate and harangue reporters for seemingly innocent questions, yet he would routinely sign autographs for his fans long after his teammates had left the ballpark, and gave freely of himself to anyone he could help, including the poor of San Juan and surrounding towns in Puerto Rico and fans who he embraced and treated as if they were his own family.

Clemente spent his winters playing in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean and Latin America while other major leaguers were resting, to give back to those Latinos who could not see him play in Pittsburgh, and to honor the Latino players that came before him but could not display their talents in the United States, due to their skin color or language barrier. He worshiped his wife, children and parents above all else, and never forgot or forsake his roots as a kid growing up in a poor town outside of San Juan. He was beloved by fans of all races and backgrounds throughout the United States, for his skill, passion for the game, and the love he gave to every fan that supported him. (As a side note, he was one of my favorite players as a kid, along with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Bob Gibson, and my friends and I would routinely mimic the neck stretches he did before every at bat.)

David Maraniss does an excellent job in honoring and fully describing Roberto Clemente, a complicated and imperfect man who continues to be viewed as a hero in Puerto Rico, other countries in Latin America, and the city of Pittsburgh, as a pioneer who overcome physical pain and personal strife to become one of baseball's greatest and most beloved figures. However, the book was overly repetitive and about 50-100 pages too long, which diluted its impact somewhat. Despite this, I would highly recommend this book, certainly to baseball fans but also to anyone who would enjoy a well written biography about an influential and beloved man.(less)

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Sep 05, 2008

Ron rated it

· review of another edition

I really had little idea of the man or the challenges he faced starring for the Pirates from the 1950's into the early 1970's. He had a double handicap as both a black and an hispanic during time in which the majority in America was still coming to grips with issues of racial and cultural identity. One small but nagging example of what he had to put up with was the media insistence (especially in Pittsburgh) of calling him Bobby, a nickname he hated and found demeaning.

Clemente could...more

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Apr 05, 2008

Rossrn Nunamaker rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, bio-autobio

I finished Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero by David Maraniss. What a wonderful book.

I was interested in this as a Pirates fan and from my little knowledge of Clemente as a player and humanitarian who lost his life tragically.

What I learned was much on many levels. In one regard the book provided a social commentary on America from the 1950s through the early 1970s, but it did so through the perspective of a man who was black, but also Puerto Rican. The...moreI finished Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero by David Maraniss. What a wonderful book.

I was interested in this as a Pirates fan and from my little knowledge of Clemente as a player and humanitarian who lost his life tragically.

What I learned was much on many levels. In one regard the book provided a social commentary on America from the 1950s through the early 1970s, but it did so through the perspective of a man who was black, but also Puerto Rican. The distinction being Clemente grew up without racism in his homeland, and only experienced it upon coming to America to play baseball at a young age (18/19). His being Puerto Rican also distinguished his being black, because he spoke Spanish, not English and didn't "fit in" with the few black players in the league at that time who'd grown up in America with racism.

The conditions in which these players played and the approach they took over time to be treated as equal peers was eye opening from the standpoint that it was presented in a way that you could see it and feel it. It also seemed closer to me from the perspective that I didn't ever get a chance to see Clemente play, but did see many of his teammates.

There was also Clemente as a man. Stories of the friends he made including a girl from Bethlehem, were remarkable. He lived reasonably modestly in America and seemed to make friends with fans and those he viewed to be "underdogs" everywhere. He had a passion for helping children, especially those underprivileged and undergoing serious medical issues. He was also fiercely proud of his heritage and homeland. The book was fair in that it also revealed he was not perfect. He had outbursts. He would curse. He could throw a punch.

And of course there was Clemente the ballplayer. It was great (especially given the Pirates accomplishments since about 1979) to read about the seasons in which he played including 1960 and 1971 when the team won the World Series.

Coming to the end of the book was sad. You knew the ending. Learning how it came to be only heightened the sadness and left you to wonder what if?(less)

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Apr 06, 2008

Len rated it

· review of another edition

I try to begin each baseball season with a baseball book and this year it was an easy choice -- David Maraniss' bio of Roberto Clemente was at the top of my list. Clemente died in 1972 just as I was beginning to fall in love with baseball, so I didn't get a chance to see him play nor did I really know much about him other than the fact that he died tragically in a plane crash. This book was an eye-opener on many fronts.

To begin, there is no question Clemente was a true hero in every ...moreI try to begin each baseball season with a baseball book and this year it was an easy choice -- David Maraniss' bio of Roberto Clemente was at the top of my list. Clemente died in 1972 just as I was beginning to fall in love with baseball, so I didn't get a chance to see him play nor did I really know much about him other than the fact that he died tragically in a plane crash. This book was an eye-opener on many fronts.

To begin, there is no question Clemente was a true hero in every sense of the word, especially to the people of his native Puerto Rico. when he wasn't thinking about baseball or playing baseball, he was helping others -- not just in Puerto Rico but everywhere. His most famous quote was: "if you have a chance to help others, and don't, then you are wasting your time on this earth."

Clemente was orginally drafted by the Dodgers, but they didn't think he was ready for the majors and hid him in Montreal where they hoped nobody would notice him. But when they left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft the next year, the lowly Pirates snapped him up with the first overall pick. Over the next 18 years he led the Pirates to two world championships and knocked out 3,000 hits, won a trophy case full of gold gloves and cemented his position as one of the greatest players of all time. But none of that seems important when you reflect on what he meant to both latin players and black players that followed.

Clemente was one of the first black player on the Pirates, but he was also one of the first great latin players in the majors. As a black latin he dealt with twice as much racism in the U.S., even though he was proud to play in America and signed up to be a Marine reservist. In spring training in Florida, he had to endure Jim Crow racism and in Pittsburgh he had to overcome the largely white population. He always spoke out and became a hero to black and latin players that followed him.

Maraniss is a wonderful storyteller and he brings Clemente's life alive. It's an amazing life and a tragic life, but altogether a great life and a story worth reading whether you are a baseball fan or not.(less)

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Feb 26, 2008

Roy rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: baseball fans / Peurto Ricans

I read this during spring training, needed a good baseball fix. I didn't know much about Clemente before this book, and I think it is better for people who love the Puerto Rican great. He comes off as an interesting, caring, enigmatic, passionate man. As a baseball fan, it did not tell me too much more about the games or the players that I didn't already now, except for the silly segregation rules that they all put up with in the 50s.

I tend to read non-fiction because I want to le...more

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Mar 29, 2008

JoeM rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone who appreciates baseball

Shelves: read-in-08

I read this book because I was looking for a hero. I first encountered Roberto Clemente when I was a boy. He died when I was 2 - but I first saw him when I went to the Hall of Fame. There was a mannequin of him in his Pirates uniform. I always wondered who he was....now I know.

The writing could have been tighter. I felt like I read the same passages over and over throughout the book. But maybe that was the point - to reinforce the feelings Clemente and others felt at the time. Having...more

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Oct 21, 2007

Baiocco rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: People who believe some athletes are larger than their sport

Shelves: biography

I read this book about a month ago during an afternoon in my friend's backyard on a trip to San Diego while I was looking for a hero to believe in. Roberto Clemente would do.

First off, biographies, in my opinion, should be easy, quick reads and provide the reader with more or less a detailed chronology of the life (or period of life) with maybe some interviews, quotes, or stories from the subject and/or people who interacted with the subject at that time. I don't like when biograph...moreI read this book about a month ago during an afternoon in my friend's backyard on a trip to San Diego while I was looking for a hero to believe in. Roberto Clemente would do.

First off, biographies, in my opinion, should be easy, quick reads and provide the reader with more or less a detailed chronology of the life (or period of life) with maybe some interviews, quotes, or stories from the subject and/or people who interacted with the subject at that time. I don't like when biographers attempt to dissect a subject's work (especially in the case of painters or writers), or postulate what they were thinking at the time. Provide me with some source material adjacent works, and I will do the research myself if I am so inclined or intersted by the portrait you presented. Maybe that's just me though.

Marianniss doesn't attempt to do too much with Clemente here, but rather shows how valuable Clemente was to Puerto Rico, through his value to Major League Baseball. The grace which Marianniss proves is close to saintly reverence, but in the case of Clemente it may be warranted. A chronic perfectionist, Clemente fought racial prejudice to gain his spot on the PIttsburgh Pirates, struggling to use his natural charisma and talent to reach out to the people of his home nation. After hitting his 3000th major league hit (3,000!) in the final game of the 1972 season, he boarded a plane set to give food aid and relief in Nicaragua on New Year's Eve of 72/73. An earthquake ravaged the capital of Managua (which Clemente had recently visited) and after setting up the relief aid, he learned that the first two planes were intercepted by corrput officials. Always looking to rise to the occasion and deal with problems directly, Clemente decided to ride down himself on the 3rd plane and examine the situation. The decision proved fatal as the plane crashed shortly before midnight.

While the tragic death hangs like a shadow over the entire biography, Marianniss does a good job at highlighting Clemente's whole career (1955-1972) as a Pirate and earlier as a young talent struggling for his playing time in a racist system. (less)

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May 20, 2008

Robert rated it

· review of another edition

Very good baseball book. It takes you through Pittsburgh's championship runs in 1960 and 1971. It also just shows the different type of racism that Clememente had to face. I never knew too much about him but now realize that he was much more then a baseball Hall of Famer, but also a legend in Puerto Rico. I also didn't realize how outspoken he would be to the media if he disagreed with a story, but along with that how supportive or apologetic he would be to that same media if he agreed with ...more

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May 07, 2008

Pamela rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: sports fans

Clemente is a hero to a lot of young athletes, especially Latino ones, and I am really glad that finally someone wrote a book about him. With the Michael Vicks and Roger Clemens of today's sports world, it is hard to remember that there were and are some athletes who possess a genuine sense of humanity and honest athleticism.

The book is pretty well paced but at times redundant. Maraniss dwells on Clemente's complaining about his ailments at nauseum. Also, he could have put the cont...more

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Aug 03, 2010

John Lomnicki, rated it

· review of another edition

I learned why I liked Roberto Clemente. I grew up in the Pittsburgh area and remember seeing him play at Forbes Field, seeing him on black and white TV and listening to the Bob Prince play by play on radio. It was a magical time growing up and he was a magical athlete.

I saw all of the good parts of the Pirate story and this book filled in more what was happening during this era. I recall hearing that a plane went down with him and the dumbfounded look of people around me. My da...more

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Feb 06, 2009

Roger rated it

· review of another edition

I'm a huge baseball fan who admired Roberto Clemente while growing up. David Maraniss's biography provides great insights into this complex man, who was demanding of himself and others. The book also provides a striking description of the barriers and racism facing one of the first superstars to come out of Latin America. This is a must read for any baseball fan.

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Sep 10, 2011

Lucius rated it

· review of another edition

Clemente deserves to stand among the greats of the game because of his contributions on and off the field. Maraniss details the passion behind the man, his efforts to be the best he could be. Wish I lived in a time when I could have seen Clemente play. There's such a difference between Clemente and today's elite players in their attitude toward the public.

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Sep 26, 2008

Diane Ramirez rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Ali fans looking for another hero

I had no idea who Roberto Clemente was before reading this so didn't have any expectations about him as an athlete or as a person. Maraniss' portrayal is like a slow burn in that by the end of the book, the loss of his life felt like a tragic loss for all of us. It's an interesting gift, discovering loss like that. Clemente's words and actions (and reactions, too) graced a fine line between a real, conflicted person and the type of person that is so pure and good that we can only look up to him ...more

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Nov 08, 2010

Albert Mendez rated it

· review of another edition

this is a pretty good book so far went straight into action as soon as i read it somebody got killed ome ogf the palyers died in mexico there showing how he use to play baseball when there was no money for baseballs how they use too play with cans rocks broom sticks and stuff that was shape like a baseball and bat

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Jul 29, 2011

Kirk Bower added it · review of another edition

Reading this book brought back a found memory. I was only 6 and remember my dad pointing to Clemente and saying, "Son, not only is that one of the best outfielders who will ever play, but he is a great man!" This book does Clemente great justice and is a must read for any baseball fan or humanitarian.

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Aug 15, 2007

Steven rated it

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Shelves: baseballbeenveryverygoodtome

People say that in sports, the heroes of your father are truly your heroes. My dad and a lot of dad's are big fans of the incomparable Roberto Clemente. Clemente, Aaron, Mays, not just incredible talents, but the first word that comes to mind is class. Roberto Clemente was a tremendous talent and invented the definition of a five-tool player. His tragic death took away not only one of baseball's greats, but a truly decent man. A very complete and full biography in this book, but also memor...more

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About David Maraniss

David Maraniss is an associate editor at The Washington Post and the author of four critically acclaimed and bestselling books, When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi, First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton, They Marched Into Sunlight War and Peace, Vietnam and America October 1967, and Clemente The Passion and Grace of Baseballs Last Hero. He is also the author of The Clin...more

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Books by David Maraniss

When Pride Still Mattered : A Life Of Vince Lombardi

They Marched Into Sunlight: War and Peace Vietnam and America October 1967

Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the World

First In His Class : A Biography Of Bill Clinton

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/140575.Clemente?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172117884m/140575.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/140575.Clemente?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Clemente: La pasiÃ³n y el carisma del Ãºltimo hÃ©roe del bÃ©isbol by David Maraniss[/url]

Clemente: La pasiÃ³n y el carisma del Ãºltimo hÃ©roe del bÃ©isbol (The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero)

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